Off-Broadway Improv & Musical Comedy Theater NIGHTLY SHOWS 8:30pm All Ages Welcome Popular
destination for student groups (Grades 7-12) Private
& Corporate Events with full catering available Also
Touring theaters, schools, and events nationwide Classes,
Workshops & Team Building Seminars Available Sat 3pm, M-F 11am Great destination for Schools, Camps and Families. Special
Discounts for Schools and Non-Profits organizations. Also Touring K-12 schools, camps, festivals & events nationwide
Classes and Group Workshops ABSENT MINDED COMEDY Weekends 11pm Online TV Original
Videos of Sketch Comedy, Jokes and Short Films, Clips from Live Shows of
Improv & Stand-Up Touring
College Campuses and Clubs Nation Wide Looking for Improv, Stand-Up or other acts for your
next event? Check out FRASIER PRODUCTIONS of NY Live Comedy Improv Comedy Celebrity Impersonators Singing Groups Holiday Characters Variety Acts Elvis Abbott & Costello Blues Brothers Theme Characters Beach Hippies Greco-Roman Mobsters We employ professional theater actors with
TV/Film Credits
Recommended Reading: Improv Theatre Booklist
SEE
LIVE
PROFESSIONAL
IMPROV
in NYC
EIGHT IS NEVER ENOUGH
IMPROV 4
KIDS
Back to http://www.fpny.org/resource_links
Title: Truth in
Comedy
Author: Del Close, Charna Halpern and Kim "Howard" Johnson
ISBN: 1-56608-003-7
Publisher: Meriwether Publishing of Colorado Springs, Colorado
Ranking: good
Description: One of the best "contemporary" books about improv. Very
practical approach, aimed directly at people who are actively performing in an
improvisational format. Del Close is one of the pioneers of improvisation, and
was one of the founding members of the Chicago-based Second City.
Title: Art by
Committee: A guide to advanced improvisation
Author: Charna Halpern
ISBN: 1-56608-112-2
Publisher: Meriwether Publishing of Colorado Springs, Colorado
Ranking: good
Description:
Title: 112 Acting
Games
Author: Gavin Levy
ISBN:
Publisher: Meriwether Publishing of Colorado Springs, Colorado
Ranking: good
Description:
Title: Acting
Games for Individual Performers
Author: Gavin Levy
ISBN:
Publisher: Meriwether Publishing of Colorado Springs, Colorado
Ranking: good
Description:
Title: Improv
Ideas
Author: Justine Jones and Mary Ann Kelley
ISBN:
Publisher: Meriwether Publishing of Colorado Springs, Colorado
Ranking: good
Description:
Title: The
Ultimate Improv Book
Author: Edward J Nevraumont, Nicholas P. Hanson and Kurt Smeaton
ISBN:
Publisher: Meriwether Publishing of Colorado Springs, Colorado
Ranking: good
Description:
Title: Group Improvisation
Author: Peter Gwinn with Charna Halpern
ISBN:
Publisher: Meriwether Publishing of Colorado Springs, Colorado
Ranking: good
Description:
Title:
Improvisation for the Theater
Author: Viola Spolin
ISBN: 0-8101-1000-8
Publisher: Northwestern University Press
Ranking: good
Description: An essential text for budding improvisors. This and
"Impro" are probably the two fundamental texts to start from. Whereas
"Impro" covers the theory, this book emphasizes the practical use of
theater games. Viola Spolin was one of the founders of modern improv, and her
early work in the 1930's led to the Compass Theatre and Second City.
Title: Theater
Games for the Classroom
Author: Viola Spolin
ISBN: 0-8101-4004-7
Publisher: Northwestern University Press
Title: Musical
Improv Comedy: Creating Songs in the Moment
Author: Michael Pollock
ISBN: 0-9747427-3-2
Publisher: Masteryear 2003
Ranking: good
Description: Great for any Musical Theater Performer. Not just for Improv,
Michael realy breaks down musical performance for non-musicians to understand.
From style to rhythm to rhyme schemes.
Title: Musical
Direction for Improv & Sketch Comedy
Author: Michael Pollock
ISBN: 0-9747427-4-0
Publisher: Masteryear 2004
Ranking: good
Description:
Title: The Hip-Hop
Rhyming Dictionary for Rappers, DJs, and MCs
Author: Kevin M Mitchell
ISBN:
Publisher:
Ranking:
Description: Recommended by Michael Pollock for Musical Improv Rhyming skills development
Title: Impro
Author: Keith Johnstone
ISBN: 0-413-46430-X
Publisher: Methuen
Ranking: good
Description:An excellent book for someone just starting out in improv, and
worthwhile reading for people who've been doing it for a while. Discusses a lot
of basic theory, and explores the nature of spontaneity. Keith Johnstone is
best known as the the inventor of Theatresports.
Title: Improvising
Better: A Guide For The Working Improviser
Author: Jimmy Carrane and Liz Allen
ISBN: 0-325-00942-2
Publisher: Heinemann Drama
Description: Whether you are a beginner or a veteran, Improvising Better: A
Guide for the Working Improviser is an easy-to-read self-help book created with
the new generation of improviser in mind. It's written for today's performer
who is looking for a quick fix to their performance problems. This book is a
fast read with long lasting results that will catapult you to the next level.
Title: Interactive
Acting
Author: Jeff Wirth
ISBN: 0-9632374-9-7
Publisher: Fall Creek Press, Fall Creek, Oregon.
Ranking: good
Description: An excellent primer for both interactive (audience participatory)
theatre and improvisational theatre in general. Written in clear, simple
language.
Title:
Improvisation in Drama
Author: Anthony Frost and Ralph Yarrow
ISBN: 0-312-04746-0
Publisher: St. Martins Press, 1989
Description: Tremendous book giving an overview of improvisation from ancient
times to now. Contains a great comparison between Johnstone and Spolin and the
"New York School" vs the "Chicago School".
Title: Improv
Comedy
Author: Andy Goldberg
ISBN: 0-780573-606083
Publisher: Samuel French, Hollywood
Ranking: okay
Description: Good treatment of the elements of improvisation. One of the few
books that actually discusses the practicalities of assembling a troupe,
structuring a show, getting suggestions from an audience, lighting and music.
Also presents a good list of workshop games and exercises. Andy Goldbeg is a director
and performer with "Off the Wall", a Los Angeles-based improv troupe.
Title: Comedy
Improvisation
Author: Delton T. Horn
ISBN: 0-916260-69-0
Publisher: Meriwether Publishing, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Ranking: okay
Description: Solid discussion of the basic principles of improv; also has a
brief overview of forming a troupe and staging a show.
Title: How To Be
Really Funny
Author: Mark Stolzenberg
ISBN: 0-8069-6887-7
Publisher: Sterling Publishing, New York
Ranking: okay
Description: Despite the goofy title (and a cover that makes it look like it's
aimed at kids) this is a surprisingly good book with a fresh approach.
Title: Improv! A
Handbook for the Actor
Author: Greg Atkins
ISBN: 0-435-08627-8
Publisher: Heinemann, Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Description: As the title implies, this book is aimed at the actor who wishes
to improve his or her improv skills for use in straight theatre.
Title: Commedia
dell'Arte: An Actor's Handbook
Author: John Rudlin
ISBN: 0415-047706
Publisher: Routledge, London
Description: Includes a short history of the Commedia form, a guide to playing
each of the stock characters, and possible applications for twentieth century
theatre.
Title: Playing
Boal Edited by Mady Schutzman and Jan Cohen-Cruz
ISBN: 0-415-08608-6
Publisher: Routledge, London
Description: A collection of essays by practitioners of Boal's techniques,
exploring variations on and practical experiences with Theatre of the
Oppressed.
Title: Something
Wonderful Right Away
Author: Jeffrey Sweet
ISBN: 0-380-01884-5
Publisher: Limelight Editions (118 E. 30th St., NYC, NY 10016)
Ranking: history
Description: An outstanding history of the early days of improvisation in the
United States, starting with the roots around the University of Chicago.
Comprised almost entirely of interviews with the people who actually shaped the
form, including David Shepherd, Paul Sils, Mike Nichols, Del Close, Theodore
Flicker, Bernard Sahlins, Paul Sand, Alan Arkin, Alan Alda, David Steinberg,
Valerie Harper and Gilda Radner. If you want to know how it all began (and
learn something about improvisation, as well) then this is the book to get.
Title: The Compass
Author: Janet Coleman
ISBN: 0-226-11345-0
Publisher: Knopf, New York (hardcover), University of Chicago Press (softcover)
Ranking: history
Description: A more detailed examination of one of the earliest improv troupes,
The Compass. Provides interesting insights into the group's dynamics, as well
as the discoveries they made about the craft.
Title: Something
Like a Drug
Author: Clem Martini and Kathleen Foreman
ISBN: 0-88995-122-5
Publisher: Red Deer College Press, Calgary
Ranking: history
Description: Subtitled "an unauthorized oral history of
Theatresports".
Title: House of
Games
Author: Chris Johnson
ISBN: 0878300899
Publisher: Routledge, NY, 1998
Description: Frank Gallagher says: "Very good on process of creating
groups and performances. He focuses on the leader's role, which he calls
facilitation. It appears his work is almost exclusively among marginalized
segments of society. Nice mix of theory and application, the application is
explained by the theory."
Title: Theatre
Games for Young Performers
Author: Maria C. Novelly
ISBN: 0-916260-31-3
Publisher: Meriwether Publishing, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Title: Let's
Improvise
Author: Milton E. Polsky
ISBN: 0-13-532051-8
Publisher: Prentice-Hall
Title: Theatre
Games
Author: Clive Barker
ISBN: 0-413-45380-4
Publisher: Methuen
Description: As far as I know, this Clive Barker is not the same one that
writes horror novels and films.
Title:
Improvisation
Author: John Hodgson and Ernest Richards
ISBN: 0-394-17099-7
Publisher: Grove Press, New York
Title: Gamester's
Handbook
Author: Donna Brandes and Howard Phillips
ISBN: 0-09-1364213
Publisher: Hutchison, London, UK
Description: Good collection of workshop games.
Title: A Guide to
Improvisation
Author: Ronald James and Peter Williams
ISBN: 0-906836-05-4
Publisher: Kemble Press, Oxon, UK
Description: Fairly solid collection of games, oriented towards teaching
theatre rather than performing.
Title: Drama
Starters
Author: Graham Stoate
ISBN: 0-17-444115-0
Publisher: Thomas Nelson and Sons, Surrey, UK
Description: Another collection of games, mostly geared towards teaching drama
to children.
Title:
Improvisation Through Theatre Sports
Author: Lynda Belt and Rebecca Stockley
ISBN: 0-9620799-1-X
Publisher: Thespis Productions, 2010-12th Ave SE, Puyallup, Washington
Description: Very good collection of performance games.
Title: Whose Line
is it Anyway?
Author: Dan Patterson and Mark Leveson
ISBN: 0-7126-3577-7
Publisher: Century, with Channel Four Productions, London, UK
Description: A fun little book based on the popular British TV series (seen on
PBS in the States). Very light reading, features many photos from the series
along with descriptions of some of the most popular games (as well as hints
about how to play them).
Title: The
Improvised Play
Author: Paul Clements
ISBN: 0-413-50440-9
Publisher: Methuen
Description: A description of the work of Mike Leigh, who uses improvisational
techniques to create scripted theatre.
Title: Don't Be
Prepared
Author: Keith Johnstone
ISBN: 0-9698382-0-4
Publisher: Loose Moose Theatre Company
Description: Described as a Theatresports manual for teachers and improvisors,
but it actually contains a lot of insight into the craft of improv. Also
contains a list of various games and some of the theories behind them.
Title: Theatresports
Down Under -- a guide for coaches and players
Author: Lyn Pierse
ISBN: 0-646-23861-2
Publisher: Improcorp Australia and ish group, distributed by ish group pty ld,
11 Power Ave, Alexandria 2015 NSW Australia phone +61 2 9699 1999, fax +61 2 9310
5744
Title: Improvising
Real Life: Personal Story in Playback Theatre
Author: Jo Salas
ISBN: 0964235013
Publisher: Kendall/Hunt
Description: Presents the history, techniques, and principles of the
interactive form, Playback Theatre, developed by Jonathan Fox, in which stories
told by the audience are "played back" by improvisational performers.
Includes chapters on ritual, use of music, and conducting. [Wirth]
Title: Scenarios
of the Commedia dell'Arte
Author: trans. & ed. by Henry F. Salerno
ISBN: 0879101334
Publisher: Limelight Editions
Description: A collection of fifty complete plots from the commedia dell'arte,
presented in scenario form. This book can be used as a model for understanding
scenario-driven, rather than script-driven, performances. [Wirth]
Title: Acting
Games - Improvisations and Exercises
Author: Marsh Cassady
ISBN: 0916260925
Publisher: Meriwether, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Description: A textbook of theatre games and improvisations. [Halpern]
Title: Improve
With Improv!
Author: Brie Jones
ISBN: 0916260984
Publisher: Meriwether, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Description: A guide to improvisation and character development. [Halpern]
Title: Il segreto
della Commedia dell'Arte
Author: Ferdinando Taviani
Publisher: La Casa Usher, Firenze, 1982
Description: Written in Italian.
Title: Impro,
Reflexion et Analyse
Author: Robert Gravel and Jean-Marc Lavergne
Publisher: Lemeac, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Description: Written in French.
Title: Playing the
Game
Author: Christine Poulter
Title: Improv Game
Book II
Author: Lynda Belt
ISBN: 0-9620799-6-O.
Publisher: Thespis Productions, 2010-12th Ave SE, Puyallup, Washington.
Description: A followup to Improvisation Through Theatre Sports, its just a
collection (albeit a good one) of performance games.
Title: Theatre of
the Oppressed
Author: Augusto Boal
ISBN: 0-930452-49-6.
Publisher: Theatre Communications Group, New York.
Description: The theory of Boal's system of interactive, empowering form of
theatre.
Title: Games for
Actors and Non-Actors
Author: Augusto Boal
ISBN: 0-415-06155-5.
Publisher: Routledge, London.
Description: The practical application (exercises, games, and structures) of
Boal's system.
Title: Playing
Boal Edited
Author: Mady Schutzman and Jan Cohen-Cruz
ISBN: 0-415-08608-6.
Publisher: Routledge, London.
Description: A collection of essays by practitioners of Boal's techniques,
exploring variations on and practical experiences with Theatre of the
Oppressed.
Title: Improvising
Real Life: Personal Story in Playback Theatre
Author: Jo Salas
Publisher: Kendall/Hunt.
Description: Presents the history, techniques, and principles of the
interactive form, Playback Theatre, developed by Jonathan Fox, in which stories
told by the audience are "played back" by improvisational performers.
Includes chapters on ritual, use of music, and conducting.
Title: Stevie
Ray's Medium-Sized Book of Comedy... What We Laugh At, and Why
ISBN: 0967178606
Publisher: Punchline Publications
Description: Deals with the elements of conditions of laughter both on and off
the stage.
Title: Whose Improv Is It Anyway: Beyond Second
City
Author: Amy E Seham
ISBN: 1578063418
Publisher: University Press of Mississippi
Description: Drawing on the experiences of working improvisers, WHOSE IMPROV IS
IT ANYWAY? provides a never-before-published account of developments beyond
Second City's mainstream approach to the genre. This fascinating history
chronicles the origins of "the Harold", a sophisticated new
"long-form" style of improv developed in the '80s at ImprovOlympic,
and details the importance and pitfalls of ComedySportz. Here also is a
backstage glimpse at The Annoyance Theatre, best known on the national scene
for its production of The Real Live Brady Bunch. Readers will get the scoop on
the recent work of players who, feeling excluded by early improv's "white
guys in ties", created such independent groups as The Free Associates and
the African American troupe Oui Be Negroes.