CONTINUE THE JOY RIDE OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM!
Here is an on-going list of resources that might be useful to you to bolster your education
as we explore improvisation together over our time together:
as we explore improvisation together over our time together:
Zen Friends
Zen Friends is a Happier Valley Comedy program that matches improvisers studying at different levels to foster community, support, guidance, and improv fun! Learn about the program here, or if you want a Zen Friend just fill out the Zen Friend form here
Websites
- Pam Victor's website is here.
- IRC Improv Wiki Great for definitions of terms and forms and more.
- Improv Encyclopedia One stop shopping for all your game needs
- Happier Valley Comedy page
- HVC School Community page, where you can go to connect with your class and other Zensters (This is a private group, but if you are a student and you request to join, we will approve you.)
- Zenster Jamsters on Facebook: A private group to organize improv jams. Keep playing improv games and exercises on your own!
- Pam Victor's personal page
- Pam Victor's professional page
Happier Valley Comedy Newsletter
Every Friday, you will receive The Happier Valley Comedy newsletter with first-notice of all upcoming classes, workshops, shows, and improv jams. Our workshops and classes tend to fill up very quickly, so we strongly recommend you sign up to anything you're interested as soon as you see it in the newsletter. To ensure you receive it every Friday (and other emails from us!), please add our email address to your address book. If you don't receive it this Friday, please check your Spam or Promotions folders - sometimes they take a wrong turn along the way - and kindly set it on the right path by marking "Not Spam." You may have to repeat this procedure a couple times. If you don't want to receive the newsletter, you have the option to unsubscribe at the bottom of the newsletter.
Not on the newsletter? Sign up at the bottom of any page on this site.
Not on the newsletter? Sign up at the bottom of any page on this site.
ZEN OF iMPROV eSSAYS
These essays are for our students in response to questions and moments that arise in class. Perhaps you'll find one or two useful as you move along your journey
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tHE bOOKThe heart of our approach to improvisation is primarily based on what Pam learned over the course of writing "Improvisation at the Speed of Life: The TJ & Dave Book" with legendary improvisers TJ Jagodowski and Dave Pasquesi. The book is recommended (but not at all required) reading for Zen of Improv 1. However, if you continue along the Zen trail, it will greatly benefit you to read it. You can buy it from Amazon, or if you'd like it hand-delivered to you with a smile, let us know, and Pam will bring one to class for you in exchange for $20.
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mORE bOOKS
- Truth in Comedy - by Charna Halpern and Del Close and Kim "Howard" Johnson
- Improvise: Scene from the Inside Out - by Mick Napier
- Art by Committee: A Guide to Advanced Improvisation – by Charna Halpern
- Behind the Scenes: Improvising Longform – by Mick Napier
- Improvising Better: A Guide for the Working Improviser – by Jimmy Carrane & Liz Allen
- Jill Bernard’s Small Cute Book of Improv – by Jill Bernard
- Improvisation for the Theater - by Viola Spolin
- Theater Games for the Classroom - by Viola Spolin
- Impro - by Keith Johnston
- 101 Improv Games for Children and Adults - by Bob Beldore
- How to Be the Greatest Improviser on Earth - Will Hines (ebook only)
- The Playbook Improv Games for Performers - William Hall
blogs:
- My Nephew is a Poodle - Pam Victor
- Improv Resource Center (IRC) - Kevin Mullaney
- Bill Arnett’s Improv Blog
- The House That Del Built - Rachel Klein
- Improv Nonsense – Will Hines
podcasts
- Conversations with Funny Feminists
- Improv Nerd (Jimmy Carrane)
- IRC (Kevin Mullaney)
- ADD Podcast with Dave Razowksy
- Monster Baby Podcast: A Curious Romp Through the Worlds of Mindfulness and Improvisation with Lisa Rowland and Ted DesMaisons
- TJ Jagodowski
- Dave Pasquesi
- Susan Messing
- Rachael Mason
- Mark Sutton
- Joe Bill
- And so many more!!! Let Pam know if you want more recommendations!
vIDEOS
Pro Tip: It's hard to record live improvisation. If the audio is challenging, plug in your earphones.
- Trust Us, This is All Made Up (The TJ & Dave documentary) - Immortalized in the world of improv comedy, Second City veterans TJ Jagodowksi and David Pasquesi explore the unique partnership and transcendental forces that govern their legendary performances. Great behind-the-scenes insights and one of the best improv shows you'll ever see. ($2.99 to rent or $7.99 to buy)
- TJ & Dave: TJ Jagodowski and Dave Pasquesi are true improv legends. Their show, TJ and Dave, is an international award-winning show that has inspired improvisers all over the world. If you've never seen long form improvisation, this is an excellent place to start! ($4.99 per episode or $30 for all episodes to stream live)
- The Armando Diaz Experience and Hootenany at iO Theater: An interesting example of the Armando form performed in the theater where it was created.
- Another Armando show called ASSSCAT performed by the Upright Citizen Brigade founders and their famous friends.
- Bassprov is one of those shows that everyone tries to see at least once. Two guys (Mark Sutton and Joe Bill) playing the same characters shooting the shit while fishing. Sort of an improvised conversation.
- Beer Shark Mice who perform a structure called "Tag Out." Another lovely example of their work can be found on the DVD in Charna Halpern's book "Art By Committee." Speaking of which...
- Everything on the DVD that comes with Charna's book "Art By Committee."
- Improv Playhouse of San Francisco: “Psych Unit” - A truly beautiful display of improvisation in a three act play performed by masters of the craft.
- Dummy at the San Diego Improv Festival (2015) and at the Phoenix Improv Festival (2016) - Colleen Doylen and Jason Shotts perform absolutely delicious improvisation.
- Whether the Weather - A stellar series of interviews about improvisation with some of the greats.
- Keegan-Michael Key of "Key and Peele" - Some brilliant insights about agreement and being a good scene partner in this interview and about a beautiful way of taking the next little step while stepping backwards in this video here. (The whole interview is here.)
- Messing with a Friend (Susan Messing's show) with Kevin Dorff at the Detroit Improv Festival
- William Hall's Play Improv Games website has videos where terrific teachers explain a bunch of great games
where you can find improv, near and far
If you're traveling, chances are there is an improv theater there. Check it out! When in doubt see the 8pm show on their mainstage.
- Happier Valley Comedy Show (of course!)
- Happier FAMILY Comedy Show (of course of course!)
- "The Majesters" at the Majestic Theater (West Springfield)
- ImprovBoston (Cambridge) - Must see: Mainstage, Family Show
- Improv Asylum (Boston)
- Sea Tea (Hartford)
- UMASS Comedy League (Amherst)
- iO Theater (Chicago/LA) - Must see: TJ & Dave, Improvised Shakespeare Company
- Upright Citizen's Brigade (NY/LA) - Must see: Gravid Water, ASSSCAT
- Annoyance Theater (Chicago) - Must see: Messing with a Friend
- Magnet Theater (NY)
- People's Improv Theater (NY)
- Second City (Chicago, Toronto, Hollywood): Must see: The current revue on Main or etc stages
- Improv Acadia (Bar Harbor, Maine)
- Stolen House (NY)
- BATS Improv (San Francisco)
- Improv Playhouse (San Francisco)
- The Improv Cruise by ImprovU
- The Improv Retreat
We're sure you'll find other RECOMMENDATIONS you adore.
Please send them to us and we'll add them to thIS list!
Happier Valley Comedy Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit.
