Matt Fotis - The Comedy Improv Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide to University Improvisational Comedy in Theatre and Performance

The Comedy Improv Handbook

The Comedy Improv Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide to University Improvisational Comedy in Theatre and Performance is a one-stop resource for both improv teachers and students, covering improv history, theory, maxims, exercises, games, and structures. You will learn the necessary skills and techniques needed to become a successful improviser, developing a basic understanding of the history of improvisation and its major influences, structures, and theories. This book also addresses issues associated with being a college improviser like auditions, rehearsals, performances, and the dynamics of improv groups.

Features a skills list and teaching tips for each game and performance structure, clarifying the core needs of each.

Contains exercises to help you build the skills necessary for effective two-person improv scenes.

Covers the craft of long form improv, from editing and callbacks to group scenes.

Matt Fotis is an Assistant Professor of Theatre at Albright College where he teaches improvisation, acting, and writing for performance. He is the author of Long Form Improvisation & American Comedy The Harold. His work has appeared in Theatre Journal, Theatre Topics, The Journal of American Drama & Theatre, TheEncyclopedia of Humor Studies, The Encyclopedia of American Studies, and MLB.com , among others. He is also an award-winning playwright.

Siobhan OHara is a graduate from Albright College and former president of Albright Improv. She is continuing her education and training at The Upright Citizens Brigade.

First published 2016
by Focal Press
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017

and by Focal Press
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN

Focal Press is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business

2016 Taylor & Francis

The right of Matt Fotis and Siobhan OHara to be identified as authors of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Fotis, Matt, 1979
The comedy improv handbook : a comprehensive guide to university improvisational comedy in theatre and performance / Matt Fotis, Siobhan OHara.
pages cm
Includes index.
Improvisation (Acting)Vocational guidance. 2. Improvisation (Acting)Study and teaching (Higher) 3. ComedyTechnique. 4. Stand-up comedyVocational guidance. I. OHara, Siobhan.
II. Title.
PN2071.15F47 2015
792.028dc23
2015021157

ISBN: 978-1-138-93425-2 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-138-93423-8 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-67810-8 (ebk)

Typeset in Giovanni
by Swales & Willis Ltd, Exeter, Devon, UK

To the teachers and students who have given me so much.

Matt Fotis

To my loving and supportive parents, Ben and Kathleen OHara. Thank you for unintentionally teaching me the basics of improv: Be kind, listen, and share.

Siobhan OHara

As with any project, there were many folks who helped in the creation of this book. Were indebted to the many improv teachers out there past and present, from the legends to the folks teaching improv at the local community center.

Big thanks to Taylor Rae Cole for her section headings and cover design that youll probably spend more time looking at than anything else.

We would also like to thank the ACRE program at Albright College for providing financial and administrative support for the project (and for helping us to understand what a ligand is and why it is important). Special thanks as well to the Theatre Department and Dr. Julia Matthews, Jeff Lentz, Wayne Vettleson, Paula Trimpey, and David Tanner for championing and supporting improv at Albright.

We would also like to extend a hearty handshake to Logan Toomey for his pun support throughout the project. Last but not least, we must thank Dante for keeping our spirits up through his never-ending motivational words. May you forever be at an outdoor Earth Day concert. YEAH!

If you are reading this handbook, chances are youre now a member of a college improv team or taking an improv course. Or you want to be. Or youre still in high school. Or you wish you could go back to college, because really, when else is two classes a day considered full time? Or maybe youre an acting teacher looking to teach (or have been assigned to teach) an improv class. Or an improv teacher looking for a book that doesnt subscribe to one particular theory or process. Or maybe you just want to get back to basics. Or you are a business major looking to become more creative. Or an aspiring teacher looking for new ways to work with your students. Or a scientist looking to improve your communication skills so you can tell the world all of the wonderful things you are doing (and have them actually understand). Whatever your relationship to college improv Congratulations! Youve just discovered an art form that is going to change your life. Call your mother. She misses you. Your father is more than likely disappointed. Or on his way to Buffalo Wild Wings to drown his disillusionment with you in wings.

So What is This Handbook and Why Should I Read it?

This handbook is a compilation of improv history, theory, maxims, exercises, games, and structures. By reading through this handbook you will learn the necessary skills and techniques to become a successful improviser. You will develop a basic understanding of the history of improvisation, and its major influences, structures, and theories. For those of you in a leadership position (or aspiring toward one), this handbook is also designed to be a teaching tool with categorized exercises and games, along with helpful teaching tips. It also addresses some issues associated with being a college improviser like auditions, rehearsals, performances, and dating. Weve also included a guide to professional training. Let us be clear: reading this handbook alone wont make you a better improviser. You need to get on stage and improvise. But reading this handbook will give you an array of tools to use from a variety of improv schools when you are up on stage.

Wait a Second, Why Should I Listen to You Two?

Good question. So let us tell you a little more about ourselves.

Im Matt Fotis. I have a PhD. I wrote another book about improv called Long Form Improvisation and American Comedy: The Harold (you should really read it. Id prefer if you bought it and then got ten copies for all of your friends, but if you check it out from the library thats cool too). Ive been hooked on improv since I was in college back in the 90s. Ive been involved in improv as a performer, coach, teacher, founder, artistic director, workshop coordinator, festival teacher, festival organizer, and judge. As a teacher Ive worked with groups at small liberal arts colleges, medium-sized state schools, and large state universities. The groups that Ive worked with have all been pretty darn successful. Perhaps Ive just been in the right places at the right times, but I think part of the success is due to my teaching.