Mischief Improv

My own theory on improv.

The three Warm-Ups we did this time were:

1. Horcrux
2. Quidditch
3. Monster Book of Monsters

I solemnly swear I'm up to no good. Touched on the concept of "ironic detachment" during the warm-ups. Opened up on my own personal theory of improv a bit, and my start in improv. I believe that one way to attack an improv scene or set is by recognizing the patterns or behavior.  The first pattern or behavior cou...

There are different types of people in the world.

The three Warm-Ups we did this time were:

1. Polyjuice Potion
2. Peripherals
3. Edits

I solemnly swear I'm up to no good. We went over the 5 major ways to edit scenes in a long form set and we also went over The Quest, The Slacker and The Movie format. I also discuss a person who attended who may have been on the spectrum, and how this challenges teaching an improv workshop/drop-i...

We went over the Armando, Living Room and Montage.

The four Warm-Ups we did this time were:

1. Transmutation Tag
2. Sorting Hat
3. Character Circle
4. Hogsmead

I solemnly swear I'm up to no good.   In this rehearsal we learned about entering scene without having an idea and discovering the scene instead of inventing. Then for the rest of the rehearsal I introduced the improv performers to three long form formats: the Armando, the Li...

"Too cool for school" attitudes. 

The two Warm-Ups we did this time were:

1. Deathly Hallows
2. Sorting Hat

I solemnly swear I'm up to no good.   We ran through the Harold 3X's including five people who have never done improv before.  I'll tell you how it went in the episode. Also, something we all deal with: people who feel like they are too cool for the class, and how it tends to be their insecurity more than anything. I get...

Justify, don't normalize. 

The four Warm-Ups we did this time were:

1. The House Cup
2. Big Bogart
3. Mirror of Erised
4. Party Quircks

I solemnly swear I'm up to no good. I talk about trying to win the game, but the goal is not to "win" the game the goal is "trying" to win the game. The drama is not in the "win" but the "trying" to win. Once you win the scene is over.  I also touch on the philosophies o...

"I like that I can go on stage and have no idea what I'm doing and every one figures it out, including me."

The three Warm-Ups we did this time were:

1. #Likeable
2. Sorting Hat
3. Fantastic Beast

I solemnly swear I'm up to no good. Yes, and … this was the first time I ever mentioned the concept of "yes, and" in improv and it was 8 classes in. We did three different Harolds. The final set, with 12 people and they did excellent.  ...

Sometimes in scenes we aren't playing people.  How do you train improv performers to support offers that aren't people?

1. Snape Approves
2. Sorting Hat
3. Escape from Gringotts
4. Clumping

I went over warm-ups that encourage people to accept the reality, instead of judge the offer. The choice we make as a team are always so much more impressive than the unsupported choices of an individual.  There is this African Proverb that says,...

We had some good experiences getting bad suggestions!

I solemnly swear I'm up to no good.  Here are the warm ups! 

1. Vera Verto
2. Woodchucks
3. Mirror Erised

This rehearsal we went over some great improv mechanics! We worked on warping the reality of the scene with Split Scenes. And within those split scenes we would hand stuff back and forth to each other. We also worked on how to initiate it.

Then we rehearsed and discussed...

Much like Episode 0 where I discussed and explained the Harold, I thought I would explain another long form format.  I discussed the Pretty Flower, sometimes called the Family Guy Format.  There is a flow-through scene which incorporates all the players.  Then cut-to's or tagout runs branch off this, but we always come back to the main flow-through scene. 

Because of how shows and rehearsals landed there were no rehearsals between ...

Kate Swift is my guest, co-host for this episode. 

1. Animagus
2. Mandrake Roots
3. House Elves

 We dissect the rehearsal and a bit of the show in Leeds. Kate is a brilliant student of improv, and has some observations that even people who have been doing this for years normally don't notice.

We talk about how trust comes from support.  We mention a moment of great support in the rehearsal where Kate supported me with "oh that's ...

I sol- WE BOTH solemnly swear we're up to no good!  I have another guest!  Our warm-ups: 

1. Trust Circle
2. Stretching
3. Dog-Bark

George Smith is my guest co-host for this episode.  We deconstruct the last rehearsal and talk about some specific improv tactics.  George and I touch on "justify and don't normalize" and how relationship is more important than plot – because it will help you out more when the energy seems to dip in ...

Le Rhonde is an improv format where the performers edit and enter scenes in a specific order. All their storylines are related to one another, but never cross over – unless your team decides to do so.  The order creates a circle and you at some point come back to the first person.

I also go over how Long Form Formats typically capitalize on a few elements that are found across most long forms. Also, how practicing both Short Form a...