Some Notes and Tips for Monoscenes→

An interesting look at ways to execute monoscenes – think of them less as one long scene that’s played slowly and more of a series of scenes without sweep edits or tag outs.

The Zen of Improv: Improviser’s Mind Beginner’s Mind→

As I understand it, “beginner’s mind” is about staying open to new ideas, taking risks, living in a state of not-knowing, being curious, eager, and ready. With a beginner’s mind, everything is new and interesting and accepted. […] A lot of times, the more practice we have, the farther away we get from the honest curiosity and openness of our beginner’s mind. I remember a conversation I had with TJ once about how to figure out what was a truly honest response in a scene, and I mentioned using my “improviser instincts.” He castigated me, saying that if I’ve had so many improv classes that I had forgotten my natural, honest human instincts and react only according to my improviser training, then I’ve taken too many improv classes.

https://instagram.com/p/0CXtmmkqQW/

Working with Del Close→

I made Del my guru, my father, my higher power. I swore that his way was the only way, and I became judgmental of other people’s brand of improv. I would jealously put down people who got hired by Second City for the touring company because they where not trained “the right way” like myself – and by doing that, I limited by learning and my opportunities.