Improvisation!

What is Improvisation?

To make something up or invent it as one goes on; to proceed by guess rather than by a careful plan. To invent or create something quickly or without a plan; to wing it.

What can you Improvise?

Music! Jazz musicians use

improvisation in their songs and solos.

Food!Lots of great foods and

recipes were improvised by their creators, like chocolate chip cookies.

Theatre!

Improvised Theatre

Improvised theatre, also known as improv, is when a group of performers create original scenes and characters on the spot.

The actors use new information or suggestions as the basis of their sketches, which is provided by the audience or another member of the group.

There are two main types of improv, shortform or longform.

Shortform and Longform Improv

Shortform improv is made of short scenes around a predetermined structure or game that are driven by audience involvement.

Longform improv is a whole show of short scenes with related characters, stories, or themes.

Examples of Improv

Whose Line is it Anyway? is a great example of shortform improv. Some of their best know skits include:

Irish Drinking SongParty Quirks

Where did Improv come from?

Improv draws from the theatrical traditions of commedia dell’arte and clowning, and the ideal of ‘living in the moment’ was a large part of Stanislavski’s system of acting.

However, improv as we know it today mainly comes from teachers Viola Spolin and Keith Johnstone, who transferred their theatre games from the classroom to the public stage.

What are the rules?

There are no real formal rules to improv, but here are some good tips to make sure that your sketch will be great!

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Guidelines for Improv

1. Never say ‘no’. Don't Deny!When you say ‘no,’ you shut down the whole scene by denying the world you’re trying to create.

If your partner says “It certainly is a nice day to build a sandcastle on the beach!” and you follow with “No, we certainly picked the wrong day to fight aliens in space,” the scene has no where to go.

Instead, you should say “Yes, and…” to continue the scene and add more details.

Guidelines for Improv

2. Don’t try to ‘be funny’.If you try to play funny to the audience, they will know that you’re only looking for laughs and are not invested in your scene. If you concentrate on your scene, trust your instincts, and listen to your partners the funny will come!

3. Always establish a location and include lots of specific details!

By adding lots of concrete details to your scene, you become invested in the scenarios and create interesting characters and situations.

If you’re walking an out-of-control dog in the city park, the situation will be a lot different if you are in charge of a hot pink Chihuahua versus a lime green Great Dane!

Guidelines for Improv

Where can I do Improv?

Improv can be done anywhere if there is an open space and willing people!

But there are also numerous theatres which specialize in improv throughout the nation.

The Second CityThe Second City is an

improv theatre located in Chicago, Illinois.

The theatre was founded in December 1959 by a group of actors.

The Second City training center began in the 1980s, as the demand for classes in all forms of comedy increased.

The Second City

Besides the Chicago location, the Second City has outposts in Hollywood and Toronto, as well as a touring group.

Here are some great examples of Second City Sketches:

Dr. Know-It-All

Ricardo Montalban School of Fine Acting

Perma-Laque Hair Spray

ComedySportz

ComedySportz [CSz] is an organized network of improv theatres throughout the nation. In 1984, CSz was founded by a group of comedians in Milwaukee Wisconsin.

Instead of presenting skits and sketches, CSz’s shows are created by two teams of Actletes who compete in games and scenes for audience approval. Just like real sports, there are points and fouls awarded by the referee who runs the game.

ComedySportz - Fouls

1. The Brown BagIf an Actlete [or audience member]

uses foul language or crude references, they must wear a brown bag over their head for the remainder of the scene.

ComedySportz - Fouls

2. The GroanerIf an Actlete uses a joke bad enough to make the audience groan, they loose one point unless they can make a heartfelt apology to the audience.

ComedySportz - Fouls

3. Delay-of-GameIf the scene becomes uninteresting, a Delay-of-Game foul is called. The Actletes are then given 15 seconds to make the scene interesting again, or face ejection and point deduction.

ComedySportz

ComedySportz has groups in New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Texas, Los Angeles, and even in Manchester UK and Berlin Germany!

Here are some great examples of some CSz games:

185 GameFive ThingsBlind Freeze

The Groundlings

The Groundlings are an improv troupe based out of Los Angeles, CA. The group has been active since it was founded in 1974.

The Groundlings School of Improvisation was founded in 1979, teaching improv, sketch comedy, and comedy writing.

Now that you have the tools…

Set?

Ready?

Go Improvise!