The Art of the Spoken Word

The following topics are covered over 7 hours of classroom instruction:

• Improvisation “Points of Concentration” focus on exercises, readings and games that strengthen cooperation and participation with the audience.
• Cultivate and perform important acting and presentation techniques that promote individual and ensemble thinking.
• Extemporaneous presentation techniques to introduce yourself and your organization to create something entirely new, culturally sensitive and unique.
• Managing critical improv dialogue pitfalls (e.g., “yes but” vs “yes and ... ”).
• Identify, organize and craft a meaningful reading or improvisation story structure by establishing a focus on where, who and what, and points of concentration.
• Set the stage to think on your feet, articulate the spoken word and create out loud.
• Examine how reading skills and improv can be used to develop cultural trust, listening skills and behaviors to build agile business leaders.
• Develop an authentic presentation style that promotes innovation, motivation and inspiration for your listening audience.
• Provide ways you can introduce improv practice to your organization.
• Learn to critique individual and group presentations.
• "There are no mistakes, only opportunities."
• Focus on teaching individuals how to work with video performance, managing failure and recovery through self-critique and small group practice sessions.

Intended Audience

The course is intended for all professionals in management, first responders, engineers, sales, marketing, and non-profits; any leader who is interested in learning meaningful presentation skills, cultural connectivity and fun problem-solving techniques. Participants will perform for a variety of audiences with and without a script while employing advanced stage and presentation techniques.

Required Text

No text requirements; the instructor will issue handouts and make recommendations for performance readings.

Instructional Methodologies

This improvisation and presentation performance methodology is based on the techniques pioneeered by Viola Spolin and Paul Sills, and the oral interpretation of literature. The techniques were established at Northwestern and Second City in Chicago. The class is taught primarily in performance mode, using games and exercises offering many opportunities for individual performance, group role-playing assignments, videotaping, discussion, and self-critique.