Group Creativity Project

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Undergrads at the University of Chicago recreate COMPASS--the first improv cabaret.

"Family Reunion" - an improvised movie facilitated by David Shepherd and Nancy Fletcher from The Group Creativity Project.
Empower your community! Buy "That Movie In Your Head" (see book section).
Play games that get you in shape to go on camera. Amy Swisher and Shepherd lead frequent improv groups in Amherst. For info call (413) 256 3493.

The first group creativity project was a storefront cabaret--Chicago COMPASS, produced by Paul Sills and David Shepherd in 1955. It employed Barbara Harris, Mike Nichols, Elaine May and Shelley Berman, becoming the inspiration for Second City and Saturday Night Live.

Last year on July 5, undergrads from the University of Chicago performed a replica of the first COMPASS show—exactly 50 years ago to the day. The show featured the "Living News," a scenario play and audience suggestions.

WANT TO STRETCH YOUR BODY, MEMORY, EMOTIONS
and your sense of LAUGHTER, CHARACTER, STORY?

Join Just for Fun, a monthly session in Amherst, MA, beginning late April with Coach David Shepherd, producer of first professional improv theater-- Chicago COMPASS. Be a Coach yourself.
INFO: 413-256-3493 groupcreativity@charter.net.

here are some games we've been playing:

WHISPER/SHOUT/SING for 3-4 players. Give each a Who and What. As they explore the scene, call out a way to play: "now whisper the scene," "now shout it," "now sing it"—until they find an ending.

CHARACTER: eg: Play a macho man when he notices a scratch on the side of his new car. Play a Mom the night her daughter goes out on her first formal date. Play your twenty-year-old friend the day he's drafted--in 2010. Play yourself accepting an award at the Oscars, etc.

here are some games we want to try:

ONE-MINUTE STORY BITES for 4-6 players: each player suggests a provocative character. The Coach picks three. Then one after the other each player tells how the three conflict and how the story ends.

SOUND WELL: Stand in a circle. A Coach directs from outside, tapping each player to signal when to start a continuous sound; then when sounds should fade or swell, get higher or lower, transform into rhythms that get faster or slower; come together in Group Harmony.

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