#improv 101

[crit-n-queer]

Today was my first day in Improv 101 at Comedy Sportz.

When I say that I felt like a fish returning to water after many years of wondering why I wasn't thriving on land, like I was not only in the pocket but I was the pocket, and like all my usual negative self talk and anxiety just silently left without my having to lift a mental finger...best believe it was an awesome day!

[feral-hawke]

sewer man

Yes, and - ?

Honestly, I love that y'all are still getting amusement out of my weed rambles. But unless your asks are clever, I probably won't answer many more on this topic. ;p

[labec99]

UCB Improv 101 is complete! Loved loved loved learning and laughing with this crew. (at Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre - Los Angeles)

[improv-resource-center]

Learn the game of the scene at the Improv Resource Center in Chicago. We have two new Improv 101 classes scheduled to start soon. If you want to take the Saturday class, it begins this Saturday on March 11th. If ypu'd rather take a class on Monday nights, we have one that starts on May 1st.

Saturday class: https://classes.improvresourcecenter.com/class_sections/13

Monday class: https://classes.improvresourcecenter.com/class_sections/18

Read more about the Core Improv Program at the IRC: https://classes.improvresourcecenter.com/pages/core-improv-program

[improv-resource-center]

The Core Improv Program is underway - Improv Resource Center

The first class in the Core Improv Program is happening. 12 students working hard to become great at the craft of improv. Are you ready to join them?

[graceperrotta]

Yes and I Love Improv

I used to hate improv.

It was awkward. Anticipating your eventual forced participation was pure torture. I still loved watching it. Something about the spontaneity of it all intrigued me. Quick wit is key. The ability to give and take is essential. I respect people who can perform it well. 

I finally started to get more serious about the art of improv in college. I thought that maybe people took it more seriously there. They do.My first experience with college improv was great. Of course, I was too nervous to say anything, but that soon changed. 

I started going to weekly improv workshops and fell in love. I had so much fun. I was so longer standing anxiously awaiting my doom, I was eager to jump in. I loved the fast thinking and pure teamwork of the art form. 

I auditioned for my school’s improv troupe. Laughter surrounds me as I nervously wait for my number to be called. I wore my Second City shirt. I shirt I got after a show I saw in Chicago. I hoped it would bring me luck. My number was called and I auditioned. (I won’t go into major detail because I want to keep these short).

The next day, I was at my school’s reservation for the Freshman Leadership Institute. I didn't hear anything back so I assumed it was a no go. However, in the middle of the day, I checked my phone and there was a voice mail from an unknown number. I listened and I got a call back for level 2! 

I’ll just tell you now, I didn't make it in. But, I’m not mad or bitter. I’m very thankful, in a way. After I auditioned, the leader of level 1 emailed me and told me that I did great and that I should not give it up. I really appreciated her words and I assured her that I will keep going! I’m not known to give up easily.

I kept going to level 1 workshops. I know I wasn't ready for level 2 because there was so much I had to learn. Everything happens for a reason. I was better suited to begin my improv journey at the very beginning. I had so much fun just soaking the art of improv in.

I loved it so much, I signed up for an intensive at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade. My teacher was named Lydia and she was perfect. The positivity and high energy approach she had made me feel comfortable and happy to be there. 

Improv is great. You basically sit and laugh or stand and make people laugh. I really want to continue getting involved in improv. Hopefully, I’ll make level 2 next year and get to laugh some more!

[sabrinalondon]

Back to Basics

Princess Cake performed for the second time at Prism Box, and we had a really fun set. There was a scene where I was a police sketch artist from Parsons, who needed a victim to describe their attacker. I asked if the suspect was tall, heavy, or scrawny like a hipster.

"Why does scrawny have to be like a hipster?" Nick asked.

"I don't know. That's my only point-of-reference."

This was my honest knee-jerk reasoning, but it got a boisterous laugh I didn't see coming. You know the kind of laugh. The "where did that come from?" laugh. I didn't understand what was funny about the line until later when I was thinking about Greg Tuculescu's note about believability in scenes. My justification wasn't witty or silly; it was just true. And people responded to that.

Last Tuesday, my second team Soulmates practiced with Cissy Fenwick as our substitute coach. She suggested a few exercises I hadn't done since 101. Three line scenes establishing who/what/where. Justification lawyer. These were warm-ups they taught in 101, and being the super seasoned vets we were with 1 year experience, I was initially skeptical.

You guys.

I was STUNNED how helpful those goofy 101 exercises were. Seriously. Just thinking about initiating with a relationship in mind, or using the justification (your character's philosophy) to map how to apply that weirdness elsewhere: it resonated more than it should have. At this point, every new thing I learn about improv becomes another tool in my tool chest, but polishing those basic Phillips screwdrivers revamped the rest of practice. By the end of it, Cissy cajoled a pretty awesome 15 set out of us. We're totally smitten with her.

Truth in Comedy? Justification lawyer? If we had played just ONE round of zip zap zop, I'd swear it was March of 2011 again. But it was refreshing returning to our roots in improv and still learning from them. In fact, not just learning but thriving. The morning after our show, Alex (from Princess Cake) sent this email:

"Just a heads up, the friends I brought were really blown away by last night. We all went to Pink's after the show and the whole time they just wanted me to explain how we did it.They couldn't have had a better time. Great job and see you cake-holes tonight." 

[littletunahalpert]

I honestly don't know what I'm doing half of the time you guys have no idea