What is improv?

Improv is improvisational theatre - a theater art in which there is theater, but without all of the complications of blocking, scripts, and knowing whose turn it is to talk. There are many flavors of improv, but most are striving for more or less the same goal, namely to create something off the top of your heads that seems as though it was rehearsed. Improv can be an idea generator, a warm-up or characterization exercise, or as at usually is in our case, entertainment and fun.

In the course of an improvised scene, the players instantaneously create characters, settings, and conflicts, while delivering spontaneous dialogue (or monologues) and developing plots from spur-of-the-moment inspiration. There is little to no pre-planning, and no pre-scripted scenes, just a lot of practice, and some knowledge of basic improv techniques.

Where do you perform?

The No Parking Players perform on the Carnegie Mellon campus and in other venues around Pittsburgh. We generally perform a variety of short-form games with some long-form entertainment as well. For information on upcoming shows, be sure to visit the shows page.

How can I get involved?

Come to our workshops! The No Parking Players meet twice a week. Workshops are held every Sunday from 3 - 5 PM in Baker Hall 235A and every Thursday from 8 - 10 PM in Baker Hall 235A.

I've never done improv before, can you teach me?

Short answer, yes. Long answer, yeess... The No Parking Players think of ourselves as a teaching organization. We hold workshops twice a week in which we strive for a friendly, fun, supportive environment. All skill levels are welcomed, and many people come to workshops having never done improv before in their lives. We teach you basic skills, discuss scenes at times, and offer constructive criticism or suggestions.

What are the top ten rules of NPP?

There are a number of guidlines that this website has to offer, but none are as important as the top ten rules of NPP. These are general ideas that help you, an NPP improver, to perform at your peak.

  1. NPP is a place to do improv! Come to NPP to do improv, and have fun.
  2. Failure is OK
  3. Support your fellow players
  4. Don't try to be funny or plan ahead
  5. Accept, don't deny; in improv everything you say is true
  6. Raise the stakes
  7. Yield to the strongest offer
  8. Make BIG choices
  9. Show don't tell
  10. You are not the star