Improv!: A Handbook for the Actor

By Greg Atkins

Book Overview

You're an actor. You know you're going to have to do it sometime, but the very thought chills your blood, makes your palms go sweaty, and your voice squeak. It's improvisationand for many actors it's a nightmare. Greg Atkins, a member of South Coast Repertory and unabashed improviser, takes the fear out of improv. This friendly, informative book looks at the reasons many actors hate improvisation, while quietly reinforcing the reasons improv is a vital part of acting and of theatre. He offers sensible (and fun ) exercises that can be used by teachers or by actors, to build up the mental agility that is so much a part of improvisation, and that should be part of every actor's arsenal.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0435086278
• ISBN13: 9780435086275
• Release Date: January 1993
• Publisher: Heinemann Drama
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.4" x 8.5"
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Nice teaching tool

I am a Drama teacher in high school. This book is great for activities in a drama class, or just warm ups to really get the class into acting.

Fun and useful (what's better than that?)

Greg was my acting teacher in the mid-80's and the games in this book formed the core of the improv classes I've been teaching since the mid-90s. I refer to this book all the time!Buy it!

Improv isn't always scary. It can be fun!

Greg was actually my acting teacher several years ago, and he used many of these exercises in my class. He made improv fun and interesting. His games are a great way to promote quick thinking, and not thinking. Greg, if you're reading this, remember me? You still have to sign my copy of this book... =) Hope you're doing great!

A must for any improv director or teacher

A wonderfully organized book that I can always look to when I've got 10 minutes before rehearsal and haven't even planned a warm-up! (I direct an improv troupe in NYC) While not exhaustively complete it's great for someone who's done some improv and doesn't need to learn that denial in scenes is a no-no.

Good book for actors, performers and teachers

Excellent book to help actors think faster and make better choices. Lots of good exercises that I use in my classroom. Helpful in getting my actors to free up and trust themselves and others. Many of my students have improved their performing skills, created their own improv groups, or have been cast in sit coms and films. I highly recommend this book