GREAT TO HEAR!! We need more high school troupes. I currently oversee our Improv Comedy Team of roughly 30 players, grades 9-12. I've run similar troupes in other schools and advise other drama teachers on how this works.
After 25 years as both a professional improvisational actor and teacher, there are lots of mistakes you will make as you put a troupe together. Similar to putting a rock band together, you will have pitfalls, including: personality conflicts, differences in goals for the troupe, philosophical differences, etc. But in the dozens of bad improv groups with which I've performed (both as a student and as an adult), they all shared a common trait: bad leadership. The groups which which I still am associated and have over a 30 year history have outstanding leadership and a clear delineation between the business side and the artistic side.
I've often found that running a troupe "by committee" can have significant drawbacks. Also, if you're dealing with students with little or no training, you need to have a source positive, constructive feedback. It cannot be an exercise in vanity or power.
Here are three quick steps to get started:
1) Have a trained, experienced teaching artist oversee the process. Too often, people assume that improv is a loose, happy-go-lucky free-for-all. Hardly. It is as disciplined and structured as any other artistic skill. Just a bit more fun, perhaps. An adult supervisor will add gravitas and help ensure that people take the work seriously, even while they're having a blast. In time, the students may be able to take over and run it themselves.
2) Schedule regular workshops in which you cover the Rules of Improv and learn the various games. While I cover improv principles and play games in my daily drama classes, we have regular after-school workshops for our Improv Team. Anyone can join at any time, and get into the nitty-gritty of improvisation. But there is a process for earning your way on stage in a show.
3) Have a hierarchy when it comes to performing in public. Some games are great for rookies. Some are only for only the highest level of trained veterans. While this can cause some disappointment among the rookies ("But I really love that game, why can't I play it?"), you will actually serve both the group, and most importantly, your audience. The most successful troupes in the country all use a hierarchy, including Second City, UCB, Dad's Garage Theatre, and Laughing Matters.
Of course, there are dozens of great books and online resources. I suggest you do some research. Google the groups I've listed above and see how they run their workshops and shows. Most importantly: GO SEE SHOWS. While some may be a little risqué, the best troupes pride themselves on being clean (or at least PG-13).
Have fun!!!
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Josh Ruben, M. Ed.
Fine Arts Head
Northwest Whitfield HS (dba, The Northwest Theatre Co.)
Tunnel Hill, GA
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-29-2018 20:49
From: Avery Adams
Subject: Building an Improv Team/Group
Hello everyone! I am interested in starting an improv team at my high school. I want to know if anyone else has done this and has any pointers? Did it work out? Any books I should read to get an idea to how to run everything? Anything would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!!!
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Avery Adams
New Kent VA
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