Practice Active Listening (exercise)
Newsletter #56: You can be present to listen better - one thing to try for that. And an article about literalism in comedy, new jams with Jenice & Keri, and an animated audio drama
Jen deHaan
Jen deHaan founded StereoForest in 2024 to focus on creating comedy podcasts, audio dramas, and audio fiction series that blend scripted and improvised material. Jen has taught long form improv classes at/with World’s Greatest Improv School (WGIS), Compass Improv, Highwire Improv, and Queen City Comedy. She was also the WGIS Online School Director, and hosted a lot of improv jams.
Literally about literalism in improv & comedy
Looking at how a common neurodivergent trait, literalism, affects our writing and scenes. This article includes a special nod to improv.
Science supports group games and icebreakers, too
We love them or hate them, but even studies show they can make spaces more creative and beneficial for most. Here are a few more ideas to adjust these games to better support diverse neurotypes.
Suggestions for Protecting Your Mind While Doing Comedy
Ten suggestions to help you protect yourself while doing comedy and participating in our communities. YOU deserve compassion & respect no matter where you are with mental health or your neurotype.
Beneficial Exercises & Icebreakers for New Groups of Performers
Icebreakers. They're common in an acting class, at the top of an improv jam, or maybe when a team or cast is just getting to know each other. Some people love 'em, some people hate 'em.
Emotional Processing, Acting, and Improv – Part One and Two
If you improvise with or teach more than 10 people, you've probably done improv with someone that experiences alexithymia. Learn to support yourself or others when working with emotions in scenes.
The Improv Practice of Verbal Processors
Verbal processors do so to learn and understand new concepts and idea. But what about when they're improvisers.
Getting & Giving Notes in Improv & Comedy (podcast episodes)
Getting notes and giving notes - and having them understood by everyone - can be difficult when there is a communication gap between neurotypes
Bottom Up and Top Down Thinking in Scene Work
Improvising plot-driven sets might not come quite as naturally to bottom-up thinkers. Figure out the type of thinker you are, and learn how it affects your improv and acting practice
Visual Imagery and Improv – Memory and Recall
Using visual imagination can help your improv scenes, but also help you remember details better. Part 2 of Ep. 10: Hyperphantasia, Visual Imagination & Improv.