Interview with Michelle Gilliam from Improv MKE!

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A key ingredient of a great improv scene is the characters that bring it to life. When I first started as an improviser, my range of characters was limited. I admired my fellow castmates who could instantly lock into a character and bring it to life. I realized that if I wanted to grow as an improviser, I needed to expand my character range. But how? Over time, I applied the same techniques to character creation that I did in other aspects of my improv work: start with where I’m comfortable and build from there. Through practice and learning from other instructors, I eventually developed and refined these techniques, which have now become an integral part of my teaching curriculum. When I teach character work, I like to think of it as a layered costume that you can put on as an actor. Each layer adds depth and complexity to your character, allowing you to build from the inside out. The layers are as follows: Yourself : Start with what you know—yourself. Your own experiences and observa...
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