Foreword
Preface
Chapter One: Beginning
Viola Spolin
First Class
The Rules
Object Work, or "A Mime Is Not a Terrible Thing to Waste"
Environment
"Yes, and . . ." and "Explore and Heighten"
Give and Take
Where We Came From: A Very Brief History of Revue
An Improvisational Almanac, Part One
Chapter Two: Playing the Scene
Martin
Perfect Partner
Relationship
Relationship Exercises
Transformation of Relationships
Perfect Partner Part II
Status
Living Large in the Moment
Play Is Physical
An Improvisational Almanac, Part Two
Chapter Three: The Performer inside the Scene
A Few Thoughts on Improvisation
Finding the Funny
How Do You Create Characters? or "I Do This Hilarious Guy Who Has a Funny Hat"
Three Kinds of Character
Playing at the Top of Your Intelligence
Character: Playing with Intelligence and Heart
In the Beginning . . . Making Initiations
Crossing the Line and Going Blue
Forming Opinions
Finding Scenic Point of View
Finding Your Voice
An Improvisational Almanac, Part Three
Chapter Four: Improvisation and Acting
Building a Character within an Ensemble through the Games
An Improvisational Almanac, Part Four
Chapter Five: Long Forms, Short Forms, Scenes, and Games
Improvisation: The Fine Line between Suck and Not Bad and How to Get Away from That Line and Go to Another Line Where the Options Are Better
Del Close
Del Close Games
What's Better? Long Form or Short Form?
What Is Long-Form Improvisation?
Scenic Structure 101
Don DePollo
Top Ten Performance Games of The Second City National Touring Company
Editing and Beats
An Improvisational Almanac, Part Five
Chapter Six: Creating Material
Doing It Again
Pre-Planning a Second City Scene
The Ensemble Creates a Revue
Putting Up a Traditional Second City Improv Set
Blackouts and Extended Blackouts
How to Bottle Lightning for Fun and Profit
An Improvisational Almanac, Part Six
Chapter Seven: Directing
Blessed Obstacles
Running Orders
Ideal Running Order
An Improvisational Almanac, Part Seven
Recommended Reading
Appendix
Attributions
Contributors
Acknowledgments
Contributors: Sandra Balcovske, Dexter Bullard, Andrew Currie, Chris Earle, Tina Fey, Shari Hollett, Bruce Hunter, Nick Johne, Tim Kazurinsky, Keegan-Michael Key, Kelly Leonard, Frank McAnulty, Adam McKay, Patrick McKenna, Susan Messing, Jonathan Pitts, David Razowsky, Jeff Richmond, Bernie Sahlins, Brian Stack, Ron West, Fred Willard.
