Meet My Past

If I am ever asked about my improv past, I usually just say that I started in college and then performed for a couple years in Rochester, NY. What I often leave out is the fact that between college and getting paid to perform I was molded by some great improvisors out of Atlanta, GA. They were a Theatresports group that brought me up in the Keith Johnstone tradition of narrative improvisation. I've learned a lot since then, but still go back to their advice from time to time. The following is a list that they gave me shortly after meeting them for the first time.

Have a purpose. As an improviser and character in a scene. If you’re unsure, pretend to have a purpose.

Be obvious.

Pay attention to the details of what you’re doing and the audience will too.

When in doubt have a strong change of emotion.

Establish a platform before you introduce a tilt.

Be good natured in the face of failure.

Fail often.

Make your fellow improviser look great.

Our “hero” is begging to be tortured. Torture him.

Move towards truth in scenes. Truth in human behavior is something the audience can always relate to.

Nothing is the audience’s fault.

Invest in your scene partner and you will be forced to react to their behavior.

Trust your instincts. Don’t be original.

Find solutions in your environment when possible.

Rhyming is funny, takes talent, and is entertainment.

Rhyming is not great improv and is waning…

Improvisors should read as much as possible.

You know your scene is in trouble when the phone rings.

Think of improv as the day they let the monkeys out of their cage.

Synchronicity in improvisational theater is only possible when we are beside ourselves and committed wholly to the task of story-telling.

Good improv reeks of irreverence.