You Can’t Learn Improv From a Book by Alan Hawkins is a guidebook of creativity and exploration. In this insightful manual, you will embark on the exciting adventure of teaching improvisation to high school students. Improv isn’t just about laughter and quick thinking; it’s a powerful tool for fostering teamwork, boosting confidence, and unlocking the untapped potential within each student. Get ready to watch your students not only embrace the spontaneity of the moment but also develop crucial life skills such as communication, adaptability, and creative problem-solving. The chapters ahead serve as a compass, guiding you through the dynamics of teaching improv and offering a toolbox of ideas to make each lesson engaging and memorable.
“My dear pal, Alan Hawkins, has crafted a book that’s filled with genuine insight, hard-earned wisdom, opportunities for authentic connection, and most importantly: easily accessible information that can be applied to all skill levels. Only get a copy of Alan Hawkins’ book if you want to learn how to teach young people to be their most fiercely authentic selves. Plus they’ll laugh while learning. Everybody wins!”
– Amy Seeley
AmySeeleyCreative.com
Co-Founder Chicago’s Factory Theater
“Alan’s incredible talent, stage presence, humor, and easily understood methodology enable him to bring out the best in each of his students. His step-by-step guidance is both logical and empowering. I left his workshop more confident and at ease in my skills, than when I walked in. I use his techniques regularly when I perform. Alan is brilliant!! Buy this book!!”
– Taylor Dahlia Edwards
“Alan is a seasoned performer, a study of human behavior and an incredible acting coach. He is able to create trust almost immediately and encourages each performer to focus on relationships on stage, above all else. Alan listens deeply and provides constructive feedback that is useful and motivating. His notes are insightful, full of compassion and succinct enough to be remembered and added to any improvisers toolkit. What I love most about Alan is how much he cares; about people, about the art of improv and about helping others. He is a remarkable coach and gifted improvisor.”
– Jonni Ressler
“Alan Hawkins is an improv guru. What sets Alan apart from other improv teachers is his ability to assess your best qualities and amplify what you are already good at. He breaks you of your insecure habits, too…and he does it without crushing your spirit. He’s been trained by the old guard of improv and he knows how to be gentle with the sensitive new kids. Alan is the best!”
-Anna Miller
“The day I read this book, I immediately stole about half a dozen ideas to take into an improv practice with a high school team I’d already been coaching for five years. Everything in here makes the practices more fun for the students, which leads to better improv. Win/win.”
-Dave Clapper
“The great thing about Alan’s book is that it’s applicable for high school groups, college groups, or really any or all improv groups just getting started. So pick it up, buy it, read it, and let Alan guide you on how to start playing and doing improv. You’ll be glad you did.”
– Jonathan Pitts
“Alan Hawkins is the rare bird of improv: He’s a great teacher AND a wonderful improviser. He not only understands how improv works best, but he can also clearly and concisely pass that elusive information onto the improv student.”
– David Razowsky
“It has been my great pleasure to know Alan Hawkins and watch him perform. As someone who is known as an ambassador in the global improv scene, I can confidently say that there are very, very few who share Alan’s level of passion and commitment to the preservation and dessimination of this great art form and what it has meant to my life and so many people who have brought me joy over the decades. Space run, do not space walk to your suggested location and buy this book!”
– Brain James O’Connell (aka BOC)
“Alan is an absolute gem of an improv teacher. He not only understands how improv works, but he can articulate his brilliant ideas to a wide range students – from high schoolers to old timers, like myself. He is less concerned with just “entertaining” an audience than he is in crafting dynamic, engaging scenes and characters – which of course leads to much more entertaining and thoughtful theater! In five short weeks, he took our improv team from absolute novices to professional improv-ers, and radically changed how we approach our improv preparation and performance!”
– Josh Butchart