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Posts tagged "Close Quarters"

Fame Costs...

“You want fame? Well, fame costs. And right here’s where you start paying… in Sweat!” – Debbie Allen The newly revamped Chicago Tribune published a great article on what (if anything) an improviser (or comedian) can expect to make in Chicago. Check it out here. A nice companion piece is one of the first blogs... Read more »
By Jason Chin,
June 17, 2011 at 10:40 pm
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Famous People Doing Funny Things

The third Chicago-based Just for Laughs Festival comes roaring into town June 14th! The Festival began in 1983 all the way up in Montreal, but in 2009 a Chicago Festival was added and with the added financial and broadcast capabilities of the TBS network it has grown very fast. What I personally like about the... Read more »
By Jason Chin,
May 26, 2011 at 11:02 am
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Closed Quarters

Next week will be the end of an era. It will be barely recognized, but extremely important to me. Two years ago, some friends and I remounted the classic, legendary long-form improv show called, “Close Quarters.” Farrell Walsh gathered some people he liked and wanted to perform with and we (Ryan Dolan, Sarah Fineout, Barry... Read more »
By Jason Chin,
March 22, 2011 at 11:22 am
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The Stars At Night / Are Big 'N' Bright...

One of the best things about my “job” / what I do for a living, is visiting other places and seeing their improv world, maybe play in a show, or teach a class or two. Last year, I was lucky enough to visit Australia for a month to extend the reach of Good Lady Improv... Read more »
By Jason Chin,
February 2, 2010 at 10:49 am
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Warm it up, Jay! / I'm about to! / Warm it up, Jay! / Cuz that's what I was born to do!

How does one prepare to be in an improvised show? Each group finds its own way and its own groove, but there are some basic practices that most ensembles share. Most casts “warm-up” and these are usually silly little exercises to get the brain and body ready for action. Since most improvisers have regular office... Read more »
By Jason Chin,
June 10, 2009 at 11:49 am
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One Thumb

I’ve asked by many people if “An Improvised Blog” will be reviewing shows and the answer is a resounding no.   First, reviewing improvised shows is such a difficult task that I do not envy anyone who undertakes it. Besides the usual criteria used to judge a show there are the ever malleable, elusive qualities... Read more »
By Jason Chin,
June 9, 2009 at 10:39 am
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Rehearse Improv? How/Why?

Improv, whether it’s long- or short-form, requires some degree of rehearsal. If a shared base of knowledge (the cast has had the same classes) is a given, then rehearsals for your particular show can only help. Sometimes people are confused by the concept of rehearsing for an improvised show and will use that as “proof”... Read more »
By Jason Chin,
June 1, 2009 at 1:00 pm
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