T A B L E    O F    C O N T E N T S

Foreword

Acknowledgments

Preface

Do I Have to Read the Introduction?

What You’ll Find in the Book

Who Can Benefit from the Book

How to Use the Book

How I Developed the Play by Play Approach to Improvising a Full-Length Play

Chapter 1: Improvisation

The Basics

Spontaneity versus Structure

Chapter 2: Getting Started

Cause and Effect

Raising the Dramatic Stakes

Chapter 3: The Structure of a Full-Length Play

The Beginning

The First Significant Event

The Middle

The Climax

The End

Back to The Beginning

A Deeper Look at The Foundation

A Deeper Look at The First Significant Event

Onto The Middle

The Foundation Focus

The First Significant Repercussion

The Question of the Play

The Foundation Funnel

The Climax

A Deeper Look at The Foundation Focus

A Deeper Look at The First Significant Repercussion

A Deeper Look at The Question of the Play

A Deeper Look at The Foundation Funnel

A Deeper Look at The Climax

The End

A Deeper Look at The Foundation Finale

Chapter 4: The Structure of a Substantial Scene

The Platform

Main Forces

Engagement

Dramatic Alignment or Dramatic Conflict

From Dramatic Conflict to Resolution

Resolution

The New Platform

From Dramatic Alignment to the New Platform

Extending the Action

Chapter 5: Creating Characters

Character Endowments

In Contrast to Another Character

In Relation to The Environment

In Relation to an Object

Chapter 6: Creating Environments

Establishing the Environment

Name It!

Describe It!

Use It!

Justifying the Environment

As a Catalyst for the Action

As it Effects the Relationship Between the Characters

As a Metaphor

Chapter 7: Putting It Together

A Final Look at The Foundation

A Final Look at The First Significant Event

A Final Look at The Foundation Focus

A Final Look at The First Significant Repercussion

A Final Look at The Question of the Play

A Final Look at The Foundation Funnel

A Final Look at The Climax

A Final Look at The Foundation Finale

Chapter 8: Conclusion

Practice!

Read Plays

Go to the Theater

Play Scenes

Study Acting, Directing, and Playwriting

Work with Me, and Let Me Help!

List of Exercises

Exercise #1: Because

Exercise #2: The Causal Carousel

Exercise #3: Combination Stake

Exercise #4: As if That Wasn’t Enough

Exercise #5: Ah, but There’s So Much at Risk!

Exercise #6: Raising the Stakes by Entering a Scene

Exercise #7: Raising the Stakes in a Successive Scene

Exercise #8: The Story Spine

Exercise #9: Breaking Routines

Exercise #10: The Chair of Significance!!!

Exercise #11: The Expanded Story Spine

Exercise #12: The Five-Minute Play

Exercise #13: Follow the Flow

Exercise #14: Channel the Flow

Exercise #15: Extend the Action

Exercise #16: The Long, Two-Character Substantial Scene

Exercise #17: Character Clay

Exercise #18: Character Trampoline

Exercise #19: This Is a Job for . . .

Exercise #20: The Two-Line Endowment Drill

Exercise #21: Endowment Ping Pong

Exercise #22: Character Conjuring

Exercise #23: Character Foil

Exercise #24: There’s No Place like Home

Exercise #25: Hey, This Is No Place like Home

Exercise #26: You Know What You’re Like?

Exercise #27: Tell Me about It!

Exercise #28: Is it Hot in Here, or Is it Just Me?

Exercise #29: Life Is Like a Metaphor!

Exercise #30: Loading The Foundation