FastForwardImprovShow

Format Summary: Fast Forward!

In five words: Sixty scenes in sixty minutes.

Rapid-paced, undirected, short-form, narrative improv. Players organically start and end scenes with a timekeeper/host/referee that calls scenes that have exceeded an arbitrary time limit.

Calendar

(for rehearsal schedule)

Rehearsal Notes

• 7/14 notes
• 7/21 notes

Important Show Notes

• Warmups
• Script
• Current Logistics and Format Issues

To Do

• Sort out role, visibility, tone of host (7/28 rehearsal)
• Play at speed (7/28 rehearsal)

• Discuss and adjust format (8/4 rehearsal)

  • The current format is described in the example Fast Forward script
  • A list of punishments
  • A list of setups
• Make soundtrack
• Start promoting three weeks in advance (posters, flyers, advance to Chronicle, KVRX, etc.)
• Email people two weeks in advance, week of.
• Post-mortem: can we do this as a running show?

Current Assignments (8/5)

Need promotional material:

• (DONE) need blurb - Bob
• (DONE) e-mail info sheet - Bob
• (DONE) website - Bob

• posters/flyers/leaflets - Bob

  • We've gotta get these done soon -- I'm too busy to work on them though; I suggest business cards or postcards. (Peter)
• (DONE) Chronicle - Shelly
• (TOO LATE - MY BAD) KVRX - Bob
• program - Bob

Find someone to do: (Bob)

• box office
• door
• lights - Brian

Suggest list of improvisor punishments - Bob

• penalty box (sit out n scenes)
• verbal restrictions
• take this person's drink order

Logistics

• Train Brian on lights on Tuesday.
• Make ask-for forms - Shelly
• Make house setups, jars and buckets - Bob
• (TOO LATE - MY BAD) Figure out projection clock - Bob

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Blurb

Fast Forward is 90 minutes of high-speed improv comedy. Emphasizing short scenes and constant stage activity, our players set an aggressive goal of at least 90 scenes in 90 minutes. Will the Ringmaster keep the action moving or lose the job to one of the players? Find out on Sunday, August 11 at 8pm downtown at The Hideout (617 Congress Ave.) $5. A Heroes of Comedy Lab Show.

For details, call 695-8051 or mail <fastforward@cynistar.net>.

Overview

Fast Forward! is a short-form improvisational comedy format that emphasises very short scenes (between 10 seconds and 2 minutes per scene) and constant activity on stage. The format is undirected except for a host who introduces the show and players, keeps time, calls scenes on length and occasionally restricts players (putting them in the penalty box, taking away their voice, etc. for a short period of time.) The stage is always occupied and scenes are always replaced by new scenes via transition (wipe, time jump, etc.) Shape of show is mostly flat, with moderate to high energy, determined primarily by the players and secondarily by the host.

Since activity is constant, it's probably best to keep this show to an hour (45 minutes straight through, or two 20-minute halves.) Two 40-minute halves may be grueling for audience and performers alike but should give everyone their five bucks worth.

Cast and Crew

• 4-8 players

  • BobApthorpe
  • Maggie Bell
  • Amy !McCurdy
  • Jennifer !McKenna (out, moving...)
  • Susie Mihalak
  • Shelly Miller
  • Ed Piston
  • PeterRogers
  • Kacey Samiee
  • Katy Shea
• 1 timekeeper/host/referee
• 1 box office clerk (except in the case of a free show; potentially a player or AV tech)
• 1 door clerk (except in the case of a free show)
• Possibly one sound/light/AV tech (may double as host)

Guidelines:

• Always keep a compelling story onstage and replace scenes as soon as they start bogging down. Reinforce to players that scenes are disposable.
• Keep the pace high but let the energy and intensity level change as appropriate. Short scenes don't need to be performed quickly.
• Use the host to prevent utter chaos from breaking out, not as a director. Setups (and ideally, all transitions) should come from the players, not the host (hence the term 'host' and not 'director'.)
• The host may pull a suggestion from the audience to start or to alter the show if it starts becoming monothematic but, in general, there's not a great deal of audience participation.
• Absolutely no games.
• Absolutely no cold stage.
• Absolutely no stopping the show once it's in progress.
• Reincorporation is acceptable (and probably unavoidable) but not necessary.

Performance Skills Emphasized

• Transition techniques (wipes, split screens, time jumps)
• Interruptions, walk-ons, bench support
• Leaving space, sharing the stage
• Rapid endowment of players, environment (fast spacework.) Instant objective
• Advancing, making things happen
• Recognizing and decisively ending scenes in trouble
• Vocal projection
• Risk-taking and real improvisation (no pre-planning)

And above all:

• Show, don't tell! Do, don't think!

Variations

• Start show with video segment instead of live host
• Put host in booth; use lighting and sound offers to kill scenes (host is Omniscient Voice of Wrathful Old-Testament God)
• Project clock on wall

Plan

• Assemble prototype cast (4-10), rehearse 2-3 times (over 2 weeks)
• Test as Lab Show or in early, off-prime time slot. Note: need show date at least two weeks in advance to promote show.
• Move to regular (and preferably early) time slot to promote mainstage shows.
• Expand cast; possibly draw in Rookies not playing Micetro

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Footnotes

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