February 2010
29 posts
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All Play and No Work Makes Jack a Dull Boy
I’ll admit it, I need to read more. I’m no slouch when it comes to book-learnin’ but I’ve been feeling pretty intellectually stunted these days. With everything that’s going on in my life recently, I haven’t taken enough time to really sit down and enjoy a good book.
Improvisors need to get out there and find new sources of inspiration beyond what...
January 2010
30 posts
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Anonymous asked: How do you make sure that people learn improvisational skills in one day workshop?
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Good Improviser/Bad Improviser Exercise →
I’m about to pass out. Story Robot updated three times in four days. If there’s a comic next, call 911.
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TJ and Dave interview in The Onion AV →
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Show: "Tale Spin #14", Thu Jan 28, 8:30pm
What: Tale Spin is back with its 14th evening of storytelling! The theme for the night is "NEW". And, in that spirit, there are a bunch of new performers in the mix: FRANCOIS VINCENT (me! and my story will be improivsed), Jess Salomon, Cheryl Gladu, and Joel West, as well as a Tale Spin favorite, Asaf Gerchak. As usual, the whole lovely mess is hosted by DeAnne Smith.
Where: Le Cagibi (5490 St Laurent)
How Much: 5$
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The Useful Lies
My awesome friend Alex (now with Remilio Sheen and Atomic Vaudeville in Victoria) gave me an excellent way to describe the tips and guidance I dispense during my workshops. (aside: I don’t like to call them “rules”. Since when does art have rules?) But the term I have swiped for my own use cropped up in a discussion we were having about teaching and science: The Useful Lies.
As...
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WatchHammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em Improv from LA (more videos here)
featuring Felicia Day, Sandeep Parikh & Jeff Lewis (from the Guild) + Alex Albrecht, Tony Janning, Tara Perry, Eddie Repanich, and Brooke Seguin
(first time I’ve seen clapping transitions)
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The Onion interviews Christopher Guest →
From last April, but still an interesting read! [via]
Show: "Theatre: The Dress Rehearsal", Sat Jan 23,...
What: Join UNCALLED FOR for a (fully improvised) behind-the-scenes look at the all-important final rehearsal of an ambitious new theatre project. We are the actors and director. You are the special guest audience, and also the assistant directors, and the costume designers, and the dialect coaches, and everybody else we might need in order to conjure the magic of THEATRE!
Where: MainLine Theatre (3997 St Laurent)
How Much: 8$
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Kaci Beeler and the Three-Day Workshop →
Kaci, from Pgraph who visited Mprov 2009, writes her thoughts on a Keith Johnstone workshop in Austin, TX this last weekend
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Anonymous asked: A question. How might a person "practice" improv outside of the classes or workshops? Are there exercises or activities that make sense?
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Over-acting in Improv
I just started teaching a class on how to create scenes at Mainline recently and we were discussing the power of emotions. I was suggesting that the students try big reactions and emotions but at the end a student expressed a concern that improv can involve a lot of over-acting and melodrama. Yes, it can. But, there are a few reasons why I often ask for students to have big reactions.
Most...
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Our trivia-comedy show, The Follow-Up, is now a... →
Show: "Stand Up, Strip Down", Fri Jan 15 8:30p
What: DeAnne Smith hosts this spectacular night of stand-up comedy, burlesque, strippin', and magic. Featuring comics Mike Patterson, Christophe Davidson, and Andrea Stanford, and stripper-types Seska Lee, Lise Vinegault, Miss Sugarpuss, Bill Corday, and Aytahn from Circus Montreal.
Where: Theatre Ste. Catherine (264 St. Catherine Est)
How Much: 12$ (10$ students)
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Call out some emotions from different cultures!
Fiero (Italian): contented pride in achieving something just for oneself.
Amae (Japanese): the sweet feeling of being dependent on someone else.
Naches (Yiddish): the glow of proud pleasure that only a child can give to its parents.
Schadenfreude (German): the feeling you experience when you learn that your worst enemy has suffered some misfortune.
Ennui (French): the sophisticated,...
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Anonymous asked: got any tips on word at a time stories? i've been hosting an improv group and can't seem to get these right.
- Hussain
- Hussain
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Drame de Métro by our friend Chris →
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The Upright Citizens Brigade Theaters (LA/NYC) →
Four friends from Chicago arrive in NYC in 1996. Open their own theatre in 1999. Open their current NYC location in 2003. Open their LA location in 2005. One of the hottest improv houses in the States today. [wikipedia]
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Hustle
Someone once told me there was no such thing as talent. I thought about it for a bit and replied, “No, I think there is.”
To me, talent is the facility with which someone can acquire a skill. Now in improv, as with any creative endeavour, one person’s example of a skilled improviser is another’s no-talent hack. So, to some extent, talent can be pretty subjective. However,...
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Anonymous asked: Are the two of you together?
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Anonymous asked: Is the mainline drop-in on the 10th or the 17th now?
Slightly confused...
Slightly confused...
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Upcoming Classes
Sad news for anyone who dithers and delays: The Level 1 class is full. Sorry! I suppose I should update the website.
Marc is going to run a special topics class on Sundays as part of our expanding repertoire. We plan on having a series of these types of classes that focus on specific topics and we’re staring with Scenework (future topics include Characters and Longform). These classes will...
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Question Everything!
Got an improv question? You now have the power to post inquiries via this blog. 24/7, 365 a year (some years, 366). Sample questions include:
How do I end a scene?
What’s a good improv book?
Why is my scene partner always a unicorn?
If free will is an illusion, what does that mean for improv?
Why is my scene partner always trying to get it on with a unicorn?
Just Ask Us Anything right...
Improv Blogs
L’improvisation, c’est la vie! (Ian Parizot, Paris)
The House That Del Built (Rachel Klein, Boston)
An Improvised Blog (Jason Chin, Chicago)
Improv Nonsense (WIll Hines, NYC)
USS Rock N Roll (Various, LA)
Dear Annette, (Various/Us, Montreal)
Story Robot (Brendon Bennetts, Wellington)
The Apiary (Various, NYC)
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“Our free drop-in class has changed date and venue! It’s now Sunday Jan 10...”
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NY Post announces Improv Everywhere's No Pants... →
They’re trying to make it global. http://improveverywhere.com/2010/01/04/global-no-pants-subway-ride-2010/
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