The Second City Guide to Improv in the Classroom

The Second City Guide to Improv in the Classroom

Author: Katherine S. McKnight

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2008-05-09

Total Pages: 214

ISBN-13: 0787996505

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Most people know The Second City as an innovative school for improvisation that has turned out leading talents such as Alan Arkin, Bill Murray, Stephen Colbert, and Tina Fey. This groundbreaking company has also trained thousands of educators and students through its Improvisation for Creative Pedagogy program, which uses improv exercises to teach a wide variety of content areas, and boost skills that are crucial for student learning: listening, teamwork, communication, idea-generation, vocabulary, and more.


Book Synopsis The Second City Guide to Improv in the Classroom by : Katherine S. McKnight

Download or read book The Second City Guide to Improv in the Classroom written by Katherine S. McKnight and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2008-05-09 with total page 214 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Most people know The Second City as an innovative school for improvisation that has turned out leading talents such as Alan Arkin, Bill Murray, Stephen Colbert, and Tina Fey. This groundbreaking company has also trained thousands of educators and students through its Improvisation for Creative Pedagogy program, which uses improv exercises to teach a wide variety of content areas, and boost skills that are crucial for student learning: listening, teamwork, communication, idea-generation, vocabulary, and more.


Process

Process

Author: Mary Scruggs

Publisher: Northwestern University Press

Published: 2008

Total Pages: 184

ISBN-13: 0810124726

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Process: An Improviser's Journey is an invaluable resource for mastering improv. Author, teacher, and improviser Michael Gellman was given a mission by famed improv coach Del Close: “[T]o create improvised one-act plays of literary quality from scratch.” Already steeped in the world of improvisation, he took it upon himself to do this, in the form of a class for other improvisers in which they would build the skills necessary to execute such a seemingly tall order. Scruggs and Gellman’s book, modeled after Stanislavski’s timeless An Actor Prepares, follows a fictional young actor taking Gellman’s real-life class. Scruggs and Gellman introduce readers to Geoff, who has just moved to Chicago to pursue acting. He undergoes the standard trials of audition and rejection before he takes the advice of a fellow actor and turns to improv classes at Second City. At first, Geoff thinks improvisation is about laughs and loosening up, but he soon learns that it is a powerful tool as well as an end in itself. Through Geoff’s eyes, the book introduces readers to key tenets of improvisation: concentration, visualization, focus, object work, being in the moment, and the crucial “yes, and.” His experiences with the basics of improvisation do serve to get him a few roles, but his real breakthrough comes when he signs up for an improvised one-act class with Michael Gellman. He and his classmates arrive unprepared for the challenge, but with Gellman’s prompts and advice, they slowly move through process to performance over the course of three seasons in Chicago. The class culminates with their final project: a completely improvised one-act play performed in front of a live audience.


Book Synopsis Process by : Mary Scruggs

Download or read book Process written by Mary Scruggs and published by Northwestern University Press. This book was released on 2008 with total page 184 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Process: An Improviser's Journey is an invaluable resource for mastering improv. Author, teacher, and improviser Michael Gellman was given a mission by famed improv coach Del Close: “[T]o create improvised one-act plays of literary quality from scratch.” Already steeped in the world of improvisation, he took it upon himself to do this, in the form of a class for other improvisers in which they would build the skills necessary to execute such a seemingly tall order. Scruggs and Gellman’s book, modeled after Stanislavski’s timeless An Actor Prepares, follows a fictional young actor taking Gellman’s real-life class. Scruggs and Gellman introduce readers to Geoff, who has just moved to Chicago to pursue acting. He undergoes the standard trials of audition and rejection before he takes the advice of a fellow actor and turns to improv classes at Second City. At first, Geoff thinks improvisation is about laughs and loosening up, but he soon learns that it is a powerful tool as well as an end in itself. Through Geoff’s eyes, the book introduces readers to key tenets of improvisation: concentration, visualization, focus, object work, being in the moment, and the crucial “yes, and.” His experiences with the basics of improvisation do serve to get him a few roles, but his real breakthrough comes when he signs up for an improvised one-act class with Michael Gellman. He and his classmates arrive unprepared for the challenge, but with Gellman’s prompts and advice, they slowly move through process to performance over the course of three seasons in Chicago. The class culminates with their final project: a completely improvised one-act play performed in front of a live audience.


Yes, And

Yes, And

Author: Kelly Leonard

Publisher: Harper Collins

Published: 2015-02-03

Total Pages: 174

ISBN-13: 0062248553

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Executives from The Second City—the world’s premier comedy theater and school of improvisation—reveal improvisational techniques that can help any organization develop innovators, encourage adaptable leaders, and build transformational businesses. For more than fifty years, The Second City comedy theater in Chicago has been a training ground for some of the best comic minds in the industry—including John Belushi, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, Mike Myers, Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, and Tina Fey. But it also provides one-of-a-kind leadership training to cutting-edge companies, nonprofits, and public sector organizations—all aimed at increasing creativity, collaboration, and teamwork. The rules for leadership and teamwork have changed, and the skills that got professionals ahead a generation ago don’t work anymore. Now The Second City provides a new toolkit individuals and organizations can use to thrive in a world increasingly shaped by speed, social communication, and decentralization. Based on eight principles of improvisation, Yes, And helps to develop these skills and foster them in high-potential leaders and their teams, including: Mastering the ability to co-create in an ensemble Fostering a “yes, and” approach to work Embracing failure to accelerate high performance Leading by listening and by learning to follow Innovating by making something out of nothing Yes, And is a must-read for professionals and organizations, helping to develop the invaluable leadership skills needed to succeed today.


Book Synopsis Yes, And by : Kelly Leonard

Download or read book Yes, And written by Kelly Leonard and published by Harper Collins. This book was released on 2015-02-03 with total page 174 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Executives from The Second City—the world’s premier comedy theater and school of improvisation—reveal improvisational techniques that can help any organization develop innovators, encourage adaptable leaders, and build transformational businesses. For more than fifty years, The Second City comedy theater in Chicago has been a training ground for some of the best comic minds in the industry—including John Belushi, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, Mike Myers, Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, and Tina Fey. But it also provides one-of-a-kind leadership training to cutting-edge companies, nonprofits, and public sector organizations—all aimed at increasing creativity, collaboration, and teamwork. The rules for leadership and teamwork have changed, and the skills that got professionals ahead a generation ago don’t work anymore. Now The Second City provides a new toolkit individuals and organizations can use to thrive in a world increasingly shaped by speed, social communication, and decentralization. Based on eight principles of improvisation, Yes, And helps to develop these skills and foster them in high-potential leaders and their teams, including: Mastering the ability to co-create in an ensemble Fostering a “yes, and” approach to work Embracing failure to accelerate high performance Leading by listening and by learning to follow Innovating by making something out of nothing Yes, And is a must-read for professionals and organizations, helping to develop the invaluable leadership skills needed to succeed today.


The Improv Handbook

The Improv Handbook

Author: Tom Salinsky

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Published: 2017-10-19

Total Pages: 520

ISBN-13: 1350026174

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The Improv Handbook is the most comprehensive, smart, helpful and inspiring guide to improv available today. Applicable to comedians, actors, public speakers and anyone who needs to think on their toes, it features a range of games, interviews, descriptions and exercises that illuminate and illustrate the exciting world of improvised performance. First published in 2008, this second edition features a new foreword by comedian Mike McShane, as well as new exercises on endings, managing blind offers and master-servant games, plus new and expanded interviews with Keith Johnstone, Neil Mullarkey, Jeffrey Sweet and Paul Rogan. The Improv Handbook is a one-stop guide to the exciting world of improvisation. Whether you're a beginner, an expert, or would just love to try it if you weren't too scared, The Improv Handbook will guide you every step of the way.


Book Synopsis The Improv Handbook by : Tom Salinsky

Download or read book The Improv Handbook written by Tom Salinsky and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2017-10-19 with total page 520 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Improv Handbook is the most comprehensive, smart, helpful and inspiring guide to improv available today. Applicable to comedians, actors, public speakers and anyone who needs to think on their toes, it features a range of games, interviews, descriptions and exercises that illuminate and illustrate the exciting world of improvised performance. First published in 2008, this second edition features a new foreword by comedian Mike McShane, as well as new exercises on endings, managing blind offers and master-servant games, plus new and expanded interviews with Keith Johnstone, Neil Mullarkey, Jeffrey Sweet and Paul Rogan. The Improv Handbook is a one-stop guide to the exciting world of improvisation. Whether you're a beginner, an expert, or would just love to try it if you weren't too scared, The Improv Handbook will guide you every step of the way.


Theater Games for the Classroom

Theater Games for the Classroom

Author: Viola Spolin

Publisher: Northwestern University Press

Published: 1986

Total Pages: 252

ISBN-13: 9780810140042

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A collection of games and music to aid the drama teacher and give ideas for varied classes.


Book Synopsis Theater Games for the Classroom by : Viola Spolin

Download or read book Theater Games for the Classroom written by Viola Spolin and published by Northwestern University Press. This book was released on 1986 with total page 252 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A collection of games and music to aid the drama teacher and give ideas for varied classes.


Improv Wisdom

Improv Wisdom

Author: Patricia Ryan Madson

Publisher: Harmony

Published: 2010-03-24

Total Pages: 162

ISBN-13: 0307531848

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In an irresistible invitation to lighten up, look around, and live an unscripted life, a master of the art of improvisation explains how to adopt the attitudes and techniques used by generations of musicians and actors. Let’s face it: Life is something we all make up as we go along. No matter how carefully we formulate a “script,” it is bound to change when we interact with people with scripts of their own. Improv Wisdom shows how to apply the maxims of improvisational theater to real-life challenges—whether it’s dealing with a demanding boss, a tired child, or one of life’s never-ending surprises. Patricia Madson distills thirty years of experience into thirteen simple strategies, including “Say Yes,” “Start Anywhere,” “Face the Facts,” and “Make Mistakes, Please,” helping readers to loosen up, think on their feet, and take on everything life has to offer with skill, chutzpah, and a sense of humor.


Book Synopsis Improv Wisdom by : Patricia Ryan Madson

Download or read book Improv Wisdom written by Patricia Ryan Madson and published by Harmony. This book was released on 2010-03-24 with total page 162 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In an irresistible invitation to lighten up, look around, and live an unscripted life, a master of the art of improvisation explains how to adopt the attitudes and techniques used by generations of musicians and actors. Let’s face it: Life is something we all make up as we go along. No matter how carefully we formulate a “script,” it is bound to change when we interact with people with scripts of their own. Improv Wisdom shows how to apply the maxims of improvisational theater to real-life challenges—whether it’s dealing with a demanding boss, a tired child, or one of life’s never-ending surprises. Patricia Madson distills thirty years of experience into thirteen simple strategies, including “Say Yes,” “Start Anywhere,” “Face the Facts,” and “Make Mistakes, Please,” helping readers to loosen up, think on their feet, and take on everything life has to offer with skill, chutzpah, and a sense of humor.


Teaching in the Art Museum

Teaching in the Art Museum

Author: Rika Burnham

Publisher: Getty Publications

Published: 2011

Total Pages: 182

ISBN-13: 1606060589

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Teaching in the Art Museum investigates the mission, history, theory, practice, and future prospects of museum education. In this book Rika Burnham and Elliott Kai-Kee define and articulate a new approach to gallery teaching, one that offers groups of visitors deep and meaningful experiences of interpreting art works through a process of intense, sustained looking and thoughtfully facilitated dialogue.--[book cover].


Book Synopsis Teaching in the Art Museum by : Rika Burnham

Download or read book Teaching in the Art Museum written by Rika Burnham and published by Getty Publications. This book was released on 2011 with total page 182 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Teaching in the Art Museum investigates the mission, history, theory, practice, and future prospects of museum education. In this book Rika Burnham and Elliott Kai-Kee define and articulate a new approach to gallery teaching, one that offers groups of visitors deep and meaningful experiences of interpreting art works through a process of intense, sustained looking and thoughtfully facilitated dialogue.--[book cover].


Teaching Improv

Teaching Improv

Author: Mel Paradis

Publisher:

Published: 2019-04

Total Pages: 146

ISBN-13: 9780578517179

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Do you want to teach improv, but don't know where to start? Are you looking for ways to structure improv games into effective lesson plans? Introducing Teaching Improv: The Essential Handbook, a new resource packed with 16 step-by-step lesson plans that will take the stress out of planning your improv classes. We've done the hard work for you, by organizing today's best improv games into fun, skill-based lessons that your students will absolutely love. More importantly, you'll see them grow into confident and creative performers. This resource was created by the same award-winning publisher of Teaching Drama: The Essential Handbook, a #1 best-seller on Amazon which has sold over 35,000 copies and has been translated into 5 languages. Go beyond improv games. With this book you'll get: 16 detailed, full-proof lesson plans that cover the "9 rules of improv" Notes on how to introduce improv concepts in clear, concise language Over 114 improv games and activities Reflection and journaling exercises after each lesson Homework handouts and YouTube video links to deepen understanding Sample "performance line-ups" for every age/experience level A troubleshooting guide to address common issues Bonus Digital Material with 23 Videos to demonstrate how games are played Below are just a few of the topics covered in the lessons: Teamwork and Trust. Students will demonstrate an understanding of improv and develop trust with their classmates. Make Associations. Students will practice making associations and discover tools to help them think quickly and creatively. Yes, and. Students will demonstrate the ability to accept a statement or action that they are given and add something to it. Listen. Students will listen to each other by observing how their classmates move and absorbing what their classmates say. Relate. Students will learn to internalize and connect with whatever has been communicated. Be honest. Students will demonstrate honesty in their creation of environments, objects and characters. Be in the present. Students will make strong initiations that are rooted in the present. Tell a story. Students will learn how to incorporate the Important Elements of Storytelling into their scenes. Develop Relationships. Students will explore how status affects relationships, and how it can be used to enhance a scene for comedic or dramatic effect. Scenework. Students will create entertaining scenes with characters who have a strong relationship, locations, a strong initiation, and a conflict.


Book Synopsis Teaching Improv by : Mel Paradis

Download or read book Teaching Improv written by Mel Paradis and published by . This book was released on 2019-04 with total page 146 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Do you want to teach improv, but don't know where to start? Are you looking for ways to structure improv games into effective lesson plans? Introducing Teaching Improv: The Essential Handbook, a new resource packed with 16 step-by-step lesson plans that will take the stress out of planning your improv classes. We've done the hard work for you, by organizing today's best improv games into fun, skill-based lessons that your students will absolutely love. More importantly, you'll see them grow into confident and creative performers. This resource was created by the same award-winning publisher of Teaching Drama: The Essential Handbook, a #1 best-seller on Amazon which has sold over 35,000 copies and has been translated into 5 languages. Go beyond improv games. With this book you'll get: 16 detailed, full-proof lesson plans that cover the "9 rules of improv" Notes on how to introduce improv concepts in clear, concise language Over 114 improv games and activities Reflection and journaling exercises after each lesson Homework handouts and YouTube video links to deepen understanding Sample "performance line-ups" for every age/experience level A troubleshooting guide to address common issues Bonus Digital Material with 23 Videos to demonstrate how games are played Below are just a few of the topics covered in the lessons: Teamwork and Trust. Students will demonstrate an understanding of improv and develop trust with their classmates. Make Associations. Students will practice making associations and discover tools to help them think quickly and creatively. Yes, and. Students will demonstrate the ability to accept a statement or action that they are given and add something to it. Listen. Students will listen to each other by observing how their classmates move and absorbing what their classmates say. Relate. Students will learn to internalize and connect with whatever has been communicated. Be honest. Students will demonstrate honesty in their creation of environments, objects and characters. Be in the present. Students will make strong initiations that are rooted in the present. Tell a story. Students will learn how to incorporate the Important Elements of Storytelling into their scenes. Develop Relationships. Students will explore how status affects relationships, and how it can be used to enhance a scene for comedic or dramatic effect. Scenework. Students will create entertaining scenes with characters who have a strong relationship, locations, a strong initiation, and a conflict.


Improv Nation

Improv Nation

Author: Sam Wasson

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Published: 2017

Total Pages: 485

ISBN-13: 0544557204

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A sweeping yet intimate--and often hilarious--history of a uniquely American art form that has never been more popular


Book Synopsis Improv Nation by : Sam Wasson

Download or read book Improv Nation written by Sam Wasson and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. This book was released on 2017 with total page 485 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A sweeping yet intimate--and often hilarious--history of a uniquely American art form that has never been more popular


Something Wonderful Right Away

Something Wonderful Right Away

Author: Jeffrey Sweet

Publisher: Hal Leonard Corporation

Published: 1987

Total Pages: 452

ISBN-13: 9780879100735

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A brief description of the history and goals of two improvizational comedy groups, the Compass and Second City, accompanies interviews with past members from Mike Nichols to Gilda Radner


Book Synopsis Something Wonderful Right Away by : Jeffrey Sweet

Download or read book Something Wonderful Right Away written by Jeffrey Sweet and published by Hal Leonard Corporation. This book was released on 1987 with total page 452 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A brief description of the history and goals of two improvizational comedy groups, the Compass and Second City, accompanies interviews with past members from Mike Nichols to Gilda Radner