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In a nutshell: Listen and Support.

Just like most improv theaters, at The HOME Comedy Theater, we use the backbone of any improv-related exercise and game: “Yes, and…”, which provides the basic mindset we encourage all of our students to have and adapt.
“Yes, And…” doesn’t necessarily mean you have to “agree” to and with everything that is presented to you on stage. Think of it this way:

“YES” – Could mean accepting what your scene partner presents to you at face value with simple agreement, and “AND…” could mean finding a way to support that idea by building upon that idea as best as you can. If both people are doing this to one another, magic can happen.

“If I bring a brick, and you bring a brick, we can build a magnificent building TOGETHER.”

Beyond Level 1, we have a progressive training center where each level (1 to 5) is built upon the previous one with a heavy focus on the art of “longform” improvisation and the essential skills needed to perform one of the most innovative improv performance pieces known around the world, “The Harold”, a Chicago-born signature longform structure.

But wait, there’s more! We also offer improv classes for kids (ages 9-12) that help your child step into a world of creativity, collaboration, and confidence, by learning new skills, making new friends, and—most importantly—having fun!

And…! Customizable corporate improv workshops for business professionals and/or businesses looking to improve interpersonal skills like public speaking, team collaboration, and more!

The skills learned by taking classes and performing improv can help comedy writers build upon their ideas. Concepts covered in our improv classes, like character development and dialogue, help work out that part of our creative brains and translate it to paper… or to a computer, as it were.

Sure. If the goal is to refine an improvised piece into scripted material, then one can memorize, rehearse and perform those refined pieces of written material. One can even do both; have written material for a sketch alongside small windows within that sketch to allow for some improvisation by the performer(s).

We see this in popular shows like Saturday Night Live and Curb Your Enthusiasm. In Curb, a script is loosely drafted and the characters basically improvise their way to a foregone conclusion in most scenes. However, anything that is truly improvised cannot be rehearsed exactly, as that would nullify the very essence of improvisation.

“Improv (improvisation) is a form of theater where the storylines, characters, relationships, plot, and dialogue are spontaneously made up on the spot. While improv is typically used as a tool for comedy (as it is at The HOME Comedy Theater), it can also be performed as drama or an experimental performance.”