Newton South

2006 — MA/US

• Invite

Team Improv

Event Description:

PLEASE NOTE: Students may NOT triple enter in Team Improv. 1. Improvs must stand on their own and not rely on material prepared in advance, written or memorized. Introductions are not allowed. No material may be used that was created prior to the start of the round.2. The basics of Character, Relationship, Objective, Where (C.R.O.W.) should be established early in the improv. Teams will be judged on the ability to establish and use environment, establish who they are and how they relate to other characters, and to clearly pursue an objective.3. Players should be rewarded for working together to add interest to the scene and bring it to a satisfying conclusion. This does not mean characters must agree; it means players agree on the situation. Players should be penalized for BLOCKING (A form of canceling, which completely denies an offer. Example: "Is that your car?" "What car? There's no car here.") 4. Creativity is to be rewarded within the structure and the above guidelines. A spectacularly funny stand-up routine that ignores the rules of the structure should not be highly ranked.5. We will use 4 different structures during the day, a different one for each round, including finals. Timing begins as soon as students have drawn their selections. [Time limit: 6 minutes. 30 second grace period.] ROUND ONE: TWO LOCATIONS: Each team draws two locations and each player on the team draws a character. Players may trade characters before the scene starts. The scene must start in one location and end in the other. ROUND TWO: WHAT IF ___?: Each team draws three questions and chooses one. They play a scene in which the premise is true. For example: What if there were no gravity? The scene could begin with the assumption being true, or it could become true during the scene. In the above example, for instance, gravity could disappear in the middle of the scene. There should be a clear beginning, middle and end or a “problem/obstacle(s)/resolution” structure. ROUND THREE: In A ___, With A __, While __: Each team draws one slip of paper from each of three envelopes and develops a scene, for example, “IN a toaster WITH a marine sergeant WHILE a hurricane is approaching.” The scene does not have to begin with the suggestions but may move toward that moment. Or it may begin with the suggestion and proceed.FINAL ROUND: The final round structure will be announced at postings for finals.