Improv can be a lot like being on the playground in 3rd grade waiting to be picked for the kick ball team. Today it is much the same: When you audition to get on a Harold team at one of the many improv theaters or hope to be asked by a classmate who is forming […]
Last Sunday was the three-year anniversary of the death of Mary Scruggs. Mary was head of the writing program at Second City. She was a brilliant improv teacher and a gifted writer. I remember when I heard that she had died, I was floored. I was in the suburbs about to teach a workshop for […]
The first couple of seconds at the top of any improv scene is crucial, and if you don't panic you will be able to increase your chances of doing some great improvisation. Here are the top five most common mistakes: 1. Starting with a Problem Nothing will stop a scene faster than starting with a […]
We all criticize others, mostly behind people’s backs. We rarely get caught, and the best part is it makes us feel better for about 90 seconds. Smoking crack lasts longer. When I am ripping on a show or a movie or actor I just saw, though the words may be different, the premise is always […]
I used to think when I auditioned for parts on TV shows and films that I could tell right away if I got them. Thank God, I've lost that the superpower (though I never really had in the first place). First of all, sometimes you will have killer auditions, and for circumstances beyond your control, you will not […]
A friend called me recently and said he had just had one of the "worst improvisational shows" of his short career. His group was doing a Harold, and before the show the director had specifically instructed them to let the first beat be only two-person scenes, no walk-ons. Guess what? It was a cluster fuck. […]
Are you an improviser who has had your fill of zip-up hoodies and pairs of skinny jeans? If so, this year, we recommend that you ask Santa to bring you some books. These three non-improv books are must-haves for any improviser who wants to boost your creativity and improve your craft. And if Santa doesn’t […]
Today more than ever the opportunities for improvisers are abundant. There are so many classes to choose take, groups to be a part of and places to perform -- which can be a blessing and a curse. That’s why it’s important to map out a vision for your career before you get in too deep. Do you want be […]
I don't say this enough and that is "Thank you." Next to "Yes and…," thank you can be two of the most powerful words. Instead of being grateful, I am usually busy comparing myself to others, which just makes me feel worse. But being grateful and saying thank you for what I do have right now […]
You hear this all the time in your improv classes – you need to take more risks on stage. But what improv teachers forget to tell you is that when you take risks, you’re going to feel feelings: anger, sadness, anxiety, fear, shame and, in rare cases, joy. This is a by-product of taking risks, and […]