The Triangle of the Scene: A simple, practical, powerful method for approaching improvisation

In The Triangle of the Scene, veteran improv teacher and performer Paul Vaillancourt lays out a simple set of tools that enable improvisors old and new to use the three basic elements of a scene to super-charge their work and take it to the next level. In this book, Paul shows you how to better connect with your partner, how to use the ‘where’, and how to find the ever elusive game of the scene. The Triangle of the Scene is also the first improv book to use embedded videos to allow readers to see the book’s exercises and techniques in action. With 30 years of experience performing and teaching improv Paul (the Co-founder of the iO West and member of the legendary improv group Beer, Shark, Mice) shares with you the techniques that he has used to help thousands of students become more fearless, confident, and powerful improvisors.

Paul Vaillancourt is a writer, actor, director, producer but most of all an improvisor who has been teaching and performing improv across the country for more than 30 years. He is a graduate of the Comedy Sportz Training Program in Virginia, the Second City Training Center in Chicago as well as the legendary Improv Olympic in Chicago where he had the rare opportunity to study under the legendary Del Close. After his group, Bitter Noah, was selected to perform their signature piece, the Improvised Movie, at the US Comedy Arts festival in Aspen, Paul moved to Los Angeles and co-founded the iO West where he has been teaching, directing and performing (both written and improvised shows) ever since. During his time in Hollywood, Paul has become a sought after improv coach, producer and consultant working with many TV networks including CMT, Fox, MTV, VH1, Oxygen and Bravo to name a few. He now lives in Los Angeles with his wife Lindsey and their two children Isabelle and Paul junior (or Bro as his friends call him).