Why Improv Can Make Your Storytelling Stronger
It\u2019s 2015 and I\u2019ve just become addicted to this thing called improvisational comedy. I\u2019m consuming every bit of information I can find: taking classes, reading books, and Googling everything about it. I\u2019m completely immersed.
Then I hear about an Improv performance just south of where I live. Obviously, I have to go and see it... and it is amazing! The characters, the music, the performers--they\u2019re all mesmerizing! And I\u2019m thinking, \u201cThere\u2019s no way I\u2019ll ever be as good as they are.\u201d
After the show ends, the performers meet us outside the theater. I shake hands with one of them and say, \u201cI\u2019d love to be able to do what you do.\u201d\xa0
And he simply responds, \u201cYou can!\u201d
Fast-forward seven years later, and not only is that performer my guest in this episode but he and I are starring in a play together! Tom Mueller has been a performer all his life. In fact, he has far-reaching family history with performance art.
If you\u2019re curious to know:
What is competitive Improv and how does it work? How can powerful stories impact you (and the world around you) long after you first hear them?
Then enjoy the show as Tom and I talk about theater sports, the power of commitment to improvisational storytelling, and more!
What you will learn in this episode:
- How to start a scene (or a speech) in a way that\u2019ll engage your audience right away
- What makes a great story, from the theatrical Improv perspective
- What needs to be true for a character to be believable
Who is Tom?
Tom is the co-founder of the Ventura Improv Company (est. 1989) and comes from a theatrical family. He has had a storied career, including as a surgical orderly, radio announcer, tour guide in France, French and English teacher, technical writer, and instructional designer. In addition to his primary focus on Improv, Tom also enjoys performing scripted works, most recently at the Alcazar Theatre in Carpinteria, California. Like many improvisers, Tom sees the experience as enriching one\u2019s life outside theater due to the close teamwork it requires.\xa0
Links and Resources: