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The Upright Citizens Brigade Comedy Improvisation Manual
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The Upright Citizens Brigade Comedy Improvisation Manual is a comprehensive guide to the UCB style of long form comedy improvisation. Written by UCB founding members Matt Besser, Ian Roberts, and Matt Walsh, the manual covers everything from the basics of two person scene work (with a heavy emphasis on finding "the game" of the scene), to the complexities of working within
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Paperback, 384 pages
Published
2013
by The Comedy Council of Nicea LLC
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Jul 07, 2013
Keith Moser
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
anyone wanting to learn improv
Recommended to Keith by:
the UCB Four
Took me six & a half weeks but I finally finished this... More of a review to (eventually) follow...
[This "more of a review" is being written over a year after reading the book--totally forgot to come back and write it]
Picked this book up at UCB during the Del Close Marathon last year a few weeks before it was officially released. Of course, DCM15 wasn't meant to read improv manuals, it was meant to watch a ton of improv. So I started the manual as I sat in line for shows, but didn't get far as ...more
[This "more of a review" is being written over a year after reading the book--totally forgot to come back and write it]
Picked this book up at UCB during the Del Close Marathon last year a few weeks before it was officially released. Of course, DCM15 wasn't meant to read improv manuals, it was meant to watch a ton of improv. So I started the manual as I sat in line for shows, but didn't get far as ...more
The Upright Citizens Brigade is the top improv school in America. Period. Many other great institutions have had their heyday (Second City, IO, The Groundlings), but if you want to know improv now you should study long form, and you should study with the masters. This book was years in the making and gives a detailed explanation of their take on the art. Buy it, and then, if you are lucky enough to live nearby, go take some classes and put your ego on the line. Also read Truth in Comedy and the
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An excellent book on improvisational comedy. One I’d recommend to anyone looking to reinforce what they're learning in improv classes and to better understand how to play in the UCB "game" style. Great explanation of the basics but also covers a wide range of topics related to the art form.
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I have admittedly not read a lot about improv, mainly learned from classes and performing over the past six years. I would have to say, though, that I found this to be an enjoyable, clear, and comprehensive text on how to do longform improvisation. I have heard that the UCB "style" of focus on finding games in scenes is particular to the theater and that there are alternate approaches, but I found the mechanics of UCB's style to be extremely digestible and a helpful way to frame improv. I think
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The Ethical Improviser
Dec 27, 2019
Julie Evans
added it
There is nothing as magnificent as participating in improv except maybe watching it and now reading about it inspires me to continue with my improv group. This is a must read for those that find human nature as hysterical as I do.
If you are doing Improv, and want to get better, you must read this book. Period.
It's a great reminder of the fundamentals and will help you figure out which are the areas/skills that you should be working on to get better. I postponed reading this because the "Manual" in the name made me think it was kind of a textbook-type book.
You'll get a LOT of exercises and ideas for drills that you can do to work on specific skills.
Flow: 4/5, sometimes it feels a bit overwhelming so it might take a 2-3 ...more
It's a great reminder of the fundamentals and will help you figure out which are the areas/skills that you should be working on to get better. I postponed reading this because the "Manual" in the name made me think it was kind of a textbook-type book.
You'll get a LOT of exercises and ideas for drills that you can do to work on specific skills.
Flow: 4/5, sometimes it feels a bit overwhelming so it might take a 2-3 ...more
Extremely useful for anyone interested in improv formats, technique and performance.
I bought this book as a requirement for Improv101 at UCB. Lives up to its name as a manual—it reads well but is not meant to be consumed cover to cover, rather, it should be explored and re-explored over time.
Everything you could ever want in an improv textbook. Great design, straightforward language, helpful examples and diagrams. A must have for your comedy library.
Jul 13, 2015
Alexandra Davis
added it
Read for the improv 101 class I'm taking at the UCB, it's such an interesting read, very helpful, and doesn't feel textbook like at all. The cartoons and diagrams we're s'cute :)
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It's weird trying to boil something like improv down to a science, but these folks do it well. Highly recommended to any performers and artists, especially those pursuing careers in the field.
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Very good and useful not only if you do improvisation, but also if you do sketch writing.
It's slightly hard to rate this, because in order to rate it properly, I would have to be an expert at improv, and then wouldn't need? want? to read this book.
On the other hand, I have done a fair amount of improv, and the philosophy and teaching in this book align with what has increasingly come to be my view of how improv should be done, and includes a lot of exercises that will be useful and practical to help with teaching and development as an improviser.
The book's layout is not perfect. The ...more
On the other hand, I have done a fair amount of improv, and the philosophy and teaching in this book align with what has increasingly come to be my view of how improv should be done, and includes a lot of exercises that will be useful and practical to help with teaching and development as an improviser.
The book's layout is not perfect. The ...more
Before I had the confidence to start taking classes, I took a very studious approach to improv comedy. I consulted as much 'text' on performing because I ironically wanted to be as prepared as possible before stepping foot in an improvisational 101 class. This book is a monster of a manual, able to pull the curtain of this seemingly 'magical' artform. Matt Besser, Matt Walsh, and Ian Roberts doing an absolutely terrific job at making some of the most abstract concepts completely digestible. I ca
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I honestly read this book cover to cover. And it was very helpful for giving me perspective for being a comedy/acting improviser in the future. But it would not have been as helpful if I wasnt taking classes at the same. Which is, lets be honest, what every text is supposed to do. I do think the explanation of "The Harold" could have been stronger but they still gave a good enough version. I suggest not reading this book or getting into improv in any way if you r a shy person, or in some way not
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Amy Poehler suggested reading this book in her memoir "Yes Please" which I liked. I didn't realize there were "rules" for creating improvizational comedy, but this book provides techniques that the authors suggest for successful improv. They also repeatedly stress that improvization is a group effort and its important to listen to your fellow performers. They offer examples of both good and bad attempts to use their techniques. The good examples are really funny. I think you have to be a sort of
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A must-read for anyone attempting comedic improv of any kind and especially longform. This tome is densely packed full of critical strategies, guidelines, and techniques by which to achieve the highest levels of improv fluency.
I found the book works best if you already have some experience with improv and/or are currently practicing several times a week. Otherwise, give it a quick glance, pull the exercises, practice with friends, and then really dive in. Enjoy!
I found the book works best if you already have some experience with improv and/or are currently practicing several times a week. Otherwise, give it a quick glance, pull the exercises, practice with friends, and then really dive in. Enjoy!
This book is only really for people who are performing improv or are coaching improv. It's far too repetitive and drill based to really work for a casual fan of UCB or improv in general.
That being said, it's a very thoughtful and helpful book that works through all the steps of performing improv comedy. As a performer going through training simultaneously, I thought it did a good job capturing the process and inspiring thought in me of the improv.
A must have for any performer. ...more
That being said, it's a very thoughtful and helpful book that works through all the steps of performing improv comedy. As a performer going through training simultaneously, I thought it did a good job capturing the process and inspiring thought in me of the improv.
A must have for any performer. ...more
This was one of the first books that I read when going into improv, and it is bar none, the greatest guide on improvisation out there right now. So comprehensive, colorfully drawn, and from the experts at UCB, it is well-designed and insightful into the mindsets behind improv. I found that a lot of the mindsets that I cultivated in this book still influence me in everyday life. I would even recommend this as a casual read for non-improvisers, but a must-read for every improv actor.
Good use of multiple examples to illustrate different elements of performance. I especially appreciated the breakdowns of heightening vs exploring in scenes.
Nitpick unrelated to content: hopefully future editions will be printed on paper with coated surface that is less reflective. That is some shiny shiny paper that is hard to read under overhead lights of any kind.
Nitpick unrelated to content: hopefully future editions will be printed on paper with coated surface that is less reflective. That is some shiny shiny paper that is hard to read under overhead lights of any kind.
so much information compiled in so many different ways! anyone can find something to love in this book. i enjoyed the more shortform Tips & Tricks type sections, but there were diagrams that proved super useful and i’ll definitely refer back to the lengthier explanations of more heady concepts.
(yes it took me six months to finish this, yes i have adhd, yes i’m an improv expert now.)
(yes it took me six months to finish this, yes i have adhd, yes i’m an improv expert now.)
Great book with great insight and examples. I couldn't use the book to it's full extent ad I didn't do it in conjunction with practice but Incan see the value it provides and it has made watching improv more enjoyable for me as I can analyze it a bit better as an artform.
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Aug 25, 2019
Ashley
added it
Read this alongside a UCB improv course. Goes over the foundation, the game, and includes lots of warm ups and examples of what not to do. Plus illustrations! Would be good for aspiring teachers, not just students.
A very in depth guide to learning and teaching improv. Even though I took classes at UCB and other locations, I found this very helpful in order to lead my improv team here in Jerusalem.
Liked the first part better than the last part, b/c it was more applicable to what I was doing. But I think that, overall, this one is good.
To be honest, this was no easy read. it had its interesting sections but it was also confusing in sections. I'm glad I read it once, I would not like to read it again.
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The most educational and practical method to learn improv. Especially while taking classes at UCB
Very helpful, a surprising amount of sports analogies.
Terrific companion book to any improv class. It helps you reflect on the improv rules and enforces why they are strong choices.
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