The Principles of Comedy Improv: Truths, Tales, and How to Improvise

"The Principles of Comedy Improv is an authoritative handbook for comedy improv, an art that, more than any other, isolates the conscious act of creation. Comedy improv plays with the very mechanisms we use to form our lives. More than just entertainment, its principles enable you to change every moment of your life. Your guide is Tom Blank, a senior instructor at the Groundlings School and Theater, who crystallizes two decades of experience to convey improv in unparalleled scope, depth, and fun. This book's insights go deep, far beyond common lists, rules, and platitudes. It pulls back the curtain on the details of what is really going on when we create a staged reality, what improvisors do, how they do it, and the perfectly human behaviors that get in the way. Our subject is broken down into clear, consumable topics written with precision, each can stand alone but together form a progression. Topics are designed to fit modern life, with a length suited for a wait at the bus stop or a luxurious visit to the bathroom. This is a non-fiction work that contains a lot of fiction, it is a sprawling adventure that careens through tall tales, anecdotes, theory, and example - all meticulously crafted to inform and inspire. It drives principles deep into you, giving you the power to take creative action, to rise to any challenge with whatever you have available, to improvise. Whether you're a hard-core improvisor or a cautiously curious outsider, this is an accessible tour de force that beckons you to take a ride"--