Austin Improv

would like to read an improv book to cure summer inactivity-am open to suggestions. am actually desperate for them.

so, anybody?

If you have been doing improv for enough time, Improvise by Mick Napier is the tops. I also think Improvise Better by Jim Carrane and Liz Allen is a good read (very quick).

Impro by Keith Johnstone.

Do you know what type of book or what you're trying to get out of it?

I have a pretty big improv book library, as does The Hideout. I'd be happy to recommend something based on what you're looking for.

Impro and Improvise are two must-reads at some point in your improv career, as are a few others.

Since Asaf was too humble to mention it, I will suggest Directing Improv by Asaf Ronen.

There is also a book by Rich Ross entirely about playing Maestro published through Bay Area Theatersports:
http://www.stickycricket.com/improvpress.html

I would suggest my book if you are at least an intermediate. I do not know you well enough to make the call.

And thank you, Mo.

Also, a lot of friends swear by Free Play by Stephen Nachmanovitch though it is not improv specific. It is about spontanaeity as a broader concept and applies heavily. Have not read it myself but intend to soon.

Asaf wrote:Also, a lot of friends swear by Free Play by Stephen Nachmanovitch though it is not improv specific. It is about spontanaeity as a broader concept and applies heavily. Have not read it myself but intend to soon.

Free Play is fantastic. It is improv specific, but not theatrical improv specific. The guy is an improv violinist.

I guess what you read depends on what you want to do and learn about, and your basic expereience level with improv. There are books for directing, for teaching, for gameplay, for theory, for history, etc.

And there are some, like Impro, that I'd recommend of the bat for anyone (and have even bought for non-improvisers as gifts) and others, like Improvise, that I'd suggest waiting to read until you've been doing improv for about a year or so.

Is there any particular area of interest for you?

Also, also, since you're a part of Gigglepants, Impro for Storytellers might be good. It focuses a lot on games, why they exist, and how to play and direct. At least, I think it does. Kareem's recently read it, so he can tell you more.

I just finished reading Truth in Comedy (thanks, Brad) and really dug most of it. There are parts that are a bit too new agey and most of the examples are more serious than I would have preferred, but it is also a great book for some basics of good improvisation or even used to reinforce those ideas. Don't read it right after you have a show though because it will make you question a lot of what you did on stage. Although, that may be a good reason to read it after a show.

"improvise" by mick napier. you can read it once, and then keep coming back to it over time.

"Improvisation for the Theater" by Viola Spolin

... because everyone should be as bored as I was reading that (before I bailed about 10% into it)

Before you tackle some of the larger books, I'd recommend Impro, then Truth in Comedy. Both are relatively quick reads in comparison to most of the other books out there, and they help reinforce the core concepts of good improv. Impro for Storytellers covers a lot of the same ground as Impro, but more in-depth.

Like Justin said, Viola Spolin's book is not that entertaining to read. I'm sure it has plenty of merit to it, but I'll save that until I've exhausted most of my other options.

York99 wrote:"Improvisation for the Theater" by Viola Spolin

... because everyone should be as bored as I was reading that (before I bailed about 10% into it)

amen, brother.