
Impro
Improvisation and the Theatre
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Narrated by:
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William Reay
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By:
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Keith Johnstone
About this listen
Impro is the most dynamic, funny, wise, practical, and provocative book on theatre craft that I have ever read. (James Roose-Evans, British theatre director, priest, and writer)
Keith Johnstone's involvement with the theatre began when George Devine and Tony Richardson, artistic directors of the Royal Court Theatre, commissioned a play from him. This was in 1956. A few years later, he was associate artistic director, working as a playreader and director, in particular helping to run the writers' group. The improvisatory techniques and exercises that evolved there, fostering spontaneity and narrative skills, were developed further in the actors' studio and, then, in demonstrations to schools and colleges. This ultimately resulted in the founding of a company of performers called The Theatre Machine.
Divided into four sections—Status, Spontaneity, Narrative Skills, and Masks and Trance—and arranged more or less in the order a group might approach them, the audiobook sets out the specific techniques and exercises which Johnstone has himself found most useful and most stimulating. The result is both an audiobook of ideas and a fascinating exploration of the nature of spontaneous creativity. This audio edition of Impro is skillfully narrated by William Reay and includes as a second appendix a previously unpublished essay The Full Mask, which Johnstone wrote 50 years after the original publication of the book.
Produced and published by Echo Point Books & Media, an independent bookseller in Brattleboro, Vermont.
©1979, 1981 Keith Johnstone, Irving Wardle (P)2020 Echo Point Books & Media, LLCListeners also enjoyed...
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Supremely thorough and interesting
- By Josh on 10-05-17
By: Lawrence Wright
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Improv for Actors
- By: Dan Diggles
- Narrated by: Paul Boehmer
- Length: 9 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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In this step-by-step guide, an actor and improvisational teacher brings his tested methods to the page to show how actors can take risks and gain spontaneity in all genres of scripted theater. Through 28 lessons - each of which includes warm-ups, points of concentration, and improvisation exercises - Improv for Actors provides insights into thinking and reacting with fluidity, exploring a character’s social status, using the voice and body as effective tools of storytelling, and more.
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Good Content, helpful resource
- By Buyer One on 04-30-14
By: Dan Diggles
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Respect for Acting
- Expanded Edition
- By: Uta Hagen, Haskel Frankel, Katie Finneran - foreword, and others
- Narrated by: Elizabeth Wiley
- Length: 9 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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Since its original publication in 1973, Uta Hagen's Respect for Acting has remained a durable classic for all students of acting. As an acting instructor at the Herbert Berghof Studio, Hagen helped to develop the talents of world-class actors like Robert DeNiro, Matthew Broderick, Gene Wilder, Amanda Peet, Austin Pendleton, Whoopi Goldberg, and more. This updated edition illuminates Hagen's original text with a new foreword written by Katie Finneran, retaining the David Hyde Pierce foreword, along with added background on HB Studio.
By: Uta Hagen, and others
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Freedom's Forge
- How American Business Built the Arsenal of Democracy That Won World War II
- By: Arthur Herman
- Narrated by: John McDonough
- Length: 16 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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New York Times best-selling author and Pulitzer Prize finalist Arthur Herman pens this fascinating look at how two businessmen turned the U.S. into a military powerhouse during World War II. In 1940, FDR asked General Motors CEO William Knudsen to oversee the production of guns, tanks, and planes needed for the war. Meanwhile, industrialist Henry J. Kaiser presided over the building of “Liberty ships” - vessels that came to symbolize America’s great wartime output.
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Enlightening. Amazing, Great Narration
- By G. Sanders on 08-26-12
By: Arthur Herman
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The Hidden Tools of Comedy
- The Serious Business of Being Funny
- By: Steve Kaplan
- Narrated by: Sean Pratt, Steve Kaplan
- Length: 8 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
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While other books give you tips on how to “write funny,” this book offers a paradigm shift in understanding the mechanics and art of comedy and the proven, practical tools that help writers translate that understanding into successful commercial scripts. The Hidden Tools of Comedy unlocks the unique secrets and techniques of writing comedy. Kaplan deconstructs sequences in popular films and TV that work and don’t work and explains what tools were used (or should have been used).
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A book to see the funny around us
- By Jorge Sigler on 10-29-23
By: Steve Kaplan
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The Technological Republic
- Hard Power, Soft Belief, and the Future of the West
- By: Alexander C. Karp, Nicholas W. Zamiska
- Narrated by: Nicholas W. Zamiska
- Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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In this groundbreaking treatise, Palantir co-founder and CEO Alexander C. Karp and Nicholas W. Zamiska offer a searing critique of our collective abandonment of ambition, arguing that in order for the U.S. and its allies to retain their global edge—and preserve the freedoms we take for granted—the software industry must renew its commitment to addressing our most urgent challenges, including the new arms race of artificial intelligence. The government, in turn, must embrace the most effective features of the engineering mindset that has propelled Silicon Valley’s success.
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Premise no longer applicable
- By Marion B. McGovern on 02-28-25
By: Alexander C. Karp, and others
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This Is Strategy
- Make Better Plans (Create a Strategy to Elevate Your Career, Community & Life)
- By: Seth Godin
- Narrated by: Seth Godin
- Length: 9 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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From Seth Godin, one of the world's most influential business thinkers and bestselling author of This is Marketing, comes an essential guide to thinking strategically in a complex, ever-changing world. This is Strategy is a modern classic that offers perspectives you'll find yourself returning to again and again. Rather than providing step-by-step formulas, Godin offers something more valuable: a new way of seeing and thinking about the challenges you face.
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Lack of story and continuity
- By J. Parsons on 02-04-25
By: Seth Godin
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The New Comedy Bible
- The Ultimate Guide to Writing and Performing Stand-Up Comedy
- By: Judy Carter
- Narrated by: Judy Carter
- Length: 6 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
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The New Comedy Bible is a step-by-step, no excuses manual for writing, performing, and launching your career as a stand-up comic. Written by Judy Carter, the author of The Comedy Bible (2001), which was called by The Washington Post and Forbes as a “Comedy Essential”. This new book, penned in classic Carter’s style - part career coach and part comedy dominatrix - has 100 percent new content.
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PDF workbook
- By Lluvia Guerra on 02-22-21
By: Judy Carter
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The Elements of Humor
- By: Scott Dikkers
- Narrated by: Scott Dikkers
- Length: 3 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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Are you ready to elevate your writing, speeches, and conversations with unparalleled wit and comedy? Look no further than The Elements of Humor by bestselling author and comedy writing legend, Scott Dikkers. This isn't just another book on humor—it's a transformative guide that stands head and shoulders above the rest, designed to make you the funniest version of yourself. The Elements of Humor is your key to making the people around you laugh. Perfect for enhancing presentations, content creation, or everyday conversations, this book will secure a prominent place on your library shelf.
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He puts it all together
- By Amber Morales on 04-22-25
By: Scott Dikkers
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How to Write Funny Characters
- The Complete List of the 40 Character Archetypes of Comedy and How to Use Them to Craft Funny Dialogue and Captivate Audiences
- By: Scott Dikkers
- Narrated by: Scott Dikkers
- Length: 3 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
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From one of the world’s most celebrated humor writers, this easy-to-follow, step-by-step book lays out a clear system for producing living, breathing comedy characters that audiences will fall in love with.
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This is everything…
- By Customer on 06-24-22
By: Scott Dikkers
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How to Make People Laugh
- Develop Confidence and Charisma, Master Improv Comedy, and Be More Witty with Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere (Communication Skills Training, Book 1)
- By: James W. Williams
- Narrated by: Johnny Bud
- Length: 3 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
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Want to learn how to make people laugh out loud? How to Make People Laugh is a book that targets regular comedians, such as you and me. It does not try to transform you into a professional comedian. Instead, it puts comedy in the spotlight of everyday life. With this book, you will learn techniques that you can easily incorporate at parties or even in regular banter with friends and colleagues.
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Go to youtube
- By Anotony on 09-05-21
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Orientalism
- By: Edward Said
- Narrated by: Peter Ganim
- Length: 19 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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This landmark book, first published in 1978, remains one of the most influential books in the Social Sciences, particularly Ethnic Studies and Postcolonialism. Said is best known for describing and critiquing "Orientalism", which he perceived as a constellation of false assumptions underlying Western attitudes toward the East. In Orientalism Said claimed a "subtle and persistent Eurocentric prejudice against Arabo-Islamic peoples and their culture."
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We're lucky to have this on audio
- By Delano on 02-27-13
By: Edward Said
What listeners say about Impro
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- Max Strand
- 02-23-23
Best book on creativity
Best book on creativity I’ve read. I also recommend Catching the Big Fish by David Lynch.
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2 people found this helpful
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- beesbane
- 06-08-23
Very creative
Its much more creative than this comment. But i loved it and want it to have these five stars. With so few reviews… it really is a wonderful book. I may even buy a hard copy.
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1 person found this helpful
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- rander
- 06-17-23
The most important concept of my life.
This book is extremely valuable to me both as a writer and a game master. No writing crafts books can match this timeless masterpiece.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Robert Mann
- 03-11-21
Excellent Resource for improvisational theater
whoever wrote the previous review for this book obviously was confused. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Especially the section about status. I read the book years ago and it’s a joy to listen to this wonderful narration!
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4 people found this helpful
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- Dan Collins
- 06-29-24
The Power of Suggestion
It is my understanding that this book is mandatory reading for new hires at Palantir. I've also read "Stealing Fire". This book convinces me that the degenerates in the tech industry need to re-baseline. The fact that this book is a must read for any company is not a positive for that company. And it certainly does not justify the investment you or I might make to listen to it and see what the buzz is about.
There is no "there", there, dear listener. This is shallow and un-insightful. You can ignore it if you know who you are. If you have no idea who you are, this book might be useful.
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- Swiissjoker
- 01-24-21
1 hour in and....WHAT?
I seen this lady on YouTube recommend this book so I figured I'd pick it up and give it a try. 1 hour in and I don't get the angle nor the understanding of where the author is coming from. I thought we was going to get straight into the improv learning but it's a lot of quotes and reenactment of plays going on and I'm not understanding. Overall, this book does not get straight to the point.
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1 person found this helpful