IMPROVISATION RESOURCES!
Improvisational Theatre
Unlike conventional scripted
theatre, there is an element of spontaneity and unpredictability that makes improv
a unique and exciting experience for the performers as well as the audience.
Every performance is completely different, and there's an element of risk
involved since there's no guarantee that any given scene will "work".
The Basic Idea
There are lots of different styles
of improvisation, but the one that's currently the most popular is
"spot" improv. "Spot" improv involves taking audience
suggestions (or in DI the "improv prop" chosen in the prep area just
before the performance of the Team Challenge) and using them immediately
("on the spot") to create scenes. The scenes usually wind up being
very funny, but that's not a requirement. Good scenes can be serious and
touching instead of (or in addition to) being comedic .
Key Elements
Perhaps the single most important
thing that improvisors learn is the value of agreement. Since nothing
exists until the actors create it, a scene will only be "real" (for
both the performers and the audience) if everyone agree s with each other about
things like where they are, who they are, and what's going on.
The performers must also accept
each others' ideas, and build on them -- that's the fundamental process of
improvisation.
Websites:
http://www.staircase.org/structures/
Improvisational Theater Structures
Hundreds of warm ups, games,
exercises and other Improv teaching activities
http://www.accessone.com/~up/playbook/
Comprehesive list of Improv games
http://www.lowrent.net/super/improv/games.html
More Improv exercises to use with teams!
http://www.kidprov.com Great
resources, special Destination ImagiNation deal!
Books
on Improvisation:
Impro by Keith Johnstone - An excellent book for
someone just starting out in improv, and worthwhile reading for people who've
been doing it for a while. D iscusses a lot of basic theory, and explores the
nature of spontaneity. Keith Johnstone is best known as the the inventor of
Theatresports. Published by Methuen. ISBN 0-413-46430-X.
Improvisation for the
Theater by Viola Spolin -
Another essential text for budding improvisors. This and Impro are
probably the two fundamenta l texts to start from. Whereas Impro
covers the theory, this book emphasizes the practical use of theater games.
Viola Spolin was one of the founders of modern improv, and her early work in
the 1930's led to the Compass Theatre and Second Cit y. Published by
Northwestern University Press. ISBN #0-8101-1000-8.
Truth in Comedy by Del Close, Charna Halpern and Kim
"Howard" Johnson - One of the best "contemporary" books
above improv. Very practical approach, aimed d irectly at people who are
actively performing in an improvisational format. Del Close is one of the
pioneers of improvisation, and was one of the founding members of the
Chicago-based Second City. Published by Meriwether Publishing of Colorado
Springs, Co lorado. ISBN 1-56608-003-7.
Interactive Acting by Jeff Wirth - An excellent primer for
both interactive (audience participatory) theatre and improvisational theatre
in general. Writte n in clear, simple language. Published by Fall Creek Press,
Fall Creek, Oregon. ISBN 0-9632374-9-7.
Improvisation in
Drama by Anthony Frost and
Ralph Yarrow - Tremendous book giving an overview of improvisation from ancient
times to now. Contains a great comparison between Johnstone and Spolin and the
"New York School" vs the "Chicago School". Published by St.
Martins Press, 1989, ISBN 0-312-04746-0.
Improv Comedy by Andy Goldberg - Good treatment of the
elements of improvisation. One of the few books that actually discusses the
practicalities of assemb ling a troupe, structuring a show, getting suggestions
from an audience, lighting and music. Also presents a good list of workshop
games and exercises. Andy Goldbeg is a director and performer with Off
the Wall, a Los Angeles-based improv tro upe. Published by Samuel French,
Hollywood. ISBN 0-780573-606083.
Comedy Improvisation by Delton T. Horn - Solid discussion of
the basic principles of improv; also has a brief overview of forming a troupe
and staging a sh ow. Published by Meriwether Publishing, Colorado Springs,
Colorado. ISBN 0-916260-69-0.
How To Be Really
Funny by Mark Stolzenberg
- Despite the goofy title (and a cover that makes it look like it's aimed at
kids) this is a surprisingly good b ook with a fresh approach. Published by
Sterling Publishing, New York. ISBN 0-8069-6887-7.
Improv Game Book II by Lynda Belt - A followup to Improvisation
Through Theatre Sports, its just a collection (albeit a good one) of
performan ce games. Published by Thespis Productions, 2010-12th Ave SE,
Puyallup, Washington. ISBN 0-9620799-6-O.
Improv! A Handbook
for the Actor by Greg
Atkins - As the title implies, this book is aimed at the actor who wishes to
improve his or her improv skills for use in straight theatre. Published by
Heinemann, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. ISBN 0-435-08627-8.
Commedia dell'Arte:
An Actor's Handbook by
John Rudlin - Includes a short history of the Commedia form, a guide to playing
each of the stock characters, an d possible applications for twentieth century theatre.
Published by Routledge, London. ISBN 0415-047706.
Theatre of the
Oppressed by Augusto Boal
- The theory of Boal's system of interactive, empowering form of theatre.
Published by Theatre Communications Grou p, New York. ISBN 0-930452-49-6.
Games for Actors and
Non-Actors by Augusto Boal
- The practical application (exercises, games, and structures) of Boal's
system. Published by Routledge, Lo ndon. ISBN 0-415-06155-5.
Playing Boal Edited by Mady Schutzman and Jan
Cohen-Cruz - A collection of essays by practitioners of Boal's techniques,
exploring variations on and practi cal experiences with Theatre of the
Oppressed. Published by Routledge, London. ISBN 0-415-08608-6.
House of Games by Chris Johnson. - Published by
Routledge, NY, 1998. Frank Gallagher says: "Very good on process of
creating groups and performances. He fo cuses on the leader's role, which he
calls facilitation. It appears his work is almost exclusively among
marginalized segments of society. Nice mix of theory and application, the application
is explained by the theory."
Theater Games for the
Classroom by Viola Spolin
- Published by Northwestern University Press. ISBN 0-8101-4004-7.
Theatre Games for
Young Performers by Maria
C. Novelly - Published by Meriwether Publishing, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
ISBN 0-916260-31-3.
Let's Improvise by Milton E. Polsky - Published by
Prentice-Hall. ISBN 0-13-532051-8.
Theatre Games by Clive Barker - Published by Methuen.
ISBN 0-413-45380-4.
Improvisation by John Hodgson and Ernest Richards -
Published by Grove Press, New York. ISBN 0-394-17099-7.
Gamester's Handbook by Donna Brandes and Howard Phillips -
Good collection of workshop games. Published by Hutchison, London, UK. ISBN
0-09-1364213.
A Guide to
Improvisation by Ronald
James and Peter Williams - Fairly solid collection of games, oriented towards
teaching theatre rather than performing. P ublished by Kemble Press, Oxon, UK.
ISBN 0-906836-05-4.
Drama Starters by Graham Stoate - Another collection of
games, mostly geared towards teaching drama to children. Published by Thomas
Nelson and Sons, Surre y, UK. ISBN 0-17-444115-0.
Improvisation Through
Theatre Sports by Lynda
Belt and Rebecca Stockley. - Very good collection of performance games.
Published by Thespis Productions, 201 0-12th Ave SE, Puyallup, Washington. ISBN
0-9620799-1-X.
Whose Line is it
Anyway? by Dan Patterson and Mark Leveson - A fun
little book based on the popular British TV series (seen on PBS in the States).
Very lig ht reading, features many photos from the series along with
descriptions of some of the most popular games (as well as hints about how how
to play them). Published by Century, with Channel Four Productions, London, UK.
ISBN 0-7126-3577-7.
The Improvised Play by Paul Clements - A description of the
work of Mike Leigh, who uses improvisational techniques to create scripted
theatre. Published b y Methuen. ISBN 0-413-50440-9.
Don't Be Prepared by Keith Johnstone - Described as a
Theatresports manual for teachers and improvisors, but it actually contains a
lot of insight into the craft of improv. Also contains a list of various games
and some of the theories behind them. Published by the Loose Moose Theatre
Company (2003 McKnight Blvd. NE, Calgary, Alberta, T2E 6L2, Canada). ISBN
0-9698382-0-4.
SAK Comedy Theatre
Lab Playbook by SAK Comedy
Theatre Lab - A great big collection of games, old and new, with short
descriptions. Published by SAK Product ions, 45 E. Church, Orlando, Florida
32801, phone number (407) 648-0001.
Theatresports Down
Under -- a guide for coaches and players by Lyn Pier se. Published by Improcorp
Australia and ish group, distributed by ish group pty ld, 11 Power Ave,
Alexandria 2015 NSW Australia phone +61 2 9699 1999, fax +61 2 9310 5744, ISBN
0-646-23861-2.
Improvising Real
Life: Personal Story in Playback Theatre by Jo Salas. - Presents the history, techniques, and
principles of the interactive form, Playback Theatre, developed by Jonathan
Fox, in which stories told by the audience are "played back" by
improvisational performers. Includes chapters on ritual, use of music, and
conducting. [Wirth] Published by Kendall/Hunt.
Scenarios of the
Commedia dell'Arte trans.
& ed. by Henry F. Salerno - A collection of fifty complete plots from the
commedia dell'arte, presented in s cenario form. This book can be used as a
model for understanding scenario-driven, rather than script-driven,
performances. [Wirth] Published by Limelight Editions.
Tony n' Tina's
Wedding by Artifical
Intelligence - A full-scale script for an environmental interactive show.
[Wirth] Published by Samuel French.
Games-Improvisations and Exercises
by Marsh Cassady - A textbook of theatre games and improvisations. [Halpern]
Published by Meriwether, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Improve With Improv! by Brie Jones - A guide to improvisation
and character development. [Halpern] Published by Meriwether, Colorado Springs,
Colorado.
The Art of Memory by Frances Amelia Yates.
Playing the Game by Christine Poulter. - Publisher unknown.
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