TJ Jagodowski & Dave Pasquesi. Improvisation at the Speed of Life. Solo Roma, 2015.
The philosophy and practice of the most celebrated two-person improv partnership in modern history. Based on unrehearsed, unplanned hour-long shows performed weekly for over a decade at iO Chicago.
Key concepts drawn from here:
- "Look to your partner. Listen to your partner. Respond to your partner." — the entire method in three steps
- Being "affected" and "impressionable" — changeability as the natural consequence of deep listening, not an override of resistance
- Presence as heightened sensation — "you can see better and hear everything more"
- Trust as the structural foundation — "the only way it can get really good is if you do it with the same people a lot"
- The partnership as the irreducible unit — interdependence demonstrated at the highest level
- Moving "the weight from the words to the emotions" — bandwidth reallocation from verbal to felt
Referenced by atoms: be-changeable, be-present, active-listening, commitment, interdependence, relationship, be-supportive
Also relevant: Stephen Colbert on TJ & Dave: "One of these guys is the best improviser in the world. And the other one is better."