IMPROVISATIONAL ACTING (Theatre 431)
Tuesday and Thursday 12:30-1:45
Margaret Larlham
Office #208
larlham@mail.sdsu.edu
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“The unexpected awaits us at every turn and every breath. The future is a vast, perpetually regenerated
mystery, and the more we live and know, the greater the mystery. When we drop the blinders of our
preconceptions, we are propelled into the present time and the present mind: the moment. This is the state of
mind taught and strengthened by improvisation.” Nachmanovitch (from Free Play)
Objectives:
1. Learn about the process of improvisation, and improvisation as a
performance mode.
2. Employ improvisation as a source for the creation of original theatre
performances.
3. Experiment with alternate ways of staging, structuring and presenting
work.
4. Find ways of encouraging fluency and spontaneity in thought and action.
5. Tap into personal resources; predisposition, experience, thoughts,
concerns, discoveries.
6. Circumvent behavioral habit, tension and blocked thinking in performance.
CLASS WORK
Following a “warm-up”, a series of “topics” will be explored building towards release
and enhanced understanding of performance.
Topic examples:
Mapping a memory
Falling + Flying
Extracting personal meaning from objects/possessions
Autobiography
Invented worlds/ true lies
Realia- recording conversation and behaviors in the real world.
Symbols and signs
Ancient and modern consideration and connection
Ritual, Play and Performance,
Aspects of storytelling
(Any or all of these topic areas explored in class will become the initiating
point/spring board for fully developed Mid-term and Final Performance
Projects.)
PROJECTS:
Students will create new work arising from discoveries from topics in classwork.
Attendance is crucial to this process.
1. Mid-term
A 3-5 minute original solo performance. It should reflect your current ideas or
concerns, and utilize the best of your performance skills.
2. Improv-Olympics
Team competition based on comedy improvisation and shared experience of
theatre and improv games.
Examples might be: Objects Game, Party Quirks, Alphabet Conversation,
World’s Worst, Movie styles, What are you doing? Freeze tag. No Laughs. Musical
Hotspot. Beastie Boys Rap. Super Hero, Question Conversation, Sit, Stand Lie
Down etc. (Improv team experts input welcome.)
3. Final Performance Project
An original solo, duo or group performance.
4. Journal/Written Assignment
Keep a journal reflecting your observation of ideas and activities of the class
exploration.
Script or record the process of creating your final performance.
You should include:
Resources.
a) Artists and performers that have expanded your own horizons.
“ Art is the only way to run away without leaving home.” Twyla Tharp
a) Readings. (Some Improv, Performance Art) titles:
Spolin, Viola. Improvisation for the Theatre.
Johnstone, Keith. Impro: Improvisation and the Theatre.
Caruso, Sandra and Clemens, Paul. Actors Book of Improvisation.
Weigler, Will Strategies for Playbuilding.
Goldberg, Rosalee, Performance Art
Boal, Augusto. Games for Actors and Non-Actors.
A copy of the journal should be submitted in the last week of classes.
Attendance:
Attendance is mandatory.
Participation in class activities contributes toward the grading process.
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Grading:
Your grade will be determined as an average of all the grades you receive for
assignments and the quality of your participation.
The grade will reflect:
• Class contribution and in-class assignments (40%)
• Written journal (20%)
• Mid-term and final performances (40%)
Students with Disabilities
If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for
this class, it is your responsibility to contact Student Disability Services at (619)
594-6473. To avoid any delay in the receipt of your accommodations, you should
contact Student Disability Services as soon as possible. Please note that
accommodations are not retroactive, and that I cannot provide accommodations
based upon disability until I have received an accommodation letter from Student
Disability Services. Your cooperation is appreciated.
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