by Gary Schwartz | Oct 18, 2018 | Giberish, Improv Games
Gibberish / Past Incident Beginners have varying success with Gibberish. In this orientation game,(as Spolin says) expect the gibberish to be mostly done with pantomimic gestures. Also when presenting the game do not tell them how, just ask them to solve the problem...
by Gary Schwartz | Oct 18, 2018 | Improv Games, Lecture / Explanation, Orientation, Sidecoaching, Space Objects
Making the Invisible Visible This is a very important exercise. Space is the most neglected aspect in Improvisation. I stress it, because beyond seeing, it requires strong focus and goes a long way to create a compelling stage reality. In this video, I demonstrate and...
by Gary Schwartz | Oct 18, 2018 | Improv Games, Warm Up Games
Practice pushing the limits of spontaneous response. Although not the same game Numbers Change in the book. (pg. 407), Viola had us play this game several times. The aim is to enhance your impulse to respond instantly. I think also it gets everyone used to working at...
by Gary Schwartz | Oct 18, 2018 | Verbal Agility, Warm Up Games
Practice pushing the limits of spontaneous story building. This is a version of Build a Story – One-Word-at-a-Time, often called Story, Story Die! Rather than being an elimination game and creating a funny death to celebrate your failure, this version allows you...
by Gary Schwartz | Oct 18, 2018 | Improv Games, Refining Awareness, The Spolin Players, The Where, Who Games
Art Gallery Akin to Who Am I?, many often call this game “Endowment”. How it is played in current Improv training bears little resemblance to the original exercise. Players A and B. A is seated and B enters the art gallery and has given A some unusual...
by Gary Schwartz | Oct 18, 2018 | Improv Games, Sidecoaching, Space Objects, The Spolin Players, The Where
On Building and Using the Where “Many actors find it difficult to “reach beyond their noses” and must be freed for a wider physical relationship with the environment.” Improvisation for the Theater Most modern improv practice puts very little...
by Gary Schwartz | Oct 18, 2018 | Give and Take, Improv Games, Refining Awareness, The Spolin Players, Verbal Agility
Contrapuntal Argument A, B and C Two players and a timekeeper and a scorer. Contrapuntal Argument A The players begin an argument involving both of them, with both developing and unfolding his own theme. They are to talk simultaneously and without pause. The object is...
by Gary Schwartz | Oct 18, 2018 | Improv Games, Refining Awareness, The Spolin Players, Verbal Agility, Viola Spolin
Singing Dialogue Viola Spolin was aware that singing uses another area of the brain and is important to help ‘unhook’ your dialogue from the meaning. New rhythms and patterns emerge and can also help memorized dialogue in scripted material, as a...
by Gary Schwartz | Oct 18, 2018 | Games, Give and Take, Improv Games, Lecture / Explanation, Refining Awareness, The Spolin Players
No Motion with the Spolin Players The concept of No-Motion is a quiet holding onto a moment for as long as one can, before it becomes static. As you go into no-motion it is both a thing to do and a thing to hold (like a mantra). When in No-Motion you are the eye of...
by Gary Schwartz | Oct 18, 2018 | Follow the Follower, Improv Games, Refining Awareness, The Spolin Players, The Where, Verbal Agility
Dubbing is Following the Follower The Game of Dubbing requires a warm-up of two-team mirror, follow the follower and mirror speech. This has all those earlier exercises in it, all rolled into one great, fun game. It’s easy to fall into traps. Watch to make sure...
by Gary Schwartz | Oct 18, 2018 | Follow the Follower, Improv Games, Lecture / Explanation
A discussion of Space Objects and Follow the Follower vs. Yes,...
by Gary Schwartz | Oct 18, 2018 | Follow the Follower, Giberish, Verbal Agility
Fluency with Gibberish and Verbal Agility The Spolin Players (www.spolinplayers.com) have been doing Gib-Interp as a show game for the past 27 years. Here’s an example of great gibberish and great translation, by David McCharen and Danny Mann. Something to say...
by Gary Schwartz | Oct 18, 2018 | Follow the Follower, Improv Games, Mirror Games, Orientation, Sidecoaching
You’re All in it Together! A good question that was brought up is “is it possible not to look at another player and share the motion?” The urge to tell what I know about this game has to be avoided. It’s the player’s problem. If I...
by Gary Schwartz | Oct 18, 2018 | Follow the Follower, Improv Games, Refining Awareness, Sidecoaching, The Spolin Players, Viola Spolin
Action / Interaction / Transformation One of the most gratifying games to play for me is Transformations. Finding new relationships in partnership with another player in a kaleidoscope kind of way is so invigorating. No Urgency / No Motion / Heighten and...
by Gary Schwartz | Oct 18, 2018 | Follow the Follower, Improv Games, Mirror Games, Orientation, Sidecoaching, Warm Up Games
Following the Follower gives the players a Direct Experience This most essential exercise has many variations. Note the sidecoaching is not done to any one person, but in general, allowing each team to use what they need and ignore the coach if already doing it. Also...
by Gary Schwartz | Oct 18, 2018 | Follow the Follower, Improv Games, Mirror Games, Orientation, Warm Up Games
Variations of Mirror This most essential exercise has many variations. Three Way Mirror is a good problem to face once Two person mirror is solved. There are other variations. Who Started the Motion warm-up game, Mirror/Sub-Teams, Fun House Mirror, where each...
by Gary Schwartz | Oct 18, 2018 | Follow the Follower, Improv Games, Lecture / Explanation, Mirror Games, Refining Awareness, Verbal Agility, Viola Spolin
Focus on Reflection vs. Content Mirror Speech gives a good example of true improvisation. It is not turn-taking or mimicking. Rather it allows both players to explore ideas and let the story (such as it is) go where it will. It will often become a flight of fanciful...
by Gary Schwartz | Oct 18, 2018 | Follow the Follower, Improv Games, Lecture / Explanation, Mirror Games, Sidecoaching
Mirror Speech leading to Follow the Follower This is a good example of coaching people into following the follower. Note where resistance to the focus presents itself and helps clarify the concept of Following the Follower in the evaluation.
by Gary Schwartz | Oct 18, 2018 | Follow the Follower, Improv Games, Lecture / Explanation, Refining Awareness, Sidecoaching, Space Objects, Theory
Intuition vs. Intellect: A discussion of Yes, And… & More Improv rules like Yes, and… and Make Your Partner Look Good, makes for some wonderful improvisational moments, but is limited. The dimension of Space is often left out and the connection between...
