Quarter 1

Ensemble Building Through Short-Form Improvisation

INT ASSIGNMENTS 2025 - 2026

IMPROVISATION

Uses of Improvisation:

Performing arts: training actors for stage, film, and television; satirical performance of topical content
Classrooms: educational tool
Business: communication skills, creative problem solving, and supportive teamwork abilities
Psychotherapy: gain insight into a person’s thoughts, feelings and relationships

Jumping Off the Cliff: A History of Making Things Up

An Offer: a definition of some element of reality in the scene like names or location, relationship, the weather, a characteristic.

Keegan-Michael Key on Off Camera with Sam Jones, 2016

"Go onto stage to make relationships. At least you won't be alone."

-Keith Johnstone

Jason Sudeikis on Off Camera with Sam Jones, 2016

SHORT FORM PERFORMANCE

based on Spolin’s theatre games. Fun games. 2-5 minutes. Grounded in the platform, overlays restrictions/limitations/endowments. Formed into a Revue based on suggestion. "Every game is highly social, and has a problem that needs a solution" (Viola Spolin).
Upright Citizens Brigade: “Yes, and”: applies to a scene’s early stage to establish “base/shared reality”, then “if/then”
Construct characters quickly with physicality, gestures, dialects, vocal pitch and other techniques demanded by the situation. Transcends performance style; anything goes!
On purpose block, gagging (comedic effect)
Black outs, tags and buttons

Pantomime

Through interaction and manipulation of the imaginary environment, improvisers are encouraged to respect the validity and continuity of the world they create, in the moment, with their partner. Can you fold an imaginary sheet together? Maintain the shape of the imaginary car, together?

The Platform

- - - Object & Where (Location)
    - Who (Relationship)
    - What (what the scene is going to be about)
    - Tag / Button

"Every improv scene is Who What Where."

Keegan Michael Key

Short Form Rules:

You’ve known each other for 20+ years.
You know exactly what they're doing.
Be mindful of asking questions.
Show, don’t tell.
You both are responsible for the scene.

"I got your back." Keegan-Michael Key on Off Camera with Sam Jones, 2016

Back line

The improvisors behind/upstage of the scene, listening and ready to support the work onstage.

Show Environment with Pantomime

Pantomime
Activity with object leads to environment
Show Don't Tell
Consider size, temperature, time and weight

You've known your partner FOREVER. Skip introductions and get to the good stuff.

Communicate Character with Status

We show relationship through how we talk to the other
- Scenes typically have a "straight man" and a "character" (that's UCB's words)
- Negotiate status with your partner
Environment + Status will inform Role; Show Don't Tell
Characters / Roles from within, outside of you, or a blend of the two (like a "heightened" you)
- UCB uses "everyman character" to describe roles "like you"
If role is unlike you, consider language: vocabulary (syntax and diction), pitch, cadence
Icing on the cake: Impersonations and References

"Portraying characters three-dimensionally and with integrity will help you avoid cheap or easy laughs."

UCB's Comedy Improvisation Manual

Sources of Character.

Improv theories clash on character vs. caricature: how "believable" do the characters need to be?
UCB lists 3 different sources:
- PRIMARY: People you know personally (Strongest)
- SECONDARY: Actual people you know of, but not personally
- TERTIARY: An impression of an impression (Weakest)

If you ask a question, you put your partner in their head.

Find the problem and push into it

You know who they are
You know what they're doing
Show Don't Tell
The problem isn't a negation; it exists between YOUR desire and THEIR desire
- "I want independence" vs "I want a commitment"
- Tools: "Yes, but" and "Today is the Day"
Use what you developed throughout local tension; make note of offers and memorize given circumstances
"Ride the wave"

Live In The Moment.

Tags, Buttons and Blackouts

Push the problem into crisis; consider environment + role as to how far you can ride the crisis
Resolve by giving in when it feels appropriate
Tag / Button: recall a small moment of local tension; after problem resolves, bring it back
Blackout: a small scene that sets up a moment of irony
- typically starts with the problem, ends with the "unexpected"

Show Don't Tell.

Second City-style Improv Revue

Based on theme that the class will decide, we will practice and perform an Improv Revue as our final this quarter.

It will be about an hour;
It will be performed during class;
I will decide in the future whether or not there'll be an audience other than us;
I will record and post our show on YouTube

Performance will be October 3 and/or 4, 2024

Understanding the rubric. Below is how your performance will be evaluated. I've broken down assessment of performance into FOUR parts, each part worth up to 5 points (20 pts total).

Participation: in addition to your weekly participation points, this describes the quality and quantity of your involvement in the final.
Application: this describes your understanding and use of improvisation technique
Theatrical technique: beyond theatre style, this describes your mastery and application of technique that allows being seen and heard
Reflection: beyond theatre style, this describes your process of growth as an artist