|
March 2009 |
|
 |
Feature Article
Play On!
by Shana Merlin
A year ago I read a great article about the value of play in my favoritest of periodicals, The New York Times Sunday Magazine. A few week ago when I was walking through my favoritest of bookstores, Book People, I saw a new book written by the man featured in that article: Stuart Brown, the founder of the National Institute for Play. I'm in the middle of reading his book, Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul and I couldn't wait to finish it before I tell you about it.
Part One of the book is about what play is, why we do it and how we are built for it. I love reading stuff like this because although it's not directly about improv, almost every sentence has connections to my work, illuminating truths I had already experienced but hadn't necessarily put words to. Even better, it provides scientific evidence for beliefs I've held, but could never prove.
Brown is at first reluctant to define what play is, hoping not to spoil a good thing by over-examining it. (Like ruining a joke by trying to explain it.) And ultimately he finds that throwing in a few pictures of a dog playing fetch or a kid jumping in a pile of leaves gives the most satisfying explanation.
But he takes a stab at defining what are the deep commonalities in the wide variety of activities that people call play. I found it utterly fascinating and I'd like to share some of his definition here:
Apparent Purposelessness. Play is done for it's own sake, not for any practical value. This is part of what makes it so fun and part of what makes adults think it's a waste of time. (Ever hear the old joke, "How do you make an actor/artist/athlete unhappy? Pay him.")
Inherent Attraction. It's fun. That's the whole point.
Freedom from Time. When you are really playing you are in a flow state and lose a sense of time. Instead, you are in the moment.
Diminished self-consciousness. You get absorbed in the activity and the group and stop being so aware that you are nervous or that you suck or that you are anything at all.
Continuation desire. You want to keep it going and do it again.
Improvisational Potential. (I'm not making this up--his words!) "We aren't locked into a rigid way of doing things. We are open to serendipity, to chance. We are willing to include seemingly irrelevant elements into our play. The act of play itself may be outside of "normal" activities. The result is that we stumble upon new behaviors, thoughts, strategies, movements or ways of being. For example, an artist or engineer at the beach might have new ideas about their work while building a sand castle."
He also includes a framework for play devised by Scott Eberle, a play historian. He describes a six-step process people go through when they play. (Although not everyone experiences every one of these steps in this exact order) :
- "Anticipation. Waiting with expectation, wondering what will happen, curiosity, a little anxiety, perhaps because there is a slight uncertainty or risk involved?. This leads to...
- Surprise. The unexpected, a discovery, a new sensation or idea, or shifting perspective. This produces...
- Pleasure. A good feeling. Like the pleasure we feel at the unexpected twist in the punch line of a joke. Next we have...
- Understanding. The acquisition of new knowledge, a synthesizing of distinct and separate concepts, and incorporation of ideas that were previously foreign, leading to...
- Strength. The mastery that comes from constructive experience and understanding, the empowerment of coming through a scary experience unscathed, of knowing more about how the world works. Ultimately this results in...
- Poise, grace, contentment, composure, and a sense of balance in life."
|
|
Did someone forward you this newsletter? Sign up to receive your own copy:
|
Blog & Buzz
NEXT IMPROV 101: The next Improv 101 Class starts Saturday April 4th 12pm - 2pm with Shana Merlin and Michael Joplin. To register or for more information visit our website.
MERLIN WORKS GRADUATION SHOW: The Improv 301 students are having their short form graduation show Thursday April 2nd at 8pm at SVT.
GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS IMPROV: will be performing Saturdays at 8pm in April at the Hideout Theater. We'll be presenting our acclaimed Cabaret style show.
COMMUNITY TECHKNOWLEDGE: Merlin Works was asked back to do a second team building training at this local company providing technology solutions to non-profits.
IMPOSTEROUS: The Improv 601 students are debuting Imposterous, improvised mistaken identity stories Saturdays at 10pm April 4, 11, 18, and 25 in Gnap!'s Saturday Night Special.
PROJECT RANT: I did some acting for Project Rant, a new website that finds open letters on the internet and has actors perform them. My first video is already online: "My Non-Vegan Friends." It's the most viral thing I've been a part of. Check it out.
IMPROVISED SINGING SOLD OUT: Last week marked the start of another sold out Improvised Singing Workshop. La!
TWIN CITIES IMPROV FESTIVAL: Girls Girls Girls Improvised Musicals has been accepted to the Twin Cities Improv Festival, this June at the Brave New Workshop.
AUSTIN WOMAN MAGAZINE: I'll be featured in an article in April's issue of Austin Woman Magazine. The piece involved a photo shoot and an interview for a "day in the life" kind of piece. I'm so excited to see how it all turned out.
LAFF: We have an amazing lineup this year for LAFF: The Ladies Are Funny Festival in Austin,TX May 7 - 9 at the Salvage Vanguard Theater. We have Sara Benincasa (MTV, Huffington Post's 23/6, XM Radio) and Jill Bernard (Beatbox, Comedysportz Minneapolis) along with amazing performers from New York, LA, and Texas. This year we'll have a special Cabaret Night on Thursday featuring stand up, musical variety acts, and sketch comedy. Check out the full lineup on the LAFF website. Or read our write up in Bitch Magazine.
LUBBOCK AREA FOUNDATION: Merlin Works will be heading back to Lubbock this year to perform in the a benefit for the Lubbock Area Foundation.
ALL AROUND HAYS: I'll be quoted in an article in April's issue of All Around Hays, the Hay's County Free Press monthly magazine. April is their comedy issue and I got to talk to my friend Jen Biundo about what's so funny.
INTERNSHIPS: Want to take an improv class but are a little short on cash this month? We still have a few internship spots open. Take an improv class for free in exchange for working tech or box office at Gnap! shows. Email me if you are interested.
NEW GNAP! SHOWS AT SVT: At 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays through April 25th will be Lost/Found, where the performers improvise the back stories to the found objects audience members bring to the show. Saturdays at 10pm will still be the Saturday Night Special, featuring an opening act of the Merlin Works Improv 601 Graduates presenting Imposterous sharing a double bill with a veteran improv troupe. 1st Fridays is No Shame Theater, an open mike performance series. 2nd and 4th Fridays at 10pm will be Austin's Next Top Improviser, featuring some of the new graduates from the Merlin Works Institute, along with some experienced improvisers. For ticket and show information go online.
SO MANY IMPROV CLASSES: in April The Merlin Works Institute for Improvisation is offering IMPROV 101, 201, 301, 401, and 501 To register or for more information visit our website.
|
|
It's a cycle, and once we reach Poise we are ready for a new source of anticipation, staring all over again.
To me, this is an uncanny description of the feeling of performing an improv show or being in a good improv class. A typical improv game:
- Anticipation. The suggestion is given and there is this nervous excitement. What's going to happen? How exactly is this going to work?
- Suprise. The scene begins and someone makes an offer that almost always takes you by surprise. You discover something in the scene, in your partner.
- Pleasure. As you figure out the game of the scene or what the scene is really about, you start to delight in heightening, exploring, and playing the part.
- Understanding. Earlier seemingly innocuous offers become synthesized in to the main plot. Things are really starting to come together in new and unanticipated ways.
- Strength. You relax as you know have a true grasp of the scene and can play in an ever deeper way now that some of your fear has subsided.
- Poise. The scene ends and you graciously take your laughs and applause. You stride offstage with a confidence you did not enter with.
I'm curious for people with other passions, does this cycle fit so nicely to describing their play experience? It's so accurate to me it almost makes me want to travel all the way to Rochester to experience the Strong National Museum of Play, where Eberle is the Vice President of Interpretation.
 With this definition in place, the book begins exploring the evolutionary role of play and the benefits it brings to the individual and society. The evidence is clear: play is good for you. As Brown puts it bluntly, "The day you stop playing is the day you start dying." So go play. Go live. It's good for you. Just don't do it because you are supposed to.
Shana Merlin
Founder, Merlin Works
Classes
The Merlin Works Institute for Improvisation
at The Salvage Vanguard Theater
2803 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78722
All Classes: $150
To register, click here.
Shortform Foundation Series
Everyone starts with the Shortform Foundation Series. Here you will learn the fundamentals of gameplay and scenework while becoming the kind of person that is truly fun to play with. After Improv 101, Improv 201 and Improv 301, you will have a solid foundation in "Whose Line Is It Anyway's"-style games and be ready for your big graduation show.
-
IMPROV 101:
For complete beginners and experienced actors, this workshop teaches the fundamentals of improvisation. The class's interactive exercises build listening and communication skills, heighten awareness and teach you how to be more playful, spontaneous and flexible. Play short form improv games like you see on TV's "Whose Line Is It Anyways?" in a fun and safe environment.
Saturdays April 4th - May 30, 2009 (No class May 23rd)
12pm - 2pm (8 Meetings)
Instructors: Shana Merlin and Michael Joplin
Class size limit = 16
To register, click here.
Longform Performance Series
For students and improvisers with some basic improv experience under their belts, The Longform Performance Series will give you the tools and training to perform improvised plays, movies, and stories.
To register, click here.
Shows
 MERLIN WORKS GRADUATES PERFORM This April there are a bunch of people graduating from Merlin Works and showing off all they've learned.
MERLIN WORKS IMPROV 301 GRADUATION SHOW
A directed short form improv comedy showcase
Thursday April 2nd at 8pm
at The Salvage Vanguard Theater, 2803 Manor Rd
Buy tickets online
IMPOSTEROUS
Improvised mistaken identity stories
Saturday Night Special
Saturday April 4, 11, 18th, and 25th at 10pm
at The Salvage Vanguard Theater, 2803 Manor Rd
Buy tickets online
 AUSTIN's NEXT TOP IMPROVISER Improvisers compete in challenges to win points, get boosts, be the star of their own show and to have the title of Austin's Next Top Improviser. The audience judges, yells out their elimination catch phrase, and gets to see real people facing the biggest fear factor: performing without a script. Second and Fourth Fridays and 10pm at SVT.
Friday April 9th at 10pm
at The Salvage Vanguard Theater, 2803 Manor Rd
Buy tickets online
Friday April 23rd at 10pm
at The Salvage Vanguard Theater, 2803 Manor Rd
Buy tickets online
 LOST/FOUND New from Gnap! Theater Projects. Inspired by the recent popularity of found media, best exemplified by the folks behind FOUND Magazine and its offshoots, LOST/FOUND examines the stories behind found objects, the people whose lives were affected by these objects and how they came to be discarded and found anew.
Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, March 27th through April 26th
at The Salvage Vanguard Theater, 2803 Manor Rd
Buy tickets online
 GET UP, duo improv comedy. Expect multiple characters, quick edits, and sophisticated comedy as they make up a complete story on the spot inspired by randomly selected theme music. Second Saturdays at 10pm at SVT.
With UT's Gigglepants
Friday April 3rd at 7pm
at Calhoun 100, on the University of Texas Campus
Free
Saturday Night Special
Saturday April 11th at 10pm
at The Salvage Vanguard Theater, 2803 Manor Rd
Buy tickets online
GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS, eight ladies improvise an entire Broadway musical including singing, dancing, live music, characters, and comedy.
Mainstage Show
Saturday April 4th at 8pm
at The Hideout Theater, 617 Congress Ave
Buy tickets online
Saturday Night Special
Saturday April 4th at 10pm
at The Salvage Vanguard Theater, 2803 Manor Rd
Buy tickets online
Mainstage Show
Saturday April 11th at 8pm
at The Hideout Theater, 617 Congress Ave
Buy tickets online
Mainstage Show
Saturday April 18th at 8pm
at The Hideout Theater, 617 Congress Ave
Buy tickets online
Mainstage Show
Saturday April 25th at 8pm
at The Hideout Theater, 617 Congress Ave
Buy tickets online
Merlin Works Favorites
Here are some things I'd like to celebrate, recommend, or share:
 LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON: The late night talk show has finally been handed to the next generation. I'm a fan of Conan, Letterman, and even Leno, but I've been happily surprised with the quality and tone of Jimmy Fallon. He wasn't my favorite on SNL and I never even saw his movies, but I think this might be the best showcase for his talents. Lick it for Ten, Slow Jam the News, and 7th Floor West are already great recurring bits. I'm looking forward to see how it develops in the next year.
 SMART GIRLS AT THE PARTY: I stumbled upon these webisodes when I was e-stalkng one of my comedy heroes, Amy Poehler. The slogan, "Smart girls have more fun," is so excellent. It's not about having to choose between being cool and being smart. It's that you have more fun when you are an intelligent interesting woman. In the series, Poehler works in some comedy while interviewing young girls about their interests.
 Seattle: Get Up had an amazing time at the Seattle Festival of Improv Theater. The people of Jet City Improv and Unexpected Productions were incredibly cool and gracious. And the city is just freaking amazing--the architecture, the water, the vegan pizza place--Seattle has it all. And getting to play in a huge, beautiful theater to full, sophisticated audiences was just a treat. Read more about our trip and see pictures on my blog.
 Kathy Whittaker Photography: I just got my new headshots done and I was over the moon with Kathy Whittaker Photography. The hair and makeup person was excellent. They made me feel so comfortable in front of the camera. They spent a lot of time with me and made sure I got what I wanted. And they are located just around the corner from me, with their studio at 30th and Guadalupe. They not only do headshots for actors, but also family portraits, business photos, weddings, and more. I highly recommend it.
Get Started
Have Merlin-Works come to your business or organization and energize them with unique training that will improve communication skills, teamwork, creativity, and presentations skills. Contact me and find out what Merlin-Works can do for you.
Shana Merlin
512-657-3005
shana@merlin-works.com
Your feedback is important to us. Please contact us with your comments and questions.
The Merlin Works Newsletter is published almost monthly from Austin, TX, USA
© 2007 Merlin Works All Rights Reserved |
|
|
|
