Austin Improv

Hey fellow improvisers,


I'm reaching out on behalf of a fun & definitive resource we're all proud of over at New Movement. It's the namesake book of the improv conference and blog that New Movement calls "Improv Wins". This book is Chris & Tami's baby that took years to write as an account of their personal style of teaching and performing the art of improvisation. They've taught hundreds of students such as myself. They've learned a lot from their many students and they've written and rewritten as they've updated & tweaked their unique curriculum. Today Chris & Tami are confident in their stylings and wish to share what they've learned with the world.

I know that when I first stepped into the original New Movement space on Rosewood, I became enchanted with the style of improv I was watching. I couldn't get my head around how it was working so well. How students seemed to be comfortable in their skin & following each other so closely & creating congruent scenes effortlessly. Today I am in New Orleans with Chris & Tami, and I am STILL learning and getting my head around this style of improv and I am impressed every week with the newer and newer challenges that get added to the curriculum.


You might have seen shows at New Movement and wondered "what's up with this style of improv? I want to know more."

Today the founders of the theater are publishing a book. They are doing it independently, and they have some perks on kickstarter to help out with the financing.

If you want insight into the creation of this "comedy language" I'd encourage you to secure a copy of the book or consider donating a few dollars to throw into the collective improv culture that we are all developing across the country. Chris & Tami have an intriguing spin on improvisation: they came together with Trew's very strategic style and Tami's very intuitive style to create ONE single language and approach to the art form for students of improvisation everywhere.


Check it out, and as always, thanks for watching.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tre ... k-from-tnm

I contributed to this Kickstarter project because

1) I want to support them, and it seems like a worthy endeavor
2) I'm interested to see what's in the book

I'm not sure you can learn improv from a book, though. I've never read any book about stage improv. The Austin public library, although generally quite good, doesn't seem to carry Truth in Comedy and that Keith Johnstone book is always checked out.

Dan, if you're interested in some more improv books, I know lots of folks have copies they'd be willing to lend out of Truth in Comedy, Impro, Impro for Storytellers, Mick Napier's book, Jill Bernard's book, etc. etc. You can't learn improv just form a book, of course, but I love reading about improv because it can light up my brain in a different way.

DanC wrote:I contributed to this Kickstarter project....

I'm not sure you can learn improv from a book, though.

Awesome Dan. I agree! From a book you can gain insight and give yourself an approach to the art form that leads to discovery.


You cannot learn improv from simply doing improv either. In the sense that you need those moments of reflection and introspection. You pause and recall your favorite scenes. Your least favorite scenes. You give yourself goals and methods of how to approach improv the next time. What about watching really good or bad improv? Those experiences are a call to action to the player who is watching from the audience.


I've witnessed time and time again students being guided out of their heads and acting congruently within scenes. At a striking consistency. Recital tape after recital tape. Its that consistency that gives Chris and Tami their credentials. I make the case that a little introspection and theory from Chris & Tami could inform any player of any experience level or background. Their specific vision and perspective will add texture toward a player's objective understanding of the art form.