I am a comedy snob. And worse, for years I thought that was an asset. God help me! I have always been a comedy snob since I was a third grader at Joseph Sears School. I couldn't understand why my friends would watch Three’s Company over comedies like M.A.S.H. or Bob Newhart. I secretly thought […]
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 […]
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. […]
Do you ever judge your scene partners’ ideas? One of the basic tenets of improv is to accept everything that our scene partner says as a gift and go with it. I don’t know about you, but I know this concept is way harder than it sounds. I know I am guilty of judging my […]
There’s been something coming up lately in my improv classes, The Art of Slow Comedy, that I call the dark side. Students will be doing a scene with a so-called dark subject matter -- pedophilia, racism, abortion -- and the scene will end up being more dramatic than funny. Afterwards, the students will look shaken […]
3 Ways To Empower Your Improv Do you ever get discouraged in your improv and want to quit? Have you tried out for a team and not made it, or watched as other people from your level move up and you don't? If so, you're not alone. I've felt like giving up so many times […]