My opinion re: improv.
Improv is NOT about being funny. Personally my interest in improv is very against trying to be clever or aiming to get laughs. Sean, Jeff, and I were talking about improv in the car on our way home from Great America tonight and, because I noticed that I got pretty heated with my opinions, I am turning to LJ to share. Improv, for me is about telling a story and being honest. If humor happens to be a byproduct of that (which often times it is) then perhaps that is a good thing but I believe that improv for the sake of being funny is not worth it and in fact harmful. Harmful because it stifles creativity and group effort when someone is trying to get laughs ahead of supporting the team. Trying to be clever or funny, to me, is incredibly selfish. I think that instead of spending energy on being funny energy should be spent on listening and making your partner look good.
I suppose all of this explains why my interest with improv leans away from comedy sportz. Yes, comedy sportz is all about team work and what not too -but if you ask me it also is about getting laughs (sometimes, but not necessarily, at the expense of a scene, too). Just look at the name: comedy sportz -it's more about creating comedy. I'm not nearly as interested in creating comedy as I am in creating honest theatre. I love the BATS improv style and would HIGHLY recommend it to anyone and everyone even and especially if you have never done any improv or even theatre before.
At State, over the past few months it seems as though our improv group has begun leaning stronger towards comedy style improv -to that I say "improv is whatever we want it to be and if everyone wants to go more towards comedy 'scool with me." Still, noticing how heated I get talking about the differences between improv comedy and improv theatre I think it's good for me to step back and say "hey, improv is not only about making people laugh." And that is my two cents. Any thoughts anyone?
PS: Alex and Jared -what's goin' on with your improv group? Ours would like to play "against" yours.
I suppose all of this explains why my interest with improv leans away from comedy sportz. Yes, comedy sportz is all about team work and what not too -but if you ask me it also is about getting laughs (sometimes, but not necessarily, at the expense of a scene, too). Just look at the name: comedy sportz -it's more about creating comedy. I'm not nearly as interested in creating comedy as I am in creating honest theatre. I love the BATS improv style and would HIGHLY recommend it to anyone and everyone even and especially if you have never done any improv or even theatre before.
At State, over the past few months it seems as though our improv group has begun leaning stronger towards comedy style improv -to that I say "improv is whatever we want it to be and if everyone wants to go more towards comedy 'scool with me." Still, noticing how heated I get talking about the differences between improv comedy and improv theatre I think it's good for me to step back and say "hey, improv is not only about making people laugh." And that is my two cents. Any thoughts anyone?
PS: Alex and Jared -what's goin' on with your improv group? Ours would like to play "against" yours.