Week One: Opening Numbers! Copy

INTRO to MUSICAL IMPROV at Dallas Comedy Club

taught by: Leslie Collins & Jeff Poteat 

SAVE THE DATES

Class: Every Monday, February 21 – April 11 @ 7-10pm

Graduation Show: Saturday, April 16 at 4pm 

Shows and Jams

• Musical Improv Mixer!
  • 2nd Saturday of each month at 6PM
  • Next is March 12
  • It’s free, bring friends!
• Long Form Improv Jams
  • Every Sunday at 4PM
• Short Form Jams
  • Last Sunday of each month at 3PM
• Your student ID gets you into a slew of shows, take advantage of it!
  • Check out all the details at: https://dallas-comedyclub.com/shows/
  • Also, follow DCC Community Facebook Page
• Jeff’s Solo 1 Act Musical
  • Saturday, March 19 at 4PM

GROUND RULES

Before we got started, we talked ground rules:

• Differences between punching up, sideways, and down
  • We should always play to the height of our intelligences – which encapsulates punching up or sideways, never down
• Code of Conduct

WARM UPS

Once we got started, we:

• Warmed up with singing, rhyming, and movement exercises
• Discussed how perfection is not the goal. “There’s only one you.” – Leslie

OPENING NUMBERS

Examples:

• Annie – It’s A Hard Knock Life
• Legally Blonde: The Musical – Omigod You Guys

PARTS OF AN OPENING NUMBER

CHORUS (C) – Keep them simple and easy to remember

VERSE (V) – Progress the story

BRIDGE (B) – Flip side of the coin perspective

OPENING NUMBER SONG STRUCTURE

CCVCVCBCC

C	C	V	C	V	C	B	C	C*
Chorus Captain Only	All	Solo*	All	Solo*	All	Solo*	All	Modulate Up, All

*Verses can be shared with multiple people if it the scene calls for it

*The second, modulated chorus is not guaranteed – listen for musical cues

*REMEMBER*

• Make eye contact
• Support ideas
• Opening Numbers are about establishing the world you’re in
• Stay away from “I” statements (or fix them during the number if it happens)