This online hand book is a work in progress. It is designed to support the workshops and residency program offered by Walt Frasier and staff from EIGHT IS NEVER ENOUGH (AKA LMAOff-Broadway and IMPROV 4 KIDS) for the COMEDY HALL OF FAME. Walt Frasier currently serves as Dirsctor of Instruction for the CHF Laugh It Out Program. It is recommended that all staff, host teachers, performers and students involved in these programs read each posting. For NYC and similar accredited classes, the answer for every quiz/test is found in these pages. CHECK OUT THE CBS and NY POST ARTICLE FOR COMEDY HALL OF FAME PROGRAM
INTRO 1: THE RESPONSIBLE PERFORMER Before starting, understand what is to be expected of you in Improv and life
INTRO 2: THE JOURNAL Keep records of your training, rehearsal and performance experience.
INTRO 3: STAGING 101 When in doubt, remember the basics.
INTRO 4: Comedy Writing 101 – A quick reference guide on comedy writing.
Before you begin to write a sketch or stand-up routine, complete these writing tasks.
BRAINSTORM 1: Ideas for Sketch / Stand-Up routines
BRAINSTORM 2: Developing details for each idea
SKETCH COMEDY WRITING and PERFORMANCE
IMPROVISATION:
I WANT TO IMPROVISE Getting started
WHY STUDY IMPROVISATION Career advice for comedians, actors and dozens of other professions
LETS WARM UP Prepare mind, body and soul for performance
THE WARM UP Physical warm up for all actors based in the Alexander Technique
IMPROV GUIDELINES AND TECHNIQUES
RULE #1 “YES! and…” Always agree. Find out why!
NO QUESTIONS! NO BLOCKS! Why I never…
PANTOMIME Your imagination and a few tricks can create anything out of thin air
ELEMENTS OF A STORY
THE WHO Characters and relationships drive our decisions on stage
THE WHERE Environmental factors effect our characters
THE WHAT / THE PLOT The What, The Arc – What happens in a scene
ENHANCING YOUR SCENE WORK
STYLE – Make your scenes more interesting with styles
PRODUCING YOUR OWN SHOW Great way to get more stage time experience
IMPROV GAME DESCRIPTIONS: Click links below to learn hot tips playing some of the best Improv games plus video examples from live EIGHT IS NEVER ENOUGH performances. More added every week!
TEAM GAMES – Get the whole team involved. CONDUCTED STORY / AUTHORS, WORLD’s WORST, FREEZE TAG, FREEZE FRAME or HUMAN SLIDE SHOW, MADRIGAL, SCENES FROM A HAT,
SONG IMPROV - Kick it up a notch with music. MADRIGAL, HUMAN BEAT BOX / RAP TEAM, THE BLUES, IRISH JIG,
CROWD INTERACTIVES – get the audience involved. COLUMNS or HUMAN MAD LIBS (TM), SOUND EFFECTS, FREEZE FRAME or HUMAN SLIDE SHOW
MORE SCENE GAMES MIRACLE EAR / TV Interview , SWITCH, Two Headed Man,
