Afterword

I began taking notes after an experience in Ann Arbor in the 70s. I was performing a solo improvisation in a loft space. I had asked a group of people to set the stage for me. They arranged an environment full of props. One of the objects was a fairly large Raggedy Anne doll. In the course of the improvisation, I named the doll Alice. Within ten minutes, she had died and the rest of the piece was about the aftermath of her death. As I was taking a bow, I noticed three women crying and holding onto each other in the front row. Later, they came backstage and were still visibly upset. One year previous to that very night, they told me, a friend of theirs named Alice had died. Before coming to the show, they had held a memorial dinner in her honor. I was shaken. I realized that the workings of improvisation had ramifications beyond my understanding. I had to observe it very closely.

This book reflects where I am, now, in that process. It's been a long time since that evening in Ann Arbor, and I've acquired a lot of notes and questions. Every time I had thought I understood the work, a new set of questions would arise. Then, those new ones would have to be followed up. About five years ago I decided to compile some of these answers into a book, no matter what. I should have known that the book itself would offer innumerable questions. At some point, as any improvisation will, the book ended itself. It was time to stop, to collect, to polish. No more questions could be brought in.

My investigations continue. In the past three years, I've taught two five-month trainings and intend to do more. Working daily, with a group of people so intensely and extensively, takes me (and them) further into the detailed discipline of clear expression.

At some point, there might be another book that begins where this one leaves off. Until then, we improvise.

If you would like a video demonstration of some of the exercises in this book, or if you'd like to get my comments on a video of you or your group doing this work, please write to: Zap Performance Projects, 1174 Crag-mont Ave., Berkeley, CA. 94708

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