It's every actor and crew member's nightmare: something going wrong onstage. Someone forgets a line, an actor misses an entrance, a light blows out, a mic stops working...there's all kinds of opportunities for accidents in live theater.
Yes, these mistakes are horrifying when they happen. But when you look back on them, honestly?...they make for the best stories. You can always laugh about it later. And most of the time, the audience doesn't even notice!
We here at Improv Playhouse have had our fair share of theater-gone-wrong stories. Just so you know that it isn't the end of the world, here are some of our favorites:
-"I worked on a show for preschool kids where, before entering the theater, the kids went through several hallways that engaged the senses. One was the hamster disco. The hamster disco had stars all over the walls, a rotating disco ball, and a video of hamsters playing projected on the wall. One day, after our pre-show meeting in the theater, we went into the hall and it smelled of SMOKE. We ran around trying to fix it and discovered that our cheap disco ball was the culprit! We immediately turned it off and opened all of the doors we could. The kids were waiting outside with their chaperones (who were very suspicious of our frantic door-opening), but they were having a blast just being outside. Once the smell died down and we assured everyone of their safety, we brought the kids through and skipped the disco. They certainly didn't notice! They and their chaperones loved the show. And for the rest of the run, we just turned the disco ball on without letting it rotate and all was well."
-"In high school, I was an ensemble member in Into the Woods. Our one and only dance number came at the end of the opening song as the main characters head into the woods. On opening night, I waited until exactly the right moment to take my first creeping step onstage with everyone else--and the buckle of my shoe caught on the hem of my dress! I yanked it free, but the buckle ripped off! It was too late to do anything about it, so I had to wobble onstage and dance anyway. Luckily, I didn't twist my ankle, and also luckily, our wonderful costume lady was there during the performance. I ran my poor little shoe over to her and she was able to fix it before I needed it next!"
-"I was asleep in my bed the night before my production of Godspell opened--and in my sleep, I pulled my calf. Bad. I had to hobble around in crutches the next day and the whole cast had to arrive early to go over what needed to be changed! I was so embarrassed. But everything worked out well--there was even one song where everyone danced with canes, so I just used my crutch instead. There was also a part where everyone was yelling at each other, and just as we were cut off, my friend turned to me and yelled "SHUT UP, GIMP!" The audience burst out laughing and it took every ounce of self-control for me to hold it together! (And don't worry--I was recovered for the rest of our run!)"
-"During a run of The Imaginary Invalid, one of the actors (who was onstage the entire second act) had a hairpiece wrapped around his ponytail to make it look like he had long hair. His character talked to his brother (who was also on the entire second act). The brother wore a headpiece shaped like a turban with two curls of hair attached to make it look like his long hair was escaping it. Towards the beginning of the act, the first actor's hairpiece fell right off--just a quick little plop on to the stage. He turned and stared at it while the audience laughed. He turned back to his brother and improvised, "It's a piece." The audience roared with laughter and his brother said, "It's okay! Me too!" and lifted up his turban to show that the hair was attached. The audience could tell this wasn't scripted, but it was handled so well on stage that they didn't care. The brother just picked up the fallen hairpiece, yelled the name of the show's maid, and threw it offstage. Worked like a charm!"
We want to know--what are YOUR favorite stories of theater gone wrong? Tell us below!
Monday, February 6, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Quick Improv Games: Genre Replay/Scene Three Ways
Do you ever see your life through the lens of a movie? What kind of movie would it be? Romantic comedy? Silent film? Horror? (I hope not!)
In today's Quick Improv Game, you get to embody several genres in the scene you perform. How, you ask? It's quite simple! Just play this fun game known by many names: Genre Replay, aka Scene Three Ways!
Start your scene like it's any normal improv scene with one or two others. You can ask for whatever you like from the audience--relationship, conflict, location, the usual. Perform a short scene for them. But you have to remember each step you take in this scene!
When you're done, take a short bow. But then say to the audience, "How would you like to see that scene done differently? What genre should that scene be in now?" Get a genre suggestion from the audience, and redo that exact same scene as if it were from a movie in that genre! Don't be afraid to change lines, aspects of your character, and certain steps from your escalating tactics. As long as it's a similar scene in essence, have fun with it!
Finish up your new version amid laughter and applause. But ask for yet another genre this time! If you can, make it as different a genre as possible from the previous scene, just to keep things interesting. Again, don't be afraid to play with your givens this round! Wrap it up in a vaguely similar way and enjoy the raucous applause.
What are some genres that you can expect from the audience? Well, don't expect them to stay limited to movie genres! There's...
-Action
-Three Stooges
-Shakespeare (harder than you'd think!)
-Musical (also hard, but worth it if you can stumble your way through!)
-Cooking Show
-After School Special
-Anime
-Soap Opera
-Music Video
And many more! And don't be afraid to try a genre that you aren't too familiar with. Sometimes you get the best scenes that way!
Have you played this game? What were some of your favorite genres? How did you adapt your scene?
In today's Quick Improv Game, you get to embody several genres in the scene you perform. How, you ask? It's quite simple! Just play this fun game known by many names: Genre Replay, aka Scene Three Ways!
Start your scene like it's any normal improv scene with one or two others. You can ask for whatever you like from the audience--relationship, conflict, location, the usual. Perform a short scene for them. But you have to remember each step you take in this scene!
When you're done, take a short bow. But then say to the audience, "How would you like to see that scene done differently? What genre should that scene be in now?" Get a genre suggestion from the audience, and redo that exact same scene as if it were from a movie in that genre! Don't be afraid to change lines, aspects of your character, and certain steps from your escalating tactics. As long as it's a similar scene in essence, have fun with it!
Finish up your new version amid laughter and applause. But ask for yet another genre this time! If you can, make it as different a genre as possible from the previous scene, just to keep things interesting. Again, don't be afraid to play with your givens this round! Wrap it up in a vaguely similar way and enjoy the raucous applause.
What are some genres that you can expect from the audience? Well, don't expect them to stay limited to movie genres! There's...
-Action
-Three Stooges
-Shakespeare (harder than you'd think!)
-Musical (also hard, but worth it if you can stumble your way through!)
-Cooking Show
-After School Special
-Anime
-Soap Opera
-Music Video
And many more! And don't be afraid to try a genre that you aren't too familiar with. Sometimes you get the best scenes that way!
Have you played this game? What were some of your favorite genres? How did you adapt your scene?
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Happy New Year!
Hello to our lovely fans and followers! We hope you had a lovely holiday. Ippy went a little overboard on the fruitcake this year, but otherwise we all had a joyful season.
We here at Improv Playhouse want to take this opportunity to thank you for being involved with us this year. Whether you took a class, performed in a show, taught a class, or marched in the Libertyville parade, you have been an important part of our team this year. Your continued engagement with Improv Playhouse has meant so much to us. Truly, 2011 would not have been the success that it was without the input of each camper, performer, student, director, and staff member.
Thank you for joining us, and we hope you'll be part of our team in 2012. There are many ways of getting involved - all you have to do is ask! Thanks for reading, and stay tuned next year for more fun theater tips, tricks, and insider info from Three-Wall Room!
-Allie and the IP staff
PS - Have an idea of what you'd like to see at Improv Playhouse in 2012? Leave us a comment below!
We here at Improv Playhouse want to take this opportunity to thank you for being involved with us this year. Whether you took a class, performed in a show, taught a class, or marched in the Libertyville parade, you have been an important part of our team this year. Your continued engagement with Improv Playhouse has meant so much to us. Truly, 2011 would not have been the success that it was without the input of each camper, performer, student, director, and staff member.
Thank you for joining us, and we hope you'll be part of our team in 2012. There are many ways of getting involved - all you have to do is ask! Thanks for reading, and stay tuned next year for more fun theater tips, tricks, and insider info from Three-Wall Room!
-Allie and the IP staff
PS - Have an idea of what you'd like to see at Improv Playhouse in 2012? Leave us a comment below!
Friday, November 11, 2011
Improv Playhouse wants to thank veterans - through stand-up!
Hello, our assuredly attractive readers!
Veterans Day is a wonderful way to honor those who have served. No matter the kind of duty, these brave men and women have done some amazing things for their country--and that means for you and I. So thank you, veterans, for all you have done and still do.
And the best way Improv Playhouse knows how to honor people is through comedy! We're hosting a "funny not filthy" adult stand-up show tonight in honor of our veterans from 8:30-10:00 pm at the Round Lake Beach Cultural & Civic Center. It will have you guffawing! Here's the line-up:
Emcee Dobie Maxwell (of Zanies and The Improv fame)
Karl Newyear (The World's Funniest Lutheran)
& Michelle Krajecki (The Queen of Christian Comedy)
Tickets are $12.50 each, or 2 for $20. All veterans are FREE! 10% of the proceeds will go towards the Wounded Warrior Project. We hope to see you there! And, as always, please contact Improv Playhouse with any questions you may have at (847) 968-4529.
Are you a veteran? What are you doing today to mark the occasion?
Veterans Day is a wonderful way to honor those who have served. No matter the kind of duty, these brave men and women have done some amazing things for their country--and that means for you and I. So thank you, veterans, for all you have done and still do.
And the best way Improv Playhouse knows how to honor people is through comedy! We're hosting a "funny not filthy" adult stand-up show tonight in honor of our veterans from 8:30-10:00 pm at the Round Lake Beach Cultural & Civic Center. It will have you guffawing! Here's the line-up:
Emcee Dobie Maxwell (of Zanies and The Improv fame)
Karl Newyear (The World's Funniest Lutheran)
& Michelle Krajecki (The Queen of Christian Comedy)
Tickets are $12.50 each, or 2 for $20. All veterans are FREE! 10% of the proceeds will go towards the Wounded Warrior Project. We hope to see you there! And, as always, please contact Improv Playhouse with any questions you may have at (847) 968-4529.
Are you a veteran? What are you doing today to mark the occasion?
Monday, November 7, 2011
Improv Scene Basics: Finding a Conflict
When it comes to improv, one of the most important things you need to establish in your scene is a conflict. (In real life, this is a little less desirable.) No conflict = nothing to do. Nothing to do = a boring scene for your audience. And we certainly can't have that!
In some games, it's much easier to figure out your conflict because it's given to you. For example, in Party Quirks, the conflict is the need to figure out who the guests are. But in a game like Genre Replay (aka Scene Three Ways), it's absolutely crucial to find your conflict. When you redo your scene, the audience will know what to look forward to and you will have something to work with.
So how do you go about finding your conflict? Well, sometimes it's given to you by the audience. Your emcee might ask specifically for a conflict ("There are no paper towels left in the house!"), or it might be obvious in your character or setting suggestion ("Teacher and disruptive student!" "In a volcano!"). But that doesn't happen too often, so it's best not to count on it.
Take your givens--whatever your suggestions are from the audience as well as the confines of the game. If it's Genre Replay, remember you'll be doing your scene again in a different style. If it's Freeze, remember you'll need to keep it short and include some wild poses and gestures for your fellow teammates. The rules of the game should help you rather than hinder you in terms of what you need to do and how to do it.
The next step is a logical one for any improviser: think, "How can I take what I know and cause some drama?" No matter how normal or wacky your givens may be, all you have to do is figure out what might throw things off.
Let's do an example. Say you're doing a basic open scene (no rules) and your suggestion is a relationship, so you and your scene partner are neighbors. What could be the problem?
-Each neighbor's lawn has grass of a different height
-A ball is in one neighbor's yard, but the other neighbor isn't allowed to retrieve it.
-The water isn't working, so neither can shower, water the lawn, or wash their hands.
-Whose flowers will win the garden show???
-A stray dog dug holes in everyone's yard--and uncovered some buried treasure
These are all simple ideas that can turn a basic scene into a grand adventure. You can even be inspired by your own life (the "no water" idea happened to my dad and his neighbors). Taking steps to resolve that conflict is your next step--but that's another blog post.
For anyone but the experts, we highly recommend keeping the conflict external (which means your conflict shouldn't be BETWEEN you and your fellow improvisers). If you and your partner aren't allowed to work together to find a solution, much of what improv builds upon is lost. The beauty of each scene is that you get through it with teamwork as well as building from everyone's imagination. It's hard for you, your partner, and the audience to get through a scene filled with animosity.
We would wish you luck in your scenes, but you won't need it. Finding the conflict is easier than you think. Just relax and play. You'll be surprised how conflicts can come naturally out of your givens.
In some games, it's much easier to figure out your conflict because it's given to you. For example, in Party Quirks, the conflict is the need to figure out who the guests are. But in a game like Genre Replay (aka Scene Three Ways), it's absolutely crucial to find your conflict. When you redo your scene, the audience will know what to look forward to and you will have something to work with.
So how do you go about finding your conflict? Well, sometimes it's given to you by the audience. Your emcee might ask specifically for a conflict ("There are no paper towels left in the house!"), or it might be obvious in your character or setting suggestion ("Teacher and disruptive student!" "In a volcano!"). But that doesn't happen too often, so it's best not to count on it.
Take your givens--whatever your suggestions are from the audience as well as the confines of the game. If it's Genre Replay, remember you'll be doing your scene again in a different style. If it's Freeze, remember you'll need to keep it short and include some wild poses and gestures for your fellow teammates. The rules of the game should help you rather than hinder you in terms of what you need to do and how to do it.
The next step is a logical one for any improviser: think, "How can I take what I know and cause some drama?" No matter how normal or wacky your givens may be, all you have to do is figure out what might throw things off.
Let's do an example. Say you're doing a basic open scene (no rules) and your suggestion is a relationship, so you and your scene partner are neighbors. What could be the problem?
-Each neighbor's lawn has grass of a different height
-A ball is in one neighbor's yard, but the other neighbor isn't allowed to retrieve it.
-The water isn't working, so neither can shower, water the lawn, or wash their hands.
-Whose flowers will win the garden show???
-A stray dog dug holes in everyone's yard--and uncovered some buried treasure
These are all simple ideas that can turn a basic scene into a grand adventure. You can even be inspired by your own life (the "no water" idea happened to my dad and his neighbors). Taking steps to resolve that conflict is your next step--but that's another blog post.
For anyone but the experts, we highly recommend keeping the conflict external (which means your conflict shouldn't be BETWEEN you and your fellow improvisers). If you and your partner aren't allowed to work together to find a solution, much of what improv builds upon is lost. The beauty of each scene is that you get through it with teamwork as well as building from everyone's imagination. It's hard for you, your partner, and the audience to get through a scene filled with animosity.
We would wish you luck in your scenes, but you won't need it. Finding the conflict is easier than you think. Just relax and play. You'll be surprised how conflicts can come naturally out of your givens.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Halloween Improv Games
Are you throwing a Halloween party? Need some spooooooky games to play? Well, you've come to the right place. Some of these are scary on their own, and for some all you need is a haunting suggestion!
Chain Murder: Three people go out of the room, and while they're gone, one person sees a MURDER! The first person is told the murder's location, the occupation of the victim, and the weapon used (remember these with the acronym LOW). Person #2 comes in from outside, and the first person needs to tell the second what happened--but they both speak gibberish! Once the second person has learned the LOW-down, they MURDER the first person! The third person from outside the room comes in, and second person needs to tell the third person what happened. Once he/she figures it out, the third MURDERS the second! The fourth comes in and finds out what happened from the third. Once the fourth person finds out, he/she MURDERS the third! Then all four need to tell the audience what they think the location, occupation, and weapon were. It ends up being like the game telephone--it's never the same! (This description makes the game sound very complicated, but don't worry, it's not hard at all!)
Spooky Party Quirks: Party Quirks is an improv classic! One person is the host of the party, and they leave the room. Three other people are guests at the party, but each one gets a strange quirk or identity from the audience. For this Halloween version, think monsters, ghosts, or Voldemort! Once the guests know who they are, the host comes back in and throws a party! The host needs to figure out who the scary guests are...before they get him!
Zombies: This starts out like a normal improv game--you get any basic scene suggestions from the audience that you want (location, relationship, conflict, the usual). But at any point, another player who isn't in the scene can MURDER one of the other people in it and take their place! Anyone who gets murdered has to stay on the floor until someone yells "ZOMBIES!" Then they can get up and go back to their seat, but only if they move like a zombie.
Horror Freeze: Two people start a scene, but it has to be Halloween-themed! At any point, someone else can yell "FREEZE!" The two people have to freeze, and the new person taps out one of the two and starts a new scene based on the position they were in. But again, keep it all Halloween-themed! Perhaps there's a visit to a graveyard, or a spooky mansion, or Dracula!
Whatever you do for your Halloween party, be safe and have lots of fun! Halloween is a great time to play games and have lots of fun. And candy.
Also, if you want a spook, come see the Improv Playhouse Radio Players perform DRACULA, this Saturday night at our black box! Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for seniors, students, and military at the door, but if you come in a costume, you get $2 off. Join us for either of two shows at 7:30 or 9:00 pm. We'll see you there...and so will the Count...
Chain Murder: Three people go out of the room, and while they're gone, one person sees a MURDER! The first person is told the murder's location, the occupation of the victim, and the weapon used (remember these with the acronym LOW). Person #2 comes in from outside, and the first person needs to tell the second what happened--but they both speak gibberish! Once the second person has learned the LOW-down, they MURDER the first person! The third person from outside the room comes in, and second person needs to tell the third person what happened. Once he/she figures it out, the third MURDERS the second! The fourth comes in and finds out what happened from the third. Once the fourth person finds out, he/she MURDERS the third! Then all four need to tell the audience what they think the location, occupation, and weapon were. It ends up being like the game telephone--it's never the same! (This description makes the game sound very complicated, but don't worry, it's not hard at all!)
Spooky Party Quirks: Party Quirks is an improv classic! One person is the host of the party, and they leave the room. Three other people are guests at the party, but each one gets a strange quirk or identity from the audience. For this Halloween version, think monsters, ghosts, or Voldemort! Once the guests know who they are, the host comes back in and throws a party! The host needs to figure out who the scary guests are...before they get him!
Zombies: This starts out like a normal improv game--you get any basic scene suggestions from the audience that you want (location, relationship, conflict, the usual). But at any point, another player who isn't in the scene can MURDER one of the other people in it and take their place! Anyone who gets murdered has to stay on the floor until someone yells "ZOMBIES!" Then they can get up and go back to their seat, but only if they move like a zombie.
Horror Freeze: Two people start a scene, but it has to be Halloween-themed! At any point, someone else can yell "FREEZE!" The two people have to freeze, and the new person taps out one of the two and starts a new scene based on the position they were in. But again, keep it all Halloween-themed! Perhaps there's a visit to a graveyard, or a spooky mansion, or Dracula!
Whatever you do for your Halloween party, be safe and have lots of fun! Halloween is a great time to play games and have lots of fun. And candy.
Also, if you want a spook, come see the Improv Playhouse Radio Players perform DRACULA, this Saturday night at our black box! Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for seniors, students, and military at the door, but if you come in a costume, you get $2 off. Join us for either of two shows at 7:30 or 9:00 pm. We'll see you there...and so will the Count...
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Quick Improv Games: Press Conference
Good morning on this dreary, drizzly day!
Want to shake these gray-day doldrums? Try a fun improv game that has quickly become a favorite of the class I'm currently teaching--Press Conference!
This is a fun guessing game that where everyone can get a turn. As with all of the games in our Quick Improv series, the premise is simple: one person leaves the room (or if you're on a car trip, covers their ears) and everyone else decides who they are. The person returns to the room (or uncovers their ears) and is immediately the star of a press conference. Everyone else is a reporter--and it's their job to help the guesser figure out who they are through the questions asked.
Now this seems easy, but if you want to have maximum fun, the reporters have to be very clever. They must use our favorite improv technique: escalating tactics! This means starting off with clues that may not be obvious right away and working up to the more revealing ones.
Let's do an example. Say the reporters decide the speaker is Mickey Mouse...
The guesser also has a lot to keep track of. They need to answer the questions while not knowing who they are! If our guesser is still Mickey Mouse and the question is "Why do you like hanging out with a duck and a dog?"....
If you're the guesser, try working your guess into an answer! Instead of "Am I Mickey Mouse?", try "I love cheese because I'm Mickey Mouse!"
Have lots of fun! If you want an extra challenge, add an extra step: the guesser has to figure out who they are AND what they did! Whether you're Peter Pan or Voldemort, this game is lots of fun.
-Allie
Want to shake these gray-day doldrums? Try a fun improv game that has quickly become a favorite of the class I'm currently teaching--Press Conference!
This is a fun guessing game that where everyone can get a turn. As with all of the games in our Quick Improv series, the premise is simple: one person leaves the room (or if you're on a car trip, covers their ears) and everyone else decides who they are. The person returns to the room (or uncovers their ears) and is immediately the star of a press conference. Everyone else is a reporter--and it's their job to help the guesser figure out who they are through the questions asked.
Now this seems easy, but if you want to have maximum fun, the reporters have to be very clever. They must use our favorite improv technique: escalating tactics! This means starting off with clues that may not be obvious right away and working up to the more revealing ones.
Let's do an example. Say the reporters decide the speaker is Mickey Mouse...
Bad first question: "How do you like being the mascot of Disney?" (This gives it away far too quickly.)
Good first question: "Do your big ears help you hear?" (This tells the guesser a little bit about who they are, but it could still go in many different directions!)
Bad question: "Tell us about your friends." (This puts the guesser in a terrible position! They don't know who they are yet and can't get any information out of this. They would also have to make up an answer that will throw everyone off track.)
Good question: "Why do you like hanging out with a duck and a dog?" (This gives them information while letting them answer in a way that will make sure the game keeps going in a good way!)
The guesser also has a lot to keep track of. They need to answer the questions while not knowing who they are! If our guesser is still Mickey Mouse and the question is "Why do you like hanging out with a duck and a dog?"....
Bad answer: "Ummmmmmmmmmmmm....'cuz."
Good answer: "Well, they make for good company. I can count on them to catch flies and chase cats."
If you're the guesser, try working your guess into an answer! Instead of "Am I Mickey Mouse?", try "I love cheese because I'm Mickey Mouse!"
Have lots of fun! If you want an extra challenge, add an extra step: the guesser has to figure out who they are AND what they did! Whether you're Peter Pan or Voldemort, this game is lots of fun.
-Allie
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)