Renowned improvisation instructor and award-winning director Mick Napier has been at the heart of the professional improvisation community for over 25 years. The first edition of Improvise. quickly earned its position as necessary reading for improvisation students across the country and around the world and gave birth to a new generation of performers who questioned "The Rules" of improvisation. This expanded and revised edition provides additional advice and tips for success, as well as a full reproduction of Napier's web journal from his time directing the famous show Paradigm Lost for The Second City that included Tina Fey, Rachel Dratch, and Kevin Dorff. In this entertaining and incredibly informative book, Napier will teach you the essentials of: Why "The Rules" don't matter; How to take care of yourself in a scene; Using context to your advantage; Effective two-person scenes; Balanced large-cast scenes; Successful auditioning; Solo exercises you can practice at home.

In this follow-up to his highly regarded book "Improvise: Scene from the Inside Out", globally acclaimed improviser, director, and instructor Mick Napier focuses on the complexities and theories of long form improvisation. This extended form of improvisation invites performers to be inspired for at least thirty minutes by a single suggestion as they push their creativity to the limit. Napier taps into over 30 years of experience and distils his tools for success into practical, engaging lessons: The art of introductions and edits; Different approaches to openers; Pros and cons of the back line; Why it's okay to be funny; Finding the dominant energy; Sustaining a strong character.

Renowned improvisation instructor and award-winning director Mick Napier has been at the heart of the professional improvisation community for over 25 years. The first edition of Improvise. quickly earned its position as necessary reading for improvisation students across the country and around the world and gave birth to a new generation of performers who questioned "The Rules" of improvisation. This expanded and revised edition provides additional advice and tips for success, as well as a full reproduction of Napier's web journal from his time directing the famous show Paradigm Lost for The Second City that included Tina Fey, Rachel Dratch, and Kevin Dorff. In this entertaining and incredibly informative book, Napier will teach you the essentials of: Why "The Rules" don't matter; How to take care of yourself in a scene; Using context to your advantage; Effective two-person scenes; Balanced large-cast scenes; Successful auditioning; Solo exercises you can practice at home.

In this follow-up to his highly regarded book "Improvise: Scene from the Inside Out", globally acclaimed improviser, director, and instructor Mick Napier focuses on the complexities and theories of long form improvisation. This extended form of improvisation invites performers to be inspired for at least thirty minutes by a single suggestion as they push their creativity to the limit. Napier taps into over 30 years of experience and distils his tools for success into practical, engaging lessons: The art of introductions and edits; Different approaches to openers; Pros and cons of the back line; Why it's okay to be funny; Finding the dominant energy; Sustaining a strong character.