Improv Guidelines
Improvise- to speak or to act without a script.
In improv, you must create speeches and actions immediately, often without preparation. This requires spontaneity, imagination and the ability to use past personal experience. Pay close attention to what your fellow actors are saying and doing and respond accordingly; cooperative flexibility is vital for improv.
If you have preparation time:
Determine the situation and characters- Establish character relationships and give your story a beginning, middle and end.
Create your character- Who are you? Why are you here? How do you feel? Do you have any defining characteristics? What does your voice sound like? What do you want?
Clarify the conflict- When you are given a prompt, make sure that you understand who/what you are in conflict with.
When it is time to perform:
SHOW, DON’T TELL- AVOID STATING WHAT IS HAPPENING. Use dialogue and action to reveal the situation to the audience.
STAY IN CHARACTER- Act and react as your character would through dialogue AND movement. DON’T LAUGH UNLESS YOUR CHARACTER WOULD LAUGH!!! Don’t communicate with the audience unless the character would. (That means don’t look out and say, “I don’t know what to do…”)
Establish yourself as a distinctive character- Make your character known to the audience as soon and as effectively as possible. (This can be done with a characteristic gesture or voice.)
Pay close attention to the other characters- Anything your character says or does should be in direct response to the other characters. Listen carefully and observe what is happening at all times.
Never deny- Work with whatever the other characters say or do. The improv can’t move forward if you contradict the ideas of others.
Avoid dead-end responses- One word responses (“yes” and “no”) can stall the action. Avoid other responses such as “so what” or “who cares.”
Don’t get side tracked- Keep the premise in mind and try to stick with it.
Steer toward your goal- Your dialogue and movement should steer you to your goal or the end of the improv.
Fill the Gaps- Keep the improv going with meaningful movement and dialogue.
Work as an ensemble- Participate actively. Be careful not to talk all the time or dominate the movement.
Speak loudly and clearly- PROJECT!!! Everyone needs to be able to hear you. Be careful not too speak too quickly.
Move freely- Don’t hide behind other characters or hang back.
Be respectful of the audience- Keep the movement and dialogue APPROPRIATE!!!!!!
Be a respectful audience member- DO NOT TALK during others’ performances. NEVER NEVER NEVER comment on or joke about another student’s performance. This kind of behavior will now automatically reduce you to a C in participation for that day. Subsequent comments will reduce your grade further or earn you a d-hall or referral.
Remember::: The point of improv is NOT to be funny. Laughter is a byproduct of GOOD WORK. The purpose of improv is to TELL A STORY. If your work is funny, but pointless, you will NOT get a good grade.