How to keep your characters real The best comedies all have one thing in common: the characters who populate the story take everything that happens absolutely seriously. Whether they are busting Zuul, attempting to land a pilot-less airplane, or questing for the Holy Grail, they do so with a mindset of absolute sober sincerity. Whether […]
The importance of chivalry in improv simply cannot be emphasized strongly enough There are few things more annoying while working an improv scene than to craft a character or create a reality out of thin air only to have it bulldozed by a player who is either A) not playing attention, or B) not willing
The art of avoiding unproductive questions The magical characteristic of improv is its amorphous nature. Improv, unlike other forms of theatre, is unconstrained by rigid structural limitations. Stage actors play within boundaries; Improv actors play with boundaries. Every list of “The Rules of Improv” we’ve seen includes some version of “Don’t ask questions.” Questions, they state with emphatic certitude, are bad. It
As with any art form, getting better at improv takes time, effort, and keen observation skills. For all intents and purposes, improv is a communal art. You can only become a competent improviser if you find at least one other person willing to play with you. This does not, however, preclude you from doing some of
