IMPROV! OINGO BOINGO! YOKO ONO! & THE WHISKY-AU-GO-GO! DANNY ELFMAN!

This week we start to prep for several upcoming GotULaughing/4x4 shows! Everyone is welcome to play (details below)! TH we’ll play games and explore the truth of the scene. SUN we’ll continue to build your IMPROV skill level! Plus Oingo Boingo!!!

A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is a reality -Yoko Ono  -In IMPROV the group mind is when scene partners or an entire Harold team are all on one accord, in sync, understanding and/or even foretelling one another’s thoughts and actions as the narrative unfolds on stage. 

THURSDAYS

TH (Nov 5th) & every TH GUL Improv Comedy drop-in workshop 7-9pm at 5 Star 

Premier Residence 8500 Sunrise Blvd. Plantation FL 33322 Only $10 ($5 first time attendees)  This week we’ll squeeze in several games plus light skill work and lots of laughs!!!  TH is an evening of games & light skill work.  ALL LEVELS!

Behind a wooden door off the second floor balcony and up a second set of stairs is the Whisky-au-go-go green room where new wave rockers Oingo Boingo were preparing to take the stage. The entire A&M records upper echelon who had just signed the band were nestled along the balcony at small tables patiently waiting for a taste of their investment. I’d been meeting with members of Oingo Boingo for several weeks preparing an in depth feature on their climb from street performers utilizing poetry, jugglers, unicyclists and fire breathers and a sound molding elements of french cabaret with quirky rock. Eventually Danny Elfman, lead vocalist and main writer would leave to compose motion picture scores after coming to the attention of film Director Tim Burton. Elfman’s composing credits to date include TV shows from The Simpsons theme to films like Spiderman and Batman. I still have a mental picture of Elfman doing sit-ups and deep knee bends in the green room that night which was a far cry from the band’s tough quirky street image. Eventually my article would come out in several music publications though Elfman called me initially nervous that my revealing the band’s behind the scenes changes might alienate members of their fan base. It had no affect. There music was their truth. 

In IMPROV we the audience believe in what we see on stage when you the performer believe in the world you have created on that stage. Your truth becomes our truth. 

What the eyes see and the ears hear, the mind believes - Harry Houdini (illusionist) 

In IMPROV the reality of the scene becomes the audiences reality when justified! If those on stage believe then the audience will…

SUNDAYS

4x4 Improv SUN (Nov 8th) & every SUN Improv drop-in workshop! 2-4pm at Circle of Friends 4603 University Dr. Lauderhill FL 33351 Only $10 This week we’ll continue focusing on short form scene work, we’ll also work on long form opens and introduce Harold “first beats”. I also hope to play Grandpa’s Attic time allowing. SUN is skill work, exercises and a game. Recommended for Improvisers with some experience.

PERFORMANCES

We have several upcoming performances at the SUNDAY 4x4 rehearsal space. Shows will be an hour long with a jam at the end and free to the public. The short open jam at the end will allow audience members interested in playing to join us on stage. I’m hoping these shows will get the group prepared for several larger rooms. 

Tentative show dates and times are Sunday November 15th 6pm-7:30pm and Saturday December 5th with two shows back to back. First show will be 8-9pm followed by a second show 9:30-10:30. There will be a sign up sheet TH and SUN. Once you have signed up to be in a show you are required to attend at least one TH or SUN workshop each week leading up to the show unless you have special permission by the instructor stating otherwise. 

HAROLD TEAM

I will be putting a long form team together that will rehearse once a week for the purpose of performing The Harold and possibly competing or appearing in shows with other long form teams throughout south Florida and possibly beyond. Rehearsals are tentatively going to be held before SUN 4x4 workshop though this may change. There is no charge to be on the Harold team though it is at the Director’s discretion. I may hold auditions and I may just choose performers depending on interest. We need 7-8 dedicated performers to do a Harold. If there is not enough interest within the GotULaughing/4x4 family I will reach out to others in the Improv community.  

See you in the movies!

Greg

Greg Philippi

Director

GotULaughing/4x4 Improv

323-829-1117

ianclearspot@gmail.com 

CREEPY CRAWLIES? (UN)MEMORABLE HALLOWEEN HAUNTS?! GUL/4x4 IMPROV TH (Oct 29th) & SUN (Nov 1st)

It's Halloween week my pretties... below are our TH and SUN treats (Improv workshops) but read further and there's much much more. From (Un)Memorable Halloween Haunts, a truly haunting trip down memory lane followed by it's relation to Improv and then there are the hauntings described in Creepy Crawlies which are followed by it's relation to Improv plus some awesome quotes. Quotes and writings change weekly.

The only cats worth anything are the cats that take chances that take chances - Thelonious Monk (jazz musician/composer) - In IMPROV the saying is DARE TO FAIL! Make bold moves! Have an opinion!

THURSDAYS (Oct 29th) every TH GotULaughing Improv Comedy drop-in workshop 7-9pm at 5 Star Premier Residence 8500 Sunrise Blvd. Plantation FL 33322 Only $10 ($5 first time attendees) This week prepare for a haunting as we celebrate in costume if you find the need to hide your identity! Join us if you dare and we'll scare up some funny together!!! TH is an evening of games and light skill work. ALL LEVELS!

CREEPY CRAWLIES and (UN)MEMORABLE HALLOWEEN HAUNTS?! 
It's nearly Halloween. Being an Improviser I love characters! However, upon scanning the Ouija board in my brain for memorable Halloweens to write about has proven to be a worthless endeavor. There was this one time I had been invited to a Halloween party at an estate in the Hollywood Hills. I parked on a main street at the bottom of the hill where a van service picked up waiting guests, snaking up into the hills and arriving at an estate where ghostly festivities awaited. I disembarked with my date who wandered elsewhere to hit on other guys. I was relegated to chatting about music trivia near the punch bowl. I wanted and hoped for one thing but the night turned out to be something else. Cest la vie. Another unmemorable Halloween. Naw, I don't think I'll write about it...

In IMPROV stop writing in your head! The scene will never turn out the way you planned...

Creepy Crawlies perhaps?! Sound echoed in our sparsely furnished 1921 Craftsman four-plex like heels on marble pacing inside a tomb. Our apartment had a dark wood foyer with oversized wooden steps and a polished dark walnut banister leading up to our door. The living area featured built in cabinets and leaded glass, wood floors, chandelier lighting, dark wood door jams, heavy moulding and an oversized front door that creaked. Vincent Price would have felt at home. 

Several nights I awoke to other worldly sounds including a cat (that wasn't there) pacing up and down just outside my door. The sound echoed in our sparsely furnished tomb. Once I awoke to see a cat curled up on top of my dresser which of course wasn't really there either. Another time our heating system mysteriously stuck in the on position which turned our place into a sauna. The final straw was an alarm I didn't set going off at 4am in the morning. Then my clock radio began playing a song and the only words I heard were GET OUT! Needless to say I moved a week later. This all happened no where near Halloween therefore I won't write about my haunted apartment building. 

In IMPROV play to the reality of the scene even if it's a reality not accepted by the outside world! However, you must justify that which happens in the world you created on stage. Then think; If this is true then what else is true?

There are no wrong notes; some are just more right than others -Thelonious Monk
In IMPROV the same philosophy applies. It gives credence to why we study the craft!

SUNDAYS 
4x4 Improv SUN (Nov 1st) and every SUN drop-in IMPROV workshop! 2-4pm at Circle of Friends and Stars 4603 University Dr. Lauderhill FL 33351 Only $10  SUN we simplify starting with scenes, continue with connections, delve further into object work and dust off the Halloween webbing! We'll also play a scary game near the end! SUN is skill work exercises and a game. Recommended for Improvisers with some experience.

See you on stage or in the movies!!!
Best
Greg
Greg Philippi
Director
GotULaughing/4x4 Improv
323-829-1117
Ianclearspot@gmail.com