ALL SKATE! improvises a half-hour long musical based on an audience suggestion. Combining their distinct musical skills with long form improv, ALL SKATE! creates a unique experience for your viewing pleasure.
Plenty of musical variety is easily built in when you accompany a group that enjoys the “potpourri” approach, a la Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. This is a wonderful opportunity to be thematic, and cleverly introduce stability to the crazy array of styles.
In Musical Improv Comedy I once wrote:
“Theme, Thematic, Thematicism. These terms refer to anything that becomes memorable as a result [...]
When do you “cue a song?” Well, anytime a character experiences a moment of is a good time for them to sing. Also, listen for emphatic statements that can be expanded upon in song, for example, “You and me are the sleaziest cops in town,” or “There’s a lotta ways to make money in New York, my friend!” And here’s one more: “Come on everybody, we’re gonna throw the best barbecue ever!” You’re looking for bold proclamations of feelings and points of view – perfect moments for actors to exploit by singing.
Here’s a track you can use for rehearsal and/or performance of a 12-bar blues song, plus a chart in case you have a live accompanist on keyboard or guitar! It’s from the CD that comes with the book, “Musical Direction for Improv and Sketch Comedy.” The 12-bar blues is a great platform for improvising both the singing and the accompaniment – lots of room for vocal and instrumental fun, using a framework that is so easy to learn.
Hit and Run: Musical Improv is performing twice next weekend in Santa Monica, California, and we are also holding auditions on Sunday, March 29!
Three-Day-Intensive at The Second City: A crash course for aspiring and professional musical directors alike!
This unique workshop in musical direction for improv and sketch comedy will be led by Michael Descoteaux, Head of the Training Center Music Program and Musical Director of the ETC Stage. Experienced teachers will guide participants through a hands-on curriculum covering:
The art of [...]