Whose Improv Is It Anyway?: Beyond Second City

286 Pages·2001·3.57 MB·English

by  Amy E. Seham

Whose Improv Is It Anyway?
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whose
improv is it
anyway?
beyond
second city
Amy E. Seham
University Press of Mississippi / Jackson
www.upress.state.ms.us
Copyright(cid:2)2001byAmyE.Seham
Allrightsreserved
ManufacturedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica
09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 4 3 2 1
(cid:3)(cid:2)
LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
Seham,AmyE.
Whoseimprovisitanyway?:beyondSecondCity/AmyE.Seham.
p. cm.
Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.
ISBN1-57806-340-X(alk.paper)—ISBN1-57806-341-8(pbk.:alk.paper)
1.Improvisation(Acting). 2.Comedy. 3.Stand-upcomedy. I.Title.
PN2071.I5S45 2001
792(cid:3).028—dc21 00-068659
BritishLibraryCataloging-in-PublicationDataavailable
TothememoryofPaulB.Williams—amanofthetheatre
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Contents
Acknowledgments....................................................................... ix
Preface.......................................................................................... xi
Introduction................................................................................ xvii
ChapterOne.TheFirst-WaveParadigm................................... 3
Interlude:TheSecondWave...................................................... 31
ChapterTwo.ImprovOlympic:TheTruthaboutImprov...... 39
ChapterThree.ComedySportz:Play’stheThing..................... 79
Interlude:TheThirdWave......................................................... 113
ChapterFour.TheAnnoyanceTheatre:Carnivalof
MisfitToys................................................................................... 123
ChapterFive.TheFreeAssociates:TheRulesoftheGame.... 165
ChapterSix.ImprovinBlackandWhite.................................. 188
Conclusion................................................................................... 214
Notes............................................................................................ 229
WorksCited................................................................................. 239
Index............................................................................................ 247
vii
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Acknowledgments
First, I want to thank my three mentors for this project: my advisor, Sally
Banes,forherinvaluableinsightandguidancethroughtheresearch,original
composition,andbeyond;AnneStascavage,forchampioningitattheUniver-
sity Press of Mississippi; and John Rezmerski, for his wisdom, expertise, and
supportthrougheverywordoftherevisions.
I am also grateful to Gustavus Adolphus College for funding additional
research, to my colleagues and students there, and especially to the Depart-
ment of Theatre and Dance at Gustavus for improvising with me every se-
mester.
Thanks also go to Philip Auslander, Natalya Baldyga, Karen Bovard, Car-
olynBronstein,PhilBryant,EricCarlson,Noe¨lCarroll,NicoleChrissotimos,
LaurieBethClark,JulieD’Acci,JillDolan,JeanieForte,PattyGallagher,Rob
Gardner,AnitaGonzalez,TimGood,SteveGriffith,NancyHanway,Dorinda
Hartmann, Melissa Hillman, Cassandra Holst, Jan Jensen, Marna King, Pat
Kewitsch,DerekKompare,MariangelaMaguire(feministoncall),BetsyMor-
gan,TerenceMorrow,LisaMyrhe(foralwayslistening),ElizabethNafpaktitis,
Peg O’Connor, Tasha Oren, Lisa Parks, Michele Rusinko, Carrie Sandahl,
TerrySmith,PatrickSutton,TamaraUnderiner,MichaelVandenHeuvel,Phil
Voight,andmyfriends,professors,andcolleaguesattheUniversityofCalifor-
nia,Berkeley,andtheUniversityofWisconsin,Madison,forsuggestionsand
encouragementalongtheway.
From Performance Studio in New Haven, Connecticut, I am thankful to
Andrew Rubenoff, Margaret Kurland, Deanna Dunmyer, the cast of Oops, I
ForgottoGetMarried!andthemanyidealisticimprovisers,actors,artists,and
musicianswhocollaboratedwithmethroughtheyears.
Much appreciation is also due to the photographers, publicists, theatre
companies, and private collectors who have provided photographs for the
book.Thankyouall.
This book would not have been possible without the generous way that
many improvisers (performers, producers, directors, and teachers) shared
theirlives,thoughts,andexperienceswithme.MyprofusethanksgotoSean
Abley,AndrewAlexander,JodyAmerling,GwynAshley,BabyWantsCandy,
Zoe Beckerman, Joe Bill, Jennifer Bills, Bo Blackburn, Molly Cavanaugh,
ix