Different Techniques for Different Show Moments

I have been improvising for about 12 years now and in that time I've done about 100 shows a year and I'm low balling. Shows can't be the only thing you do but they are really important for putting into practice what we learned in classes, rehearsals, books, and more.

I have really found that the best shows I've played are those that I adjust in the moment my style of play. Every situation throughout a show requires reaction, commitment, and specificity, those are to me required. What is not required is that I use silence every scene, do object work every scene, play a bug character, play close to myself, play fast, play slow, and a whole slew of styles of play that I think people believe to be something they need to do every time to make good scenes.

Good scenes are made up of how we react moment to moment. I may start a scene slow with a sluggish energy but literally seconds later may have to be frantic and screaming. Commiting to your choice doesn't mean " Im sad for this scene" it means I'm sad in this scene until  not because this happened. Or I was sad but then super angry. We have to be constantly in the moment paying attention to what the scene is actually doing and playing it honestly.

We will definitely find patterns and games but even those can't be preplanned or set to be a road map. We have to see when that game is over and a new one begins. It's a difficult thing but it's where the best comedy comes from.

Timing is everything and I believe this mentality of moment to moment is the key to timing. Sometimes that hilarious line you have needs a 5 second silence before to make it really pop but you won't give the scene that unless you are really commited to the moment.

Be in the moment and strong scenes will become more regular.

Jeff Quintana
Artistic Director
Villain Theater

In Your Head? Feel Trapped? GOOD!

I was speaking with Peter last night after a rehearsal and we were saying how sometimes we've been in our heads when in a rehearsal or class. Contrary to popular belief , I really think this is a good thing, no, it's a GREAT thing. 

See the reason we get in our heads most of the time is because we are being challenged to stretch ourselves. We are doing something with our improv that we haven't done before. Because of this our body naturally rejects it, because it means we are going into unknown territory. Our sense of self preservation goes off and holds us back from risk. In this case it's the risk of doing badly in front of our classmates or the teacher or the director.

These moments are exactly what rehearsal is for.  These moments are also what improv fundamentally is: Following The Fear.  We fear the unknown, we fear change, so our body rejects it. It makes excuses as to why this is not needed.  Having a new tool and skill in our improv is never bad. Having a different Point of view or way of approaching the work is always needed.  You never know what situation you may be in on stage and you may need to use a different approach.

Try it all. Really try it.  I pride myself on being able to embrace different techniques and perform with anyone.  I got there by failing hard and often in rehearsals.  I also failed Hard and often in shows trying new things. We all have to be okay with doing so.  Learn all you can. Incorporate all you can. Become a complete improviser by Following the fear and always growing forever in this work.

- Jeff Quintana
Artistic Director
Villain Theater