Facilitated by Tom Chalmers
A three-step approach to energetic improv
Until improvisers lock into the specifics of a scene —deciding and declaring who they are, where they are, and what they are doing—they are just spinning their wheels. They are just improvisers standing in front of us spouting words, attempting to entertain us with their wit, rather than engage us with the substance of their situation.
Once the scene has shifted into gear, the players can now focus on what to play, known as finding the game—a repeatable comedic pattern exaggerated for effect, or a relationship dynamic that deserves further exploration and heightening—or maybe both.
And once the game has been found, it is not enough to just present the exploitable aspect of the scene, it needs to be performed. Infused with character, emotion, and physicality. It begs to be amplified by the performing talents of the participating improvisers.
This workshop is privately produced by Joyride Improv. Story Parlor is providing the venue; It is not involved in the planning or proceedings of the workshop.
About Tom Chalmers
A graduate of Columbia University, Tom has been absorbing, performing, and advocating improv comedy for over thirty years. While at college, Tom spent summers in Chicago studying with Second City and Improv Olympic, where he learned under improv legend, Del Close. Tom chose to stay in New York where he trained with The Groundlings East / Gotham City Improv. He was a student, performing company member, teacher, and eventually Artistic Director. While in New York, Tom also trained with the Upright Citizen’s Brigade and Burn Manhattan. Tom’s former students have gone on to work on such shows as Saturday Night Live, The Simpsons, Family Guy, and Reno 911. Tom has been an instructor at NYU, a guest lecturer at Columbia, and is currently an Adjunct Professor at Warren Wilson College. Tom takes all the best ideas and approaches from all the people and programs that he has worked with and blends them together to define his supportive yet demanding style of teaching.