- "Improvisational theatre, often called improvisation or improv, is the form of theatre, often comedy, in which most or all of what is performed is unplanned or unscripted, created spontaneously by the performers."
A type of improv that focuses on creating comedic scenes or stories.
Yes, And: The foundation of improvised comedy is the principle of "Yes, And," which means accepting and building on whatever your scene partner offers.
Games: Improvised comedy often relies on games or exercises that help improvisers develop specific skills, such as listening or character development.
Storytelling: Improvised comedy can involve creating fully-realized stories on the spot, requiring a strong sense of narrative structure.
Characterization: Creating and embodying unique characters is a crucial aspect of improvised comedy.
Physicality: Improvised comedy often involves physical comedy, such as clowning or slapstick.
Collaboration: Successful improvised comedy requires strong collaboration and trust between scene partners.
Timing: Delivering comedic lines and reactions with impeccable timing is essential to making improvised comedy work.
Mistakes: Learning how to recover from mistakes and improvise solutions in the moment is an important part of successful improvised comedy.
Genre: Improvisers may specialize in specific genres, such as sci-fi, horror, or musical comedy.
Props: Incorporating props into improvised scenes can help create comedic moments and enhance the overall performance.
Stagecraft: Improvised comedy often involves working in various environments and spaces, requiring adaptability and creativity.
Audience engagement: Improvised comedy relies on audience suggestions and participation, making it an interactive and dynamic form of theater.
Short Form: Short form improvisation is made up of a series of quick, comedic scenes that last only a few minutes each. These scenes are often inspired by suggestions from audience members.
Long Form: Long form improvisation is an extended performance that can last up to an hour or more. The performance is often structured around a theme or storyline, with scenes and characters developing over time.
Musical Improv: Musical improv involves creating songs on the spot, often incorporating suggestions from audience members. This type of improv can be performed by a small group of improvisers or a larger ensemble.
Sketch Comedy: Sketch comedy is a type of improvised comedy that involves creating short comedy sketches on the spot. These sketches might be based on a predetermined theme, or developed as the improvisers go along.
Improvised Stand-Up: Improvised stand-up involves creating a stand-up comedy routine on the spot, based on suggestions from the audience. This can be a challenging form of improvisation and requires a quick wit and strong comedic instincts.
Physical Improv: Physical improv involves creating comedy through physical movement and gesture. This can include everything from improvised dance to improv games that focus on physical comedy.
Improv Games: Improv games are structured activities designed to create specific types of comedic moments. These games can be used as warmups or incorporated into longer improv performances.
Improv for Kids: Improv for kids is an approach to improvisational theatre that is designed specifically for children. This type of improv often focuses on creating imaginative, playful scenes that incorporate elements of storytelling and physical comedy.
Improv Therapy: Improv therapy is a therapeutic approach that uses improvisational theatre techniques to help individuals overcome social anxiety, build self-confidence, and improve interpersonal communication skills.
Improv Comedy Classes: Improv comedy classes are courses that teach students the basic principles and techniques of improvisational theatre. These classes might be geared towards beginners, or aimed at more experienced improvisers looking to develop their skills further.
- "In its purest form, the dialogue, action, story, and characters are created collaboratively by the players as the improvisation unfolds in present time, without use of an already prepared, written script."
- "Improvisational theatre exists in performance as a range of styles of improvisational comedy as well as some non-comedic theatrical performances."
- "It is sometimes used in film and television, both to develop characters and scripts and occasionally as part of the final product."
- "Improvisational techniques are often used extensively in drama programs to train actors for stage, film, and television and can be an important part of the rehearsal process."
- "However, the skills and processes of improvisation are also used outside the context of performing arts."
- "This practice, known as applied improvisation, is used in classrooms as an educational tool and in businesses as a way to develop communication skills, creative problem solving, and supportive team-work abilities that are used by improvisational, ensemble players."
- "It is sometimes used in psychotherapy as a tool to gain insight into a person's thoughts, feelings, and relationships."
- "Improvisational theatre, often called improvisation or improv..."
- "Most or all of what is performed is unplanned or unscripted, created spontaneously by the performers."
- "The dialogue, action, story, and characters are created collaboratively by the players as the improvisation unfolds in present time..."
- "Improvisational theatre exists in performance as a range of styles of improvisational comedy as well as some non-comedic theatrical performances."
- "In its purest form, the dialogue, action, story, and characters are created collaboratively by the players as the improvisation unfolds in present time, without use of an already prepared, written script."
- "To develop characters and scripts and occasionally as part of the final product."
- "Improvisational techniques are often used extensively in drama programs to train actors for stage, film, and television and can be an important part of the rehearsal process."
- "Develop communication skills, creative problem solving, and supportive team-work abilities that are used by improvisational, ensemble players."
- "It is sometimes used in psychotherapy as a tool to gain insight into a person's thoughts, feelings, and relationships."
- "Develop communication skills, creative problem solving, and supportive team-work abilities that are used by improvisational, ensemble players."
- "Without use of an already prepared, written script."
- "Improvisational techniques are often used extensively in drama programs to train actors for stage, film, and television and can be an important part of the rehearsal process."