New from Charlie Todd of Improv Everywhere:

Star Wars Subway Car

For our latest mission, we staged a reenactment of the first Princess Leia / Darth Vader scene from Star Wars on a New York City subway car. The white walls and sliding doors on the train reminded us of the rebel ship from the movie, and we thought it would be fun to see how people would react to a surprise appearance by the iconic characters. We spread out the actors along the train line, staging it so they would enter the right car at the right time. Enjoy the video first and then go behind-the-scenes for photos and more information.

edited by Matt Adams, music by Gustav Holst, arranged by Tyler Walker

More related links for Improv Everywhere here.

Submitted by Charlie Todd of Improv Everywhere:

For our latest mission, we brought the movie Ghostbusters to life in the reading room of The New York Public Library at 42 Street. The 1984 movie begins with a scene in the very same room, so we figured it was time for the Ghostbusters to make an encore appearance.

The New York Public Library approached us about a month ago and asked if we would want to stage an Improv Everywhere mission on their property. The library is facing serious budget cuts, and they thought having us do something awesome there might serve to remind people of how great the NYPL is. We couldn’t say no to the opportunity to do something in their gorgeous, 100 year-old Rose Main Reading Room.

Shot by: Matt Adams, Brian Fountain, Erik Martin, Caleb Heller, Kristopher Knight, and Ariane West
Photography: Katie Sokoler and Brian Fountain
Ghostbusters: Kevin Hines, Rob Lathan, Justin Purnell, Alex Scordelis
Ghosts: Ben Rodgers, Amos Vernon, Tyler Walker

For more info and photos, visit Improv Everywhere

From Charlie Todd of Improv Everywhere:

No Underwear Subway Ride

For our latest mission, over 1,000 people rode the subway without underwear or pants in New York City. Our annual No Pants Subway Ride has been a tradition for years, and we decided it was time to up the ante. Enjoy the video first and then go behind the scenes with our mission report and photos. (We have blurred out the private parts of all the riders but keep in mind it still might not be considered “safe for work.”)

From Charlie Todd of Improv Everywhere:

The 9th Annual No Pants Subway Ride went off without a hitch today in New York. It’s tough to count, but we’re guessing we had around 3,000 participants. Riders met at meeting points spread out all over the city and converged on Union Square. The high was 28 degrees. For more photos and videos as they are submitted, visit here.

Video from the Daily News:

Related links:

From Charlie Todd of Improv Everywhere:

The 9th Annual No Pants Subway Ride will take place on Sunday, January 10 in New York and cities around the world.

Last Year’s No Pants Subway Ride:

All are invited to participate. The event will take place at 3:00 PM on Sunday, January 10. Everything you need to know is now available. Please read this carefully!

Requirements for Participation
1) Willing to take pants off on subway
2) Able to keep a straight face about it

**This is a participatory event. Do not show up unless you plan to take your pants off.**

When: Sunday, January 10 at 3:00 PM, Sharp! (Over by around 5:30)
Where: Five meeting points spread out all over New York City.
Bring: A backpack and a metro card.
Wear: Normal winter clothes (hat, gloves, etc)
Facebook: You can RSVP to the Facebook Event

Details for New York
Details for other cities

Have fun!

From Improv Everywhere:

Guerrilla Handbell Strikeforce

For our latest mission, a 13-member handbell choir provided some unexpected accompaniment for a Salvation Army bell ringer on Lexington Avenue in Manhattan. Enjoy the video first and then go behind the scenes with our report here.

Edited by Matt Adams / Idea by Jason Eppink
Still Photos: Katie Sokoler and Chad Nicholson
Video: Chad Nicholson, Erik Martin, Keith Haskel, Steve Marinconz, Drue Pennella & Erik Paulsen
Sound: Paul Reed

More links about Improv Everywhere here.

Submitted by Charlie Todd of Improv Everywhere:

The 9th Annual No Pants! Subway Ride will take place on Sunday, January 10 in New York City. More info with the meeting point and start time will be posted to our site in early January. For now, save the date. You can RSVP on Facebook.

Once again we are encouraging folks in other cities around the world to stage their own No Pants rides on the same day. Here is the list of cities who participated last year. Anyone organizing a regional No Pants event should let us know by leaving a comment on this post along with all of the necessary details. In a few weeks we will publish a list of all participating cities along with links to any Facebook events. Groups have staged the event on trolleys, light rails, and buses in the past, so don’t let a lack of subway system stop you!

If you are unfamiliar with this tradition, you can read the history here: The No Pants Subway Ride.

From Charlie Todd of Improv Everywhere:

I Love Lunch! The Musical

For our latest mission, seven undercover agents staged a spontaneous musical during lunch at the Trump Tower atrium. The mission was filmed for a segment on The Today Show and includes a cameo from Ann Curry. Check out our video and behind the scenes report.

Song by Anthony King and Scott Brown (Gutenberg! The Musical!)

From Charlie Todd of Improv Everywhere, October 20, 2009:

Grocery Store Musical

For our latest mission, six undercover actors burst into song in a grocery store in Queens. Three minutes and lots of silly choreography later, they returned to their roles as shoppers and stock boys. It’s the long-awaited follow up to Food Court Musical!

Song by Anthony King and Scott Brown of Gutenberg! The Musical!

Visit here for the back story and lots of visuals.

To see more on The Art of the Prank about Improv Everywhere’s missions, visit here.

From Charlie Todd of Improv Everywhere:

Invisible Dogs

For our latest mission, over 2,000 people walked “invisible dogs” down the streets of Brooklyn on a Sunday afternoon. The leashes were on loan from the current owner of 51 Bergen Street, the factory space where the invisible dog toy was invented in the 1970s. Participants of all ages spread out from Red Hook to Brooklyn Heights, very seriously walking their very silly dogs. Read more and check out the photos here.

edited by Matt Adams / “The Dogs Were Let Out by Whom?” song by Tyler Walker

From Charlie Todd of Improv Everywhere

For our latest mission, we installed a photography studio on a random subway car. We claimed that the MTA had hired us to take photos of every single person who rides the subway and that we’d be producing a yearbook at the end of the year. Most people were happy to pose for us, and the resulting photos show just how diverse New York subway riders can be. Enjoy the video first and then check out the mission report and photos below.

We collaborated with local production company Hello World on this mission. They wanted to film us for a Brazillian TV show, so we invited them to be a part of team. The show’s hosts, Agents Duarte and Martini, played the role of the “ringers”– they’d blend in with the crowd on the train and hop up to get their photo taken to encourage others to do the same. One nice thing about working with Hello World is that they specialize in shooting video with the fancy new Canon DSLR cameras. Since the Canons looked like still cameras, no one would know they were filming.

See the full story and lots of photos here.

Digital Video: Agents Adams, Yoshida, Garofalo
Digital Photography: Agent Sokoler
Portrait Photography: Agent Nicholson
Edited: Matt Adams
Score: Tyler Walker

Follow-up submitted by Josh Jasper, April 15, 2009:

From Charlie Todd of Improv Everywhere:

30 Improv Everywhere agents found a random funeral in the obituary section of the newspaper and turned it into the best funeral ever. We picked a man who had very few surviving relatives and then showed up to his funeral to make it truly awesome

Edited by Matt Adams:

Go here more info, pictures & commentary.

From Charlie Todd of Improv Everywhere, March 18, 2009:

For our latest mission, 50 Improv Everywhere agents created an art gallery opening on the 23rd Street subway platform in Manhattan. We put up 30 placards next to objects in the space (pipes, electrical boxes, signs, advertisements), transforming them into works of art. The gallery included a bar, a coat rack, and a cellist. Enjoy the video first, and then visit here for photos, text from our placards, and reports from the agents involved.

There should be one or two big missions this spring / summer. New Yorkers, make sure you’re on the NY Agents List to get the details.

From Charlie Todd of Improv Everywhere, January 10, 2009:

No Pants 2k9 NYC Reports

The 8th Annual No Pants! Subway Ride went off without a hitch today in New York. It’s tough to count, but we’re guessing we had between 1,200 and 1,500 participants. Riders were divided up and dispatched to 4 separate train lines. The high was 30 degrees and there was a nice steady stream of snow.

We hope to have a video ready in just a few days along with a complete report. For now, enjoy the flickr sets from our official photographers:

Agent Ilya Chigirev’s set / Agent Brian Fountain’s set / Agent Ari Scott’s set, / Agent Katie Sokoler’s set

Thanks to everyone who came out to participate, including those who came out for the 24 regional events! For more info and photos, visit here.

From Charlie Todd of Improv Everywhere:

For our latest mission, 20 Improv Everywhere agents personally welcomed home total strangers at JFK airport. Grabbing first and last names from car driver signs, we greeted strangers with personalized posters, flowers, balloons, and a 10-foot wide banner reading, “Welcome Back.”

Check it out all the photos here

In an Absolut World, Everyone Would be Welcomed Home