[Improv] really focuses on finding what motivates a character and making our choices [as actors] once we find it, and that makes it a lot easier to make [those] next choices and our characters more personal.
Sarah Claspell
Actor and Upright Citizens Brigade Training Center Instructor
Improvisation is widely considered to be an important tool for comedic actors, but in truth, having some improv experience is beneficial for actors of all types. In addition to helping performers hone previously acquired acting techniques, improvisation helps them become more versatile, better able to embody their characters and even helps develop ideas for original content.
The SAG-AFTRA President’s Task Force on Education, Outreach & Engagement hosted Staying Present: Improv For Acting on Aug. 3. It featured students and instructors from the Upright Citizens Brigade, a well-known improv theater and training company. UCB has become known for its roster of A-list founders and alumni, and its Improvisational and Sketch Comedy Training Center is the only accredited improv school in the country.
The workshop was led by UCB Director of Education and SAG-AFTRA member Johnny Meeks and UCB instructor Sarah Claspell. It began with an overview of the differences between short- and long-form improv and the training center’s use of the “Chicago-style” of long-form improv. From there, Claspell and featured UCB students conducted live demonstrations of popular improv techniques that focus on active listening and character development.
Toward the workshop’s conclusion, Meeks and Claspell answered questions about getting started with improvisation and opportunities improv offers to performers.
“I always say that as an actor, the most interesting and cool stuff that I've booked has come from my relationships through UCB,” said Meeks. “When you start to work with each other and put so much trust in each other on stage, you start to trust and believe that they're going to make you look good, and you're going to make them look good.”
To learn more about the UCB, visit ucbcomedy.com. Other PTEOE workshops, panels and interviews can be found at sagaftra.org/videos.
The views expressed by the guests are their own and not that of SAG-AFTRA. Any mention of products or services does not imply SAG-AFTRA’s endorsement.
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