Improv Club

WHAT IS IMPROV? Improvisational Comedy is the spontaneous invention of scenes and games based on suggestions from the audience or workshop participants. Scenes are co-created in the moment by two or more players. Improv involves the application of a number of creative thinking skills, communication skills, theater games, and teamwork abilities under pressure - not unlike the demands of today’s political and government environments.

WHEN DOES IMPROV CLUB MEET? We meet every Thursday in room 184 (the green room) from 3:20-4:20. Check the call board weekly for any changes or cancellations.

DOES IMPROV CLUB HAVE PERFORMANCES? Every month, we try to hold a Whose Line Is it Anyway type performance with 4-5 improvisers from the club.

DOES A STUDENT NEED TO BE IN A THEATRE CLASS TO JOIN? The club is open to all. While students who are passionate about improv are encouraged to take a theatre class to have the proper training, it is not a requirement.

THE FIRST WHOSE LINE PERFORMANCE IS MONDAY AUGUST 31ST FROM 4:00-5:30. THE COST IS $1

Click Here for: WHOSE LINE CAST LISTS

1. “Dare to be dull.”

When most people start improvising, they think they need to create crazy characters and wacky situations to be funny. But the reality is that comedy comes from truth–it doesn’t need flashing lights or fancy fog machines. The same is true when it comes to certain work and life situations. Success isn’t about getting the newest gadget (aka the flashing lights); success comes from hard-work and planning, which might be viewed as dull, but it is effective.

2. “Make a connection with the other player.”

Improv is a team-sport, as are work and life. To have a successful improv scene, you must connect to the other player and focus on your relationship. It’s easy to forget about this when performing on a stage in front of people, and just as easy to forget when trying to make a sale or talking to our significant other. But life is about relationships and connections, not material objects or status.

3. “Make it about the present.”

To see two characters reminisce about their history or to talk about future plans is boring to the audience–we want to see them act now. Life is the same way, except we’re the characters. Too often we are caught up in one happened a while ago or what we should plan for, and we completely ignore the present, the now. By focusing on the now we start to take control and experience life, instead of missing it.

4. “You have to understand why you’re playing that game.”

As an improviser, one of the most important qualities you have to reveal as your character is your motivation. Why are you doing what you are doing? This question is equally valuable in everyday life–what is your motivation for doing whatever it is you are doing? If you ask yourself this about everything, you’ll realize there are a number of things that you do out of habit or because it’s a societal norm which you aren’t really motivated or excited to do. Stop them.

5. “Never expect a certain answer or reaction. Just listen and react to what was actually said.”

Our education system has taught us to listen to react–to start to formulate an answer for the question our teacher is asking us, before she’s even finished asking it. The problem is that in meetings and conversations, we stop listening once we think we know what someone is going to say because we start thinking about our response–often missing the true point of what is being said. If you want to be a better communicator, stop assuming you know what is being communicated and start listening to what is actually being said.

6. “Make your fellow players look like geniuses.”

When you treat other people like geniuses, you’ll often find that they are. Too often we look at what mistakes people have made instead of seeing what they’ve done correctly. When you look for the positives and build on successes, your team (or family) can achieve far better success both as individuals and as a team.

7. “It doesn’t matter what you’re doing on stage, as long as you sell it.”

This is known as the “Karaoke Rule”–you don’t have to be the greatest singer to be good at karaoke, you just have to sell it. If you don’t, people will pick up on your nervousness and you’ll lose them as an audience. So whether you are standing in front of your managers giving a presentation or about to belt out the words to Bohemian Rhapsody, you’ll find much better success by giving it your all and selling it.

8. “Be more brave than impressive.”

When I first started performing improv, I thought I always had to try to come up with the wittiest thing to say or add wordplay or puns to get a laugh (hey, I enjoy puns). While wit can be funny, it’s not what entertains the audience–bold choices are. What you’ll soon find out is that being bold is what makes you impressive, regardless of what you are doing.

9. “Just make a choice.”

Ambivalence and timid behavior are the death of an improviser on stage. Since everything is made up, you just have to make a decision and go with it. Once you make a decision, it’s up to you and your scene partner to go with it and make it work. In life, we don’t get things done because we haven’t decided what we want, and until we do, we’ll never be able to achieve it. Make a choice, that’s the start.

10. “When in doubt, have fun.”

Sometimes, before we start an activity/ game, I make sure I remind myself that improv is fun–that’s why I do it. I step on stage to have fun and entertain others. So when I’m in a scene and I’m not sure what else to do, I do what is fun; I play games, I make interesting choices, and I enjoy myself. In improv there is no right or wrong, just fun. By now you should know what I’m going to say–life is the same way. Excluding immoral / illegal activities, there is no wrong in life, only what you choose to make it. So when in doubt, choose fun.