The Improv Handbook (the Ultimate Guide To Improvising In Comedy, Theatre, And Beyond)

By (author) Salinsky Tom; By (author) Frances-White Deborah
Short description/annotation
A guide that covers the history of improvisation and includes chapters on spontaneity and the fundamentals of storytelling. It also includes sections on how to improvise in front of an audience and - just as crucially - how to attract an audience in the first place.
Description
"The Improv Handbook" is a great new guide that covers the history of improvisation and includes chapters on spontaneity and the fundamentals of storytelling.Although there are already several successful books on the market about the theory and practice of improvised theatre, there''s nothing comprehensive, helpful, fun and full of experience and advice."The Improv Handbook" is a great new guide from a husband and wife team who have years of studying, performance and teaching behind them. Beginning with a history of improvisation, the book works through different types of format and performance including TheatreSports and the inventions of Keith Johnstone and Del Close. The core section of the book is called, simply, "How To Improvise" and includes chapters on spontaneity, the fundamentals of storytelling, working together, upping the ante and characters.Having established the fundamentals, the two authors go on to elaborate on more advanced techniques and skills. The book concludes with sections on how to improvise in front of an audience and - just as crucially - how to attract an audience in the first place." The Improv Handbook" should become a standard book in the field - it''s smart, fun, helpful, and inspiring, and it''s on a mission to bring Improv to a much wider audience.
Table of contents
Part One: Improvisation; Part Two: How to Improvise; Part Three: How To Improve; Part Four: How To Improvise In Public; Part Five: How To Improvise All Over the World; Part Six: Making Improvisation Pay; Part Seven: Talk the Talk - Interviews with Improvisers; Part Eight: Final Thoughts; Glossary, bibliography, index, useful contacts.
Review quote
Title mention in Bookseller Buyers Guide.
Review quote
"Cofounders of the London-based improvisational theater company The Spontaneity Shop, Salinsky and Frances-White provide a wonderful addition to the growing literature on theatrical improvisation. The book can serve as both a scholarly resource, since it covers the history of improvisation from its beginnings to the present, and a practical guide, for the beginner and advanced improviser... The authors include interviews with ten leading international improvisers, and they conclude with an appendix that details many of the most common improvisational games used in academic and professional settings. This book is a must for institutions supporting theater and performance programs. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers, all levels." -S.W. Cole, CHOICE, January 2009
Biographical note
Tom Salinsky and Deborah Francis - White are the co-founders of The Spontaneity Shop. Together they have performed improvisation for The Royal Court, The RSC Summer Season, The Gilded Balloon at the Edinburgh Festival and at the Bloomsbury Theatre. They have toured the world and performed at many comedy festivals by invitation. They teach at RADA, The Actors Centre, The National Youth Theatre and many other colleges and institutions, as well as their own successful workshop program.
Promotional headline
The Improv Handbook is a great new guide from a husband and wife team who have years of studying, performance, and teaching behind them. Beginning with a history of improvisation, the book works through different types of format and performance, including TheatreSports and the inventions of Keith Johnstone and Del Close. The core section of the book is called, simply, "How To Improvise" and includes chapters on spontaneity, the fundamentals of storytelling, working together, up