- Categories: Long Form, Story Telling, Scene Games
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ARMANDO
The Armando is a popular and engaging long-form improvisation format that seamlessly blends authentic storytelling with improvised scene work. Named after prominent improv teacher and performer Armando Diaz, this format excels at exploring themes, developing rich characters, and creating interconnected narratives over an extended period.
Core Structure of The Armando
The Armando typically follows a repeating pattern of monologue inspiring scenes, which can then inspire further monologues, creating a rich tapestry of interconnected narratives.
1. Opening Monologue(s)
- The game begins with one or more improvisers (the “monologists”) sharing authentic, personal stories or reflections based on a single word or theme suggested by the audience.
- These stories are not scripted; they are genuine, unscripted anecdotes from their own lives.
- Monologists aim to share something emotionally resonant, funny, or thought-provoking, providing a wellspring of inspiration.
2. Scene Generation
- As the monologist speaks, other improvisers (the “scene players”) listen intently for interesting characters, strong emotions, specific locations, unique phrases, or compelling themes that emerge from the monologue.
- When a scene player hears something inspiring, they can initiate an improvised scene.
3. Scene Play
- The initiated scene is then played out.
- Scene players should use the inspiration from the monologue as a springboard, but they don’t necessarily re-enact the monologue directly.
- Instead, they might explore a character’s emotional state, a relationship dynamic, a conflict, or a specific idea hinted at in the monologue.
- The scene should be fully improvised, developing its own characters, plot, and a clear ending or resolution.
4. Return to Monologue (Optional, but Common)
- After a scene concludes, the focus can shift back to the original monologist(s) for another short monologue.
- This subsequent monologue is often prompted by a new detail or feeling that arose from the just-played scene, creating a cyclical structure and deepening thematic connections.
5. Repeat
- This cycle of monologue-inspired scenes continues for a predetermined amount of time (e.g., 20-30 minutes, or longer for a full show).
- The ultimate goal is to create a tapestry of interconnected scenes and stories that all subtly or overtly relate back to the initial inspiration and the ongoing monologues.
Roles and Responsibilities
Success in the Armando hinges on clear roles and collaborative listening.
The Monologist(s)
- Listen to the Suggestion: Take the audience’s initial word or theme and let it spark a genuine memory or reflection from your life.
- Be Authentic: Share personal, true stories. Your vulnerability and honesty are crucial for inspiring strong scenes.
- Provide Rich Detail: Offer specific details, emotions, characters, and locations; these are “gifts” for the scene players.
- Be Patient: While others are playing scenes, listen and be ready to jump back in when the focus returns to you.
The Scene Players
- Active Listening: This is paramount. Listen not just to the words of the monologue, but to the emotions, relationships, and underlying themes.
- Identify the “Game”: What’s the core idea, relationship, or emotional truth you want to explore from the monologue?
- Initiate Strong Scenes: Start a scene clearly, establishing who, what, and where, using inspiration from the monologue as your foundation.
- Don’t Just Re-enact: Use the monologue as a jumping-off point for new scenes. The goal isn’t to perfectly recreate the monologist’s story, but to explore its essence in an improvised context.
- Support and Build: Practice “Yes, And” with your scene partners, continually building on the established reality.
Tips for Playing The Armando
- Trust Your Instincts: Both monologists and scene players should trust their first impulses; often, these are the strongest.
- Give Gifts: Monologists should offer plenty of specific details. Scene players should use those details and add their own to enrich the scenes.
- Look for Patterns: Over the course of the Armando, themes, characters, or even specific phrases might re-emerge, creating a satisfying sense of cohesion.
- Embrace the Unexpected: The beauty of the Armando comes from the surprising connections that emerge between seemingly disparate stories and scenes.
Benefits of Playing Armando
Playing the Armando significantly enhances:
- Enhances Focus and Presence: Demands intense listening and immediate responsiveness from all participants.
- Boosts Communication and Connection: Fosters deep connection between monologists and scene players, and among scene players themselves, as they collaboratively build a shared narrative.
- Fosters a Lighthearted Atmosphere: While scenes can delve into dramatic territory, the overall collaborative and spontaneous nature of the format keeps the atmosphere playful and supportive.
- Narrative Development: Trains players to identify and build narrative arcs, themes, and complex character relationships over a longer form.
- Authenticity: Encourages monologists to share genuinely, and scene players to respond truthfully to those authentic offers, leading to more grounded improv.
