Books
I’ve written some books.
Improvise. Scene from the Inside Out
In this book, Napier takes an irreverent, but constructive look at the art and practice of improvised scenes. He covers such topics as:
-
two-person scenes
-
group scenes
-
entering scenes
-
techniques to achieve richer, more layered scenes
-
auditioning
-
solo exercises for practice at home.
This expanded and revised edition has a new foreword by The Late Show host Stephen Colbert, additional advice and tips for success, and a full reproduction of Mick Napier’s web journal from his time directing the famous show Paradigm Lost for The Second City that included Tina Fey, Rachel Dratch, and Kevin Dorff.
Behind the Scenes: Improvising Long Form
In this follow-up to his highly regarded book Improvise. Scene from the Inside Out, globally acclaimed improviser, director, and instructor Mick Napier focuses on the complexities and theories of long form improvisation. This extended form of improvisation invites performers to be inspired for at least thirty minutes by a single suggestion as they push their creativity to the limit.
Napier taps into more than 30 years of experience and distills his tools for success into practical, engaging lessons:
-
The art of introductions and edits
-
Different approaches to openers
-
Pros and cons of the back line
-
Why it’s okay to be funny
-
Finding the dominant energy
-
Sustaining a strong character
