14 – The Monoscene

14 – The Monoscene

Author: Curtis Retherford December 23, 2017 Duration: 19:44
The Monoscene is a form in which the location never changes: there are no edits. In this episode, we talk about how […]

Ever wonder how the best improvisers build entire worlds out of thin air? Improv, Beat by Beat pulls back the curtain on that very process. Host Curtis Retherford sits down with seasoned performers from the legendary UCB Theatre in New York City, but instead of just trading backstage stories, they break down the craft of long-form improv into its essential components. Each conversation focuses on a single, crucial concept-whether it’s finding the game of a scene, building a grounded character, or navigating a group mind-and examines it with a practical, detailed lens. You’ll hear these artists dissect their own choices and thought processes, offering a rare glimpse into the mechanics of spontaneous creation. This isn't about quick jokes or one-liners; it's about the foundational tools that make unscripted comedy compelling and real. The discussions are insightful, often funny, and always geared toward understanding the 'why' behind the 'yes, and.' Tune in to this podcast for a masterclass in comedic intuition, straight from the practitioners who live it on stage. Whether you're an aspiring performer, a writer, or simply curious about the art of making things up, you'll find something to think about in every episode.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 27

Improv, Beat by Beat
Podcast Episodes
06 – The Invocation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:59
The Invocation is an opening developed by Del Close for the Harold. In this episode, Will Hines and Achilles Stamatelaky convince me […]
05 – The Opening [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:10
After a team gets a suggestion, they typically do an opening of some sort to generate the ideas they will explore within […]
04 – The Harold [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:05
The Harold is one of the fundamental longform improv structures, but it isn’t easy, at least at first. But once it’s mastered, […]
03 – Warm Ups [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:09
The next several episodes will focus on the Harold, one piece at a time. This episode focuses on what happens before the […]
02 – Game – Playing the Game [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:43
Now that everyone in the scene has identified the game, it’s time to have fun. This episode goes into the different approaches […]
01 – Game – Framing and Justifications [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:11
Identifying and playing the game of a scene is the foundation of long-form improv: the improvisors must agree on what’s fun about […]