improvarama

Topic: Improv  Goal: Create a new and amusing scene using a quote. Prompt: Use this quote to prompt your improvisation:  Life is opportunity. What we believe can uncover -- or cover over that opportunity. What you believe is up to you. Coaching: Create distinctions in the characters. Who sees opportunity in the darkest situations? What kind of situation are you creating? In the improv, find problems that you can solve together. Try turning conflict into collaboration.  

Premise:   Sometimes we learn a lesson too late to help us while we're learning it...we have to use it later. Scene: Improvise a scene where that premise becomes clear. Characters should struggle with at least three obstacles and vanquish none of them, yet bring the scene to a close with their realizations. Suggested Obstacles (but you can decide): Your point of view could be wrong. You may have created an enemy who will harm you. Throwing money at a problem may not solve it.

Search for any TV listings -- I like to work from an image of a page from TV Guide, but any TV listings will work. Randomly pick the description of one show -- don't cherry pick or look for sensible listings -- the improv challenge is to work with whatever you choose. For added fun, ask someone in the audience to pick and read the description to you, without telling what show it describes. Work with that description AND...GO.

Improv Scene Prompt: Read the quote Reflect for one-minute Start your scene Here's the quote (but you can use the same prompt with other quotes, too): Do not admire famous people too much -- they could carry a sadness that would crush you. -- doug smith