Improvisation Research

My research:

- An explanation of the benefits of the technique 

• Forgetting lines

• Creativity- New approaches to lines

• Refined Brainstorming Abilities

• Improved Listening and Observation Skills.

• Enhanced Creative-Thinking Abilities.

• Team development  building

- A suggestion of other ways of developing the technique

Some principles of improve-

• Listen: easier said than done, and that's exactly the point

• Agreement: say yes and add something, don't reject ideas

• Team Work: have a group mind, think of others

• Don't Block: stealing jokes / not listening / changing topic

• Relationship: focus on connection between characters, not just subject of scene

• Initiation: who, what, when to set the scene

• Point of View, Opinion and Intention: have them, these help express and build your character

• Be in Character: maintain character throughout the scene

• Don't Ask Questions: too many questions can make your partner do all the work

• Make Active Choices: Do something. Don't be talking heads

Examples of improv comedy games-

There are several types of improv comedy games that follow these general principles of improv: Improv games are fun to make up and can be experimental. Games can be adapted to tell a different story with the same or similar triggers.

Good Cop Bad Cop

Players: (3) good cop, bad cop, the criminal

How to play: The game begins with the criminal leaving the room - before any of the callouts are taken. Once out of sounds reach, the host asks the audience 3 questions to establish why the person was arrested.

Call Outs:

1) What crime did they commit?

2) Where did they commit the crime?

3) With whom did they commit the crime?

The prisoner is brought into the holding cell (stage) by one of the cops. The cops interrogate the prisoner in their personas as good cop (gives the prisoner a break, not as aggressive) and bad cop (forceful, doubts prisoner). Through this back and forth between the prisoner and the cops the prisoner tries to answer the 3 questions above - in this order. Once the prisoner solves all 3, they must write a confession. "I stole a goat from my neighbors closet with Jimmy Fallon."

I Once Dated A ...

Players: All + host

How to play: all the players line up shoulder to shoulder on the stage with one microphone in the center (you can play without a mic too). The host has a list of objects from the audience (distribute paper and pens before the performance to get call outs for games like this). The host begins the game by picking an object from the audience's list and prompts the players by saying,"I once dated an octopus" (repeats it again for clarity). Each player - not necessarily in order - step up to the mic and finish the statement. "I once dated an octopus. It was always awkward when we went out for sushi." After this, either another player goes forward with another idea or the host calls out another object.