[Ads-l] "yes and" improv(isation)

[Ben Zimmer]

Here's "yes-and" as a verb in 1987.

https://archive.org/details/secondcitybacks00mccr/page/95/mode/1up
Donna McCrohan, _The Second City: a backstage history of comedy's hottest
troupe_ (1987), p. 95
"Basically, as a director," says Don DePollo, who has appeared on the
Second City stage, conducted workshops, and directed, "you _yes-and_, which
is a term we use. You have to yes-and the actors and let them do their own
material."


On Wed, Mar 9, 2022 at 1:54 PM Ben Zimmer <bgzimmer at gmail.com> wrote:

> You can access Delton T. Horn's _Comedy Improvisation_ (1991) in full view
> on Internet Archive. "Yes and" appears on pp. 18, 68, 69.
>
> https://archive.org/details/comedyimprovisat0000horn/page/18/mode/1up
> https://archive.org/details/comedyimprovisat0000horn/page/68/mode/1up
> https://archive.org/details/comedyimprovisat0000horn/page/69/mode/1up
>
> On Wed, Mar 9, 2022 at 1:43 PM Stephen Goranson <goranson at duke.edu> wrote:
>
>> GB, 1991, yes and merely provisional:
>>
>>  <
>> https://books.google.com/books?id=RK4RRWgC7FQC&q=rule+of+improv+yes+and&dq=rule+of+improv+yes+and&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=1&printsec=frontcover&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjZx8i_1bn2AhWsJUQIHYAfAhwQ6AF6BAgDEAI
>> >
>> Comedy Improvisation: Exercises & Techniques for Young Actors <
>> https://books.google.com/books?id=RK4RRWgC7FQC&q=rule+of+improv+yes+and&dq=rule+of+improv+yes+and&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=1&printsec=frontcover&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjZx8i_1bn2AhWsJUQIHYAfAhwQ6AF6BAgDEAI
>> >
>> books.google.com › books <
>> https://books.google.com/books?id=RK4RRWgC7FQC&q=rule+of+improv+yes+and&dq=rule+of+improv+yes+and&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=1&printsec=frontcover&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjZx8i_1bn2AhWsJUQIHYAfAhwQ6AF6BAgDEAI
>> >
>>
>> Delton T. Horn<
>> https://www.google.com/search?tbs=cdr:1,cd_min:Jan+1_2+1982,cd_max:Dec+31_2+1991&tbm=bks&tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22Delton+T.+Horn%22&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjZx8i_1bn2AhWsJUQIHYAfAhwQ9Ah6BAgDEAU>
>> · 1991 · ‎Snippet view
>> FOUND INSIDE – PAGE 68
>> This rule is especially important in a character improv structure . ...
>> Of course , an improvisation may be performed in any style , especially
>> broad farce and absurdism , which are ... Instead of saying " No , ” say “
>> Yes , and — .
>>  <
>> https://books.google.com/books?id=trn0lsct4g4C&q=rule+of+improv+yes+and&dq=rule+of+improv+yes+and&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=1&printsec=frontcover&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjZx8i_1bn2AhWsJUQIHYAfAhwQ6AF6BAgEEAI
>> >
>> Improv Comedy - Page 189 <
>> https://books.google.com/books?id=trn0lsct4g4C&q=rule+of+improv+yes+and&dq=rule+of+improv+yes+and&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=1&printsec=frontcover&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjZx8i_1bn2AhWsJUQIHYAfAhwQ6AF6BAgEEAI
>> >
>> books.google.com › books <
>> https://books.google.com/books?id=trn0lsct4g4C&q=rule+of+improv+yes+and&dq=rule+of+improv+yes+and&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=1&printsec=frontcover&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjZx8i_1bn2AhWsJUQIHYAfAhwQ6AF6BAgEEAI
>> >
>>
>> Andy Goldberg<
>> https://www.google.com/search?tbs=cdr:1,cd_min:Jan+1_2+1982,cd_max:Dec+31_2+1991&tbm=bks&tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22Andy+Goldberg%22&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjZx8i_1bn2AhWsJUQIHYAfAhwQ9Ah6BAgEEAU>
>> · 1991 · ‎Snippet view
>> FOUND INSIDE – PAGE 189
>> One Sentence at a Time ( Two performers ) This scene has the same rules
>> and setup as One Word at a Time except that , in this case , the performers
>> may use only one sentence at a time . ... Review the exercises “ Yes , an
>> Stephen G.
>>
>>

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