Reddit reviews The Complete Improviser: Concepts, Techniques, and Exercises for Long Form Improvisation (1)
We found 3 Reddit comments about The Complete Improviser: Concepts, Techniques, and Exercises for Long Form Improvisation (1). Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
Those are good books to get started. Also, for beginners, I recommend The Complete Improviser by our very own /u/btarnett!
Do whatever kind of show you want.
I took classes way in Cleveland back in 2001 when there used to be a Second City there. After shows we hung out at Becky's Bar. I think Something Dada is still doing shows. Looks like there may be sporadic shows at the Beck Center.
Good luck! Have fun!
The Complete Improviser by Bill Arnett aka /u/btarnett
You'll make your lives a lot easier if you get a coach ASAP (even if it's just a temporary guest coach).
Player's attempting to direct each other (even for very experienced troupes) can lead to all sorts of drama down the line. I've been a part of teams where each week (or month) we rotated who was leading rehearsals. Some worked out great (the two where we all had at least a decade of performing/teaching experience and went into it with that plan) and others quickly became a dumpster fire.
My best advice while you're waiting for a coach is probably to pick up a book on improv theory or a book on on acting:
Mick Napier's - Improvise: Scene from the inside out, Bill Arnett's - The Complete Improviser, Viola Spolin's - Improvisation for the Theater, or something like Marina Caldarone's - Action: The Actor's Thesaurus are good places to start.
Then read it together outside of rehearsal and discuss the ideas in various chapters when you meet up - maybe try out a few exercises, but be wary of trying to direct each other: that's not your job, your job is to support each other on stage.
Heck, just reading a few acting books and really discussing them will put you guys leaps and bounds ahead of most improvisers.