The Improv RefineryImprov Prediction for 20192018 was a tumultuous year for improv theaters. UCB, facing rising rent in NYC, laid off much of its sales and marketing team. iO West…Jan 2, 2019Jan 2, 2019
The Improv RefineryImprov and ValidationA throwaway account recently posted the following to the improv forums on Reddit. Their text is in quotes, inserted where relevant and…Jul 29, 2018Jul 29, 2018
The Improv RefineryGetting Started“And three people do it, three, can you imagine, three people walking in, singin’ a bar of Alice’s Restaurant, and walking out? They may…May 3, 2018May 3, 2018
The Improv RefineryThe Lap Dance ProblemYou may have seen this or something like this in an improv class: Alex and Beth get on stage. Alex pulls out a chair, sits down, and says…Apr 24, 2018Apr 24, 2018
The Improv RefineryI Can’t Stress Accents EnoughLet’s do a quick experiment. Close this window for a second, look up, and do an Italian character, and then come back.Dec 28, 2017Dec 28, 2017
The Improv RefineryThere Is No TryWe do comedy, and yet we also get told “don’t try to be funny.” So, which is it? Certainly we have to try if we want to put on a funny…Dec 28, 2017Dec 28, 2017
The Improv RefineryImprov and First DraftsWhat follows is a first draft to the introduction of a project I’m working on. I’m going to leave it up here for a little while, and I’m…Aug 6, 2017Aug 6, 2017
The Improv RefineryThat Great Somewhere Out ThereIt’s been a year, year and a half. A few improv classes later, a couple hundred or even thousand dollars later, and something feels off. At…May 23, 2017May 23, 2017
The Improv RefineryMind Meld MindsetThe first time I played Mind Meld was in 2011 in Olympia, WA, with two performers I had never met before. By the time the game ended after…May 13, 2017May 13, 2017
The Improv RefineryBlind Tiger Town HallOn Wednesday, March 1, I hosted a town hall dedicated to the Blind Tiger series of improv shows. Our goal was to talk a bit about what…Mar 4, 2017Mar 4, 2017