An Improv Fable
Pirate Robot Ninja is a book about long-form improv co-written by Billy Merritt, a longtime teacher and performer from the Upright Citizens Brigade, based on his theory that all long-form improvisers are pirates, robots or ninjas. You can buy it now for $20!
Find Your Strength
Every improv student has some things they are good at and some things they need to learn. "Pirate Robot Ninja" wants you to celebrate your strengths, while remaining humble about what's left to learn.
What? TWO authors?
Billy didn't write the book alone! He enlisted the help of his friend and robot Will Hines, who had already written an improv book of his own (How to Be the Greatest Improviser on Earth)! And Will is just a part of the great team who assembled this book!
The theory
The following theory is 60% accurate, and 40% just for fun. We mean to make the tricky game of self-assessment playful and nice.
Pirate
The pirate player is: visual, demonstrative, physical, brash, dangerous. They always feel, and they always react. They carry flaming barrels of fun gunpowder into a scene. You need your pirates.
Are you a pirate?
Robot
The robot player is: logical, witty, effortlessly intelligent, and fast to find a pattern. Robots think, remember, make patterns, and see the absurdity. They take in every bit of data and synthesize it into the optimal comedy program. You need your robots.
Are you a robot?
Ninja
If a pirate is all “heart” and a robot is all “head,” the ninja expertly blends both. Ninjas move with flexibility and precision to serve the highest good of the scene and group. Their choices have an elegance that can be unappreciated – invisible, even – to the untrained eye.
Be a ninja.
It's a fable.Journey to the improv dojo.
In this book, you are a "seeker" of improv knowledge. You journey to a mysterious dojo where three improv teachers show you the ways of the Pirate, Robot and Ninja. Learn of the Four Pillars of a good improv scene, meet the Improv Veteran and take a flight on the Premise Dragon! 200 pages of improv lessons, metaphors, exercises and more importantly, buffet options.
An incredible team. Ninjas, all.
Billy has been a senior teacher at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre almost since it started back in New York City in the late 90s. Will was one of his students, who became a teacher himself. They teamed up to write this book. David Kantrowitz drew incredible illustrations, comedy writer Mark Rennie provided wise editorial guidance, Nick Jaramillo created an elegant interior design and Alana Quirk gave inspired wordsmithing advice. It adds up to an amazing book!
Your two authors One pirate, one robot
Billy (right) is a pirate. The book is based on his theory and exercises. He wanted to write a book, but wasn't sure how to go about it. So he teamed up with Will (left), a robot who had already written an improv book. Will had once been Billy's student. Today they perform on the same improv team in Los Angeles. Both of their energies -- pirate and robot -- went into this book.
Photo by Brian Huskey
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