Some Scripted Story about Improv...

That's right boys and girls. Unless you missed all my facebook posts and general ramblings, then you already knew I was in my first improv show the first Sunday in April of 2011. Now with the show in the history books, I thought I would share my story of how this came to be, my thoughts, and what the future holds.

I know some of you know this, but I actually had a big push getting into improv. I had gone to a couple shows at the Madcap Theater in Westminster, Colorado (http://madcapimprov.com/), but never really thought about doing it. That's where Carolyn Brug comes in. For Christmas 2010, she bought me the first set of lessons as a gift.,.. and what a gift! Started my first set of four classes in January 2011. The first set of classes went well. It wasn't focused so much on the games or even the comedy, but more establishing "a story" between characters, including relationship/status and conflict. It was a twelve person class, yet all the exercises were two people or less... And totally done the right way. Lots of focus on actual acting in addition to the focus on the miming of objects to make them look real/have the audience understand what you are doing (with that object). Also focused on non verbal cue's of emotion, in posture, pace, and so on. With all that in mind, THEN you could exaggerate everything you learned and find a very real and natural comedy... think about it...

Since I enjoyed the first set of classes so much (thank you again Care!), I decided it was time to do class #2. This is the class that introduced the games, 3rd person entrances, and the fun little tricks to make the shows the best possible... but all of that only works if you apply the lessons from the first set of classes. I learned a lot here... But there was so much information, I feel like I have to go at it again. Either way, this class was even more fun then the first, with longer scenes and a chance to really let them develop. This class started in early March and went through early April 2011 (4 classes again).

Sunday, April 4th, 2011, 6:00 was the first show for most of the six actors on stage (Chrissy had performed on the MadCap stage previously). It was a free show that the six of us could invite anyone to attend... and did we. Bottom section full, seats used in the raise level, and all the support for all the actors was greatly appreciated. We did a number of scenes, some a lot of fun to perform and fun for the audience ("Dialogue Papers" and "Forward/Reverse" specifically), and some I hope we change for the next time around ("Story" comes to mind). Either way, the show was great. I was the 3rd entrance on both scenes I was a part of, something I didn't protest for the sake of time, but something I hope doesn't happen next time (I can never get a enough face time, but limiting it hurt :). That's not say that I can't improve, there are a lot of things I want to do differently (asking for suggestions, making stories/scene's bigger, spelling ;)

In case you haven't gathered, there will be a next time. Due to how busy this summer is looking with birthdays, weddings, bachelor parties, and other events, I think it'll have to happen in the fall. I hope the actors from this show are serious when they say they want to do it again because I really enjoyed working with them. I hope I can remember a lot and go in to the second set of classes for the second time with lots of knowledge... and don't worry, I'll let you know when the show will happen again... I/we will need and appreciate all the support we can get. So until then, enjoy the show via , YouTube on the "mercury26" channel and I'll keep you all in the loop. Clint Crockett, signing off.