Advanced Improvisation: Game of the Scene

Course Description

Summary

This course is an in-depth exploration of improvised comedy scene work, with a central focus on finding and playing “Game.” Game is loosely defined as a pattern of unusual behavior that breaks from the pattern of your everyday life. In other words, Game is what's funny about your scene.

To play Game in a long-form scene, you’ll learn to answer three key questions:

• What is the situation?

• What is the first unusual thing?

• If this is true, then what else is true?

Building on the fundamentals from Theater Games and Improvisation—such as listening, reacting, agreement, accepting offers, commitment, playing at the top of your intelligence, and being specific—we’ll apply these skills to both premise-based and organic scenes.

This course emphasizes character development through exercises and scene work while introducing advanced improv theory and techniques. You’ll be encouraged to make bold emotional and character choices. The course features two class shows in the second half of the term.