// Classic Armando//

armando

Some notes from learning the Armando via iO Chicago

The Classic Armando is an advanced long form where a Monologist acts as the Director who influences the theme, mood, cadence of the show. The Monologist and Ensemble work together giving and taking focus to create a show where the 4th wall is broken and reconstructed throughout.

    • The Monologist
      • The goal of the monologist is to deliver a true and vulnerable story.
        • You are creating an honest moment with the crowd
        • You are creating tension for the audience so that the cast can have fun breaking it
      • The monologue should be specific and dig deeper into an emotional POV that can be explored. Detailed but unconnected, non-vulnerable stories will evoke similarly bland scenes. Raise the stakes.
        • Traditionally, Monologist plays the GODFIGURE
          • Usually 3 monologs, pull lights on the last
          • Directs the show by injecting energy and inspiration when needed
          • Plays the “Game Slot/Group Game” role
      • The Ensemble
        • The goal of the ensemble is to explore themes via scenes
          • Character Pull
            • Lead in Character: Wrap the theme up into a character’s behavioral trait rather than a premise or plot to fill in. Your scene will almost never play out the way you wanted it.
              • Explore the genres or archetypes represented in the monolog
          • Tangential Pulls
              • Explore an interesting part of the story that wasn’t too detailed
              • Exaggerate a specific from the story or a tic
          • Disproving the Monologist’s Theory
              • Flip the monologist’s P.O.V.  and explore the antithesis