Performances
Moving. Inspiring. Like nothing I’ve seen before. Those are the words we hear most often after our performances. And: You obviously really trust each other.
We create songs in the moment. Choreograph dances to music composed on the spot. Surprise ourselves with stories that tumble from our tongues. Using audience ideas as inspiration, Alligator Mouth Improv offers one-of-a-kind performances that can never be repeated.
Take a minute to check out our videos. If you can’t see us in person, it’s the best way to grasp what we do.
Black Box Theatres
Dressed in black, under minimal lighting, we step (or jump, or roll, or tiptoe) onto a bare stage and say yes to whatever comes. Our connection to the audience is palpable because they are risking with us. Everyone is along for the same ride, and we have no idea where that ride will take us.
Small, simple, intimate performance spaces suit us. Because of the inherent risk and deep levels of authenticity that are required, an improvised performance provides an immediacy and intimacy that are extremely engaging for an audience. They feel connected to the performers and to each other.
In theatre settings, we usually have a theme which is introduced with an evocative question (for example, “what comes from the space between us?”). Audiences are invited to submit their thoughts and/or stories on that theme, and their input is used to fuel the performance as it unfolds.
Improvisation as an art form is not about showing what we can do, it's about revealing our truth in each unfolding moment. This isn't improv comedy. Our performances move from playful to profound and back again. We dive in deep and see where it takes us, often creating worlds that are abstract, poetic, and dream-like.
Like our motto says: Come with no expectations; leave with a greater sense of what's possible.
Performance Deli
What are you hungry for? An improvised story? A song composed in the moment? A dance created just for you? You can have it all at Performance Deli: Art Made to Order!
During a Performance Deli, customers stop in anytime we are open. They select from a printed menu of improvisational forms—ranging from dramatic to playful. They give their order to our waitstaff, and enjoy the other patrons' performances until their order is up. The waitstaff asks for payment for their selection, which is whatever is required to make the improvisation work—a theme word, choosing an object, maybe even participating! They enjoy their piece, then stay until their hunger for performance art is satisfied.
When the deli debuted in an empty storefront in Corning, NY, in July 2009, it made quite a splash! Nearly 500 people came through the door during the seven days we were open. See news video from WENY-TV of the opening day or read a newspaper article published in the local paper. Contact us if you're interested in setting up a deli in your town!