Moving Forward: 2014 MAAD Improv Company

     We cannot move forward unless we see where we came from:

     2013 saw the forming of our company and we rehearsed 50+ times and performed 10 shows at a variety of locations and under varied circumstances.  We lost some valuable members and gained new valuable members, lost a rehearsal/performance home, and are in the works to gain a new one.  Many people gave up their homes for our rehearsals and/or get-togethers and all sacrificed their time.  We started playing short form games and ended performing three styles of long form games.  It was a great first year for the Sid Homan inspired and Norma Homan driven improv company and I want to thank you all for your time, dedication, and creative spirit.

     Below are some ideas I would like to share with you.  Please use this blog to respond, ask questions, and to make suggestions.  If, for some reason, you are having problems registering to get on the blog, let me know.  This is a much easier way to discuss than emails are, so please take advantage of this blog - it's yours!

     Moving forward, we are going to change the structure of how we rehearse, I will suggest some ideas on how we perform our shows, and am opening the discussion of group get-togethers (field trips, movie nights, etc.).  A lot of these ideas and/or suggestions came from you folks, so thank you for sharing them with me.  I think we are at a spot where we can take our performances to the next level and I believe this because of how the company evolved last year. 

Performance Ideas

     Now that we're performing both long and short form, I'd like us to continue delving deeper into long form by spending as much time as possible on the Harold long form.  It is a lot of fun once you get the hang of it and can really take us and the audiences to some amazing places.  To me, performing the Harold in a show is my #1 goal for 2014. 

     In addition, we'll try new games, work on old ones that need tinkering, and I'm hoping we can finally start working on the musical aspect of improv, meaning we perform an improvisational musical.  I can support musical improv, but don't have the knowledge or talent to run it, so I need someone to step up to take the lead on this (if this is a direction we want to take).  If you have musical knowledge and can play an instrument or 3, and can research on how to format music into improv (please, do the research), let me know and I will set aside rehearsal time for it.

    We will also begin performing non-improv bits/skits into shows.  I didn't want to do this last year because I wanted us to focus on learning improv before we went anywhere else.  I think we can start incorporating some of our other talents.  These bits may include 10-30 second wipes between games (2-4 per show) that could be dance routines, fake boxing matches in slow motion, fake commercials, fake songs/raps, etc.  I'm open to stand up/dramatic monologues, but they would have to be well rehearsed and tight bits 10-30 seconds long (no more).  I'd prefer these bits to be created and rehearsed in the informal rehearsals so that we focus on improv during the formal/performance rehearsals.  Videos are another avenue we could venture into as we could make short videos that the audience could watch before the show, during intermission, and/or during the show between games.  I'm wide open to all of this now, but will tell you that quality of these non-improv bits is vital.  Remember our audience.

Non-Rehearsal Get-Togethers: 

     Don't be afraid to send out an email to the group for karaoke nights, movies, hiking/camping, art walk, bbq, dungeon and dragons - basically anything.  I know we're all busy, but I think once a month or something like that it would be fun to get together outside of improv.  This will help bond and form trust within the group as well as just being fun.  If you can make it, great, if not, no worries.  These would not be mandatory, but they would be fundatory. 

Rehearsal Structure

     I am proposing the below rehearsal structure changes because we are a year-round performance group and I can't expect everyone to make all the rehearsals.  That's just silly.  So, the informal once a week rehearsal format is when we're not rehearsing for a show and we're experimenting and just having fun at rehearsals.  These are non-mandatory rehearsals, but I do encourage you to make as many of them as possible.  The formal/performance rehearsals will be a 6 week series of once a week rehearsals in which the 6th week is the performance.  These 5 rehearsals are mandatory, but you are allowed one unexpected absence and, if you tell me before the 6 week series begins that you have a scheduling conflict due to work, travel, or other life events, then that is fine, too. 

     The non-mandatory weekly rehearsals we could use to cover the basics of improv, new games, old games, and an open idea-exchanging dialogue between everyone to just have fun.  If you miss an informal rehearsal or a series of them, no worries, they're simply informal.  The informal rehearsals will be year round and the only thing I request is to keep an open dialogue (via email/text) when you can/can't make the informal rehearsals.  I only ask this because it is good for the person hosting (or opening/closing the venue) to know who is coming.

     Formal/performance rehearsals will be set up in a series of 6 one a week rehearsals with the last week being the performance.  During this 6 week set, you are allowed one unexpected absence, if you have more than one unexpected absence, you will not be able to perform in the show.  When the 6 week rehearsal structure is set in place, the players will inform the director what rehearsals they can or cannot make.  We all have lives and work and travel and all that good stuff, so as long as you let the director know before the 6 week set begins, it's all good.  Once the rehearsal period begins, you are allowed one unexpected absence.  Emergencies do arise and that is what the unexpected absence is set up for.

      Formal/performance rehearsals will be 2 hours and 15 minutes long.  The first 15 minutes will be free time to chat, catch up, get water, use the facilities, etc and then we will begin.  I urge everyone to make it on time because you've all seen how fast rehearsals go.  After the first 15 minutes, the doors will be closed and no one will be admitted to the rehearsal (unless previously discussed). 

     The 6 week structure:  Weeks 1 & 2 we will get our improv basics back in shape by doing a lot of warm-ups and exercises that support the basics.  We will also try new games that we want to try out for possible inclusion in the show.  Week 3 we will use the warm ups and exercises that specifically support the games we are playing and narrow down the games we want to play in the show.  Weeks 4 & 5 will be show rehearsals where we perform a show during rehearsal.  Week 6 will be the show where we will rock the audience!

     We will not use rehearsal time to choose who plays in what games.  You will email the director after week 3 what games you want to play and the director will set the show line up.  Changes, of course, may be made.  This gives us more rehearsal and play time and less administrative time.

     I am curious to hear your feedback on these proposals - please respond to the blog and let's get a conversation going.  If you have any questions or need further clarification, please feel free to call me or use the blog response.

10/13/13 Rehearsal - Paranoid Professor

Hey all... Fun rehearsal tonight as we continued to work out ideas with the UF Social Media department.  Present at tonight's rehearsal were:  Wayne, Karelisa, Paul, Vi, Brandy, Taryn, and Bruce & Sixtine (from UF).

We did our usual warm-ups and then played several scenarios with a UF theme:  Being lost on a bus in Gainseville, study habits, all night cram at the library, paranoid professor, and living on a student budget.

The next two weeks we will be preparing for our upcoming shows.

10/6/13 Rehearsal - Two Headed Expert

Hey all, fun rehearsal tonight.  Sixtine Gurrey joined us from the UF Social Media department to try out some UF scenarios that could turn into video ideas.  Present at tonight's rehearsal were:  Vi, Doug, Paul, Brandy, Taryn, Emily, Wayne, Shirley, Jennii, and Will. 

We did some basic warm-ups including one-word story and hotspots.  With one word story we should remember to think small while we're learning to do this.  This means try to not complicate things and a great way to do that is to not use 'and' so much.  For example:  Johnny went to the store to get some medicine for his mom (that is a complete thought and one easy to follow, but when you add this to it) AND he was mad because he couldn't watch his favorite TV show about a drunk chipmunk.  The 'and' did and typically can add something completely new so that following the thread becomes difficult.  In 'One-Word Story' we're trying to tell a story, so own the road after we have mastered telling a basic story, we can add 'and' and 'because' all we want, but for now, let's just try to complete solid and cohesive sentences so we can tell a story.  But, I must admit, I think a tv show about a drunk chipmunk has some potential.

Think of the warm-ups and exercises ways in which we can get in the mood to play.  Just as athletes and other performers 'warm-up' before they perform, so do we.  In other words, the warm-ups and exercises are just ways for us to prepare for the games we play.  You don't have to try to be funny in warm-ups and exercises (or games, either) - just try to listen to your fellow players and remove yourself from your real life so you can be in the here and now with us.

I think hotspots is something for us to continually work on because it allows each of us to get some valuable stage time alone and it also is a great way to produce group listening.  Often we'll have threads that poke in and out of hot spots and an overall feeling can be invoked - this is a good thing.

We also tried, for the first time, two headed expert.  It was suggested by Deborah as she saw it performed recently during her stay in Prague.  I would love to put this in the show as it is just a lot of fun to play and very challenging.  I like how who leads the dialogue shifts back and forth and how listening truly becomes your best friend in this game.

Please, share your thoughts!

9/22/13 Rehearsal

Present at Sunday's rehearsal were Brandy, Paul, Deborah, Jennii, Will, Doug, and Wayne (with wife Chris and friend Shirley).  We did some warm ups with an extended slow-motion word association and hot spots.  We then played Bedtime Story, Kick It, and finished with Freeze Tag.

This was our last rehearsal (that I know of) at the Doris as next week we'll begin rehearsing at The Actor's Warehouse!  As usual, feel free to leave your comments.  Enter the crickets.  ;-)

9/15/13 Rehearsal - Fun, fun, fun!

Come on people, let me know what you think about our rehearsals!  Present on Sunday were Wayne, Will, Jennii, Deborah, Vi, Emily, Paul, Taryn, and if I didn't mention someone, please let me know.

We did an extended slow-motion word association and a very rousing and long form version of "Hot Spots" during warm-ups.  We did a couple of Bedtime Stories and then did a 3 round Goon River that was very successful.  We ended with a spirited Freeze Tag.

Thank you all for a very enjoyable rehearsal, lots of fun and very good displays of emotion and action on stage.  Share your thoughts!

See you next week!

9/8/13 Rehearsal

Paul, Vi, Karelisa, Brandy, Doug, Taryn, and Wayne showed up for rehearsal.

We did warm ups and then played Historical Replay, Kick It, and Pesky Neighbors and then ended with Freeze Tag.

Was a fun rehearsal!  Please feel free to post your observations by replying.  Thanks!

9/1/13 Rehearsal or "Kick It" In The Head!

Hey all... Present at tonight's rehearsal:  Vi, Emily, Taylor, Paul, Peter, Taryn, and myself.

We did a few warmups (what number did we reach?) and then we did an exercise in which we held an emotion (or attempted to) while performing an action and used "yes, and" to interact.  We followed that up with a few games of Kick It and ended with Freeze Tag.

Next week, let's hit Historical Replay and Sounds as well as a long form.

A lot of good work and discussion tonight.  If, during rehearsal, you have something to say, but I am talking, please do not hesitate to let me know.  The further we go, the more and more this is becoming a group effort and everyone's voice matters.

Something I need to work on is staying in character --- I tend to drift and lose my demeanor and any form of accent that I started the scene with.  Especially in short games as I seem to be able to maintain my characters in Goon River.

Thank you everyone for giving Kick It a try.  It's a lot of fun playing with people who let you be silly.  I say we keep rehearsing it because it has a lot of potential.  Something to think about is trying to still maintain a story or scene because that will make the raps easier because you can rehash the story during your rap as well as go into more detail, but if there's no story, you have to make it all up.

Way to let loose and have fun during Freeze Tag... That exercise is primarily for rolling with it and inventing --- don't worry too much about some of the things we focus on in other exercises (though it doesn't hurt) because Freeze Tag is where you can get some interesting ideas.  Taylor and I as two T-Rex's drinking champagne (that can go anywhere), Taryn and Emily discussing what it would be like to have a werewolf as a boyfriend, etc....

Some good stuff tonight, folks, keep it up!  Now, kick it!

Hit It and Get It - Welcome to the Much Ado About Doris Blog!

This is where I'd love it if after every rehearsal we come here and post our thoughts.  It's simple enough, right?  This may be a way for each of us to talk about the woulda, coulda, shoulda's as well as what we thought worked and didn't work, what we need to work on, etc..  As long as we keep it civil and positive, it'll be just another way for us to get to know each other and grow.

I'll title each post with its according rehearsal or show date.  This means, "9/1/13 Rehearsal" will be the first blog post so, feel free to come here anytime after rehearsal and express your thoughts.  See  you here, there, everywhere!  jeff