Tag Archives: del_close

Bring a Brick

Sunday, February 4, 2007 – 9:00 am

When you start a scene, bring a brick not a cathedral.
Possibly Del Close? 
This quote has followed me around thought my improv career. I read somewhere and now can’t find the attribution to it. I always ascribe it to Del Close, but as I can’t find it’s source, I’m really not sure any more. There is [...]

By Ben Whitehouse | Posted in Quotes | Also tagged | Comments (4)

The Art of Sucking

Thursday, January 18, 2007 – 10:46 am

For all the credit I give Mick Napier and his excellent book Improvise, learning the rules of improv as taught by Del Close in Truth In Comedy is a necessity. Mick teaches a far more organic form of Improv that, while being a great addition to Del’s teachings pushing forward an improviser stuck in a [...]

By Ben Whitehouse | Posted in Improv, Improv Diary | Also tagged , , | Comments (0)

Gausas 600: Cat’s Cradle and JTS Brown

Saturday, December 9, 2006 – 3:06 pm

Normally I wouldn’t be spotlighting to a class show on Improvoker. Class shows are usually a great place to watch students perfecting their craft, but are sometimes a little difficult to watch… but this isn’t an ordinary class show. This is the final performance of a 600 level class taught by instructor Christina Gausas.
Christina is [...]

By Ben Whitehouse | Posted in Events, Improv | Also tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)

Del Close’s Skull Controversy Finally Settled

Tuesday, October 3, 2006 – 6:50 pm

The story behind Del Close’s bequeathing his skull to iO (Improv Olympic) Chicago, to be used in theatrical productions, has always been the subject controversy. The New Yorker has finally unconverted the truth behind Del Close’s skull at the Improv Olympic.
She [Charna Halpern] now pleads guilty—with an explanation. “After Del died, I asked the hospital [...]

By Ben Whitehouse | Posted in Improv, Noteworthy | Also tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)

25 Years of Improv Comedy

Saturday, August 26, 2006 – 11:54 am

25 Years of Improv Comedy
:2 stars:
2006
90 minutes
Filmed at the 25th Anniversary Celebration of iO (Improv Olympic) (formerly the Improve Olympic), this movie basically tries to document the evenings shenanigans.
While I appreciate the idea of this documentary, the actual film making is really lacking. Not only do the improvisors have to hold a microphone if they [...]

By Ben Whitehouse | Posted in 2 stars, Movies | Also tagged , , , | Comments (0)