Instant Alchemy: The Science and Magic of Narrative Longform Improv
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Our Book
Instant Alchemy: The Science and Magic of Narrative Longform Improv seeks to tap into the growing interest in the art and provide background knowledge, specific skills, and techniques to bolster their expertise in the craft. Many forms of improv exist, from Montage to Harold, which are explored in a plethora of improv-related books. However, only a few improv books explore the growing trend of narrative improv, which involves creating a spontaneous and collaborative story with a definable beginning, middle, and end. Instant Alchemy: The Science and Magic of Narrative Longform Improv will give new improvisers specific tips and tricks to improve their play during improv while also providing a multitude of options for how one can create their own narrative improv show. This book will be essential to those interested in learning or growing at this specific form of improv and may even help smaller improv communities break into narrative improv itself.
Written by a student and mentor who aim to grow the passion for this artistic endeavor, Instant Alchemy: The Science and Magic of Narrative Longform Improvoffers readers the following:
- Vital tips for performing narrative improv
- Detailed and structured descriptions and graphics explaining various narrative structures, character archetypes, and storytelling techniques
- Unique and variable options for how to tell your own improvised stories
- Applied warm-ups and exercises to grow your improv skills
- Practical advice for developing your own narrative improv shows
Everyone is a natural storyteller. Instant Alchemy: The Science and Magic of Narrative Longform Improv shows readers how to harness this innate skill and use it collaboratively to create unique unscripted plays in front of a live audience.
Book Launch Party
8pm Saturday April 19, 2025
at Creative Action | 1023 Springdale Rd Bldg 3, Austin, TX 78721
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About the Authors
Principal Author: Dr. Colin T. Bates, Ph.D.
- A Published Scientific Author: with 12 publications in leading scientific journals, over 80 citations in three years, and four highly cited articles.
- A Doctorate in Microbiology: with a focus on Microbial Ecology from the University of Oklahoma and a passion for understanding the structure and function of microbial communities.
- Experienced Improviser and Teacher: Has 20 years of improv experience and over ten years of experience as an improv instructor, with training from Second City, iO, Comedy Sportz, and Upright Citizens Brigade alumni. Worked with improv theaters in Austin and Houston, Tx, as well as in Oklahoma City, OK.
Co-Author: Shana Merlin
- Improv School Founder: Fresh off her TEDx talk on Improv in Medicine, Shana Merlin The Founder of Merlin Works Institute for Improvisation is one of the most experienced and effective improv teachers in the country. Performing and teaching internationally at the improv festivals in Amsterdam, New York, Hawaii,Seattle and more, Shana founded Merlin Works in 2003 to provide custom training, interactive presentations, and comedy shows to businesses and organizations using improvisation.
- Professor of Improv: She is a professor of Improv at St. Edwards University, a guest lecturer at Texas A&M University, as well as faculty at the Dell Medical School at the University of Texas using improv to help medical students become better doctors through her appointment at the Center for Health Communication.
- Award Winning Performer: She has been awarded “Best Female Improviser, “ “Best Improv Teacher,” and “Best Improv Class,” by the Austin Improv Collective, FronteraFest “Best of the Fest,” B. Iden Payne Award, Austin Critics Table Award, Austin Chronicle Best of Austin Award and many more. Shana has been performing with in Girls Girls Girls Improvised Musicals for over twenty years as well as her Merlin Works Faculty Troup, The Known Wizards. Shana directed and performed in the nationally touring show Dusk, a Twilight parody. Shana can also do scripted work and performed in the national touring company of The Intergalactic Nemesis.