Yes, And… Everything You Need to Know About Improv Comedy

ORIGINS OF IMPROV AND IMPROV COMEDY

Like many of the great American artforms, Improv was pioneered by people with a passion for creative expression. For any new artform to thrive, it needs an environment where it can be nurtured and deceloped free of intended objective or agenda.
The historical roots of improvisational expression can be traced back to the streets of Italy in 391 BC. Throughout history, performers have tinkered with the craft, but it largely remained unorganized and without any real uniformed goal. While the popular belief is that modern improv originated in the 3-flats and smoke-filled comedy clubs in Chicago, that’s not the whole story.

VIOLA SPOLIN

While there are precursors in the history of improv in the mid-20th century, one of the first who brought the foundational ideals of modern improv into scope is Viola Spolin. As a theater academic, educator and acting coach for The Compass Players on the campus of the University of Chicago, she directed performers to act in the present moment and think improvisationally, rather than to recite written lines. Her innovations and non-authoritarian teaching style lead to the formation of the theater games we know in improv today as a way to unlock the creativity in the performers.

PAUL SILLS

The son of Viola Spolin and University of Chicago student, Paul Sills, along with his friend David Shepard, took the teaching of Paul’s mother and founded The Second City legendary improv comedy club at 1842 N. Wells St. in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, just down the street from The Home Comedy Theater. It was here the flame was ignited and improv comedy eventually grew into fire that is the popular artform we know today.

ELAINE MAY

While she would later go on to act in numerous movies and earn herself a Tony award, a Grammy, and an honorary Academy Award, Elaine May made her mark early-on as the tentpole of the premises used for improvisation. Audiences couldn’t get enough of her quick wit and hilarious outbursts on stage, and her fellow performers loved her, including the young future EGOT holder Mike Nichols. She thought of herself a student of comedy and was an integral part of the success of the original improv scene in Chicago.

MIKE NICHOLS

Also enjoying a stint with The Compass Players at the University of Chicago, director, producer, actor, and most importantly, comedian Mike Nichols traces his roots to the Chicago comedy scene. Finding a kinship with Elaine May, he harnessed his comedic chops on the stages of The Second City where the two perfected their craft before playing to wider audiences on Broadway. Nichols went on to direct legendary films like Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?, The Graduate, Catch-22, and The Birdcage.

BERNARD SAHLINS

Bernard “Bernie” Sahlins was a writer, director and comedian best known as a founder of The Second City improvisational comedy troupe with Paul Sills and Howard Alk in 1959. (He also opened the Second City Theatre in Toronto in 1973.)

In 1959, with Paul Sills and Howard Alk, Bernie opened The Second City where Bernie remained as producer and, eventually, one of the directors until the 1990’s. Among the many talents he hired are John and James Belushi, John Candy, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, Harold Ramis and Bill Murray. Bernie was also one of the developers and producers of the acclaimed TV show SCTV

DEL CLOSE

The man who is often credited with jumpstarting the Chicago Improv scene through his creative methods of performance is the legendary Del Close. Following stints with comedy troupes in the midwest and New York City, Del settled into performing and directing at The Second City, then later, after he reimagined improv as an art unto itself, he co-founded the legendary improv theater, “ImprovOlympic” (now “iO Theater”) with Charna Halpern. Del is credited for with having mentored many of our favorite comedians and actors, like John Belushi, Bill Murray, and Chris Farley, to name a few, and for creating the “The Harold”, one of the most innovative improv performance pieces known around the world.

MARTIN DE MAAT

Martin studied under Viola Spolin, was a teacher and artistic director at The Second City in Chicago, taught at Columbia College, and with the Players Workshop.  Martin and Del Close, were the two main figures of the Chicago improvisational comedy scene in the late 80’s and throughout the 1990s.

Like Del Close, Martin loved and cared for the art of Improvisation.
In the Chicago improv community, Del was jokingly referred to as the stern, “father” of the artform, where Martin was often referred to as the kind and nurturing “mother” of improvisation. They both loved the artform, they just approached the teaching of it in different – yet equally passionate – ways.

During his time at The Second City, Martin became known as a transformative and empowering teacher, welcoming his students with a hug and calling The Second City their home. To them, he was more than just an improv instructor—he was a mentor and father figure, helping them tap into their creativity and break free from limiting thought patterns.

CHARNA HALPERN

Charna co-created the iO Theater (formerly ImprovOlympic), a worldwide improv institution that helped bring ‘longform’ improvisation to the masses and that became home to thousands of aspiring comedians over the years, including many of today’s most popular entertainers, writers, producers, and directors… some of which you’ll read about here later.

She also is responsible was responsible for giving Del Close a home for his vision and for helping make The Harold a world-wide popular artform. From co-founding the legendary iO Theater right here in Chicago (and Los Angeles) to introducing Tina Fey to Amy Poehler, she has left an indelible footprint on the evolution of improv as a respected art form.

ACTIVE LISTENING

This is crucial as you need to follow along with the pace of the action to be able to usher the context along a coherent path. While it’s important to quickly interpret what others are saying, you need to react to it just as quickly. This is a practice in comprehension that can take some time to develop.

BODY LANGUAGE

Controlling and interpreting body language is a two-fold discipline and can come with time working with the same performers in class or in shows. The more time you spent with a group practicing improv exercises or in actual performances, the more you’ll learn to read other’s mannerisms and body language and determine what they are thinking or what reactions they want to see from you.

TEAMWORK

Group performance works best when everyone is consistently on the same page. The best way to accomplish this is to constantly look to support the ideas and moves of others on stage so we can be on the same page. As improvisers we often refer to this as “Group Mind”. As a beginner, this can be a real challenge and a hard concept to grasp. However, with more practice of some key elements of improvisation  and performing with the same people, you’ll find it easier and easier to be on the same page with a group consistently.

EMBRACE FAILURE

Improv is not a perfect science, and that is part of the beauty of it! You will often  make what you at first will consider “mistakes” and there will be awkward moments. However, in time, you will be able to embrace those ‘mistakes’ with grace and find a way to work out of them that will endear you to an audience and make for relatable moments anyone can appreciate. Ever wonder why blooper reels are so funny or why seeing actors break character is so memorable? It’s because in those moments we are reminded we are all human and just doing the best we can. So, never sweat it!

The Second City

Perhaps the most famous (and infamous) improv Chicago theater is The Second City. Just up the road from The HOME Comedy Theater, this Chicago institution has produced a litany of talented comedians, actors, writers, producers, and directors. Of the many troupes which originated and cycled through Chicago, The Second City slowly became the epicenter of improv talent in America. Here, all were, and still are, welcomed to show up and develop their improv and comedic chops.
Much like the in-depth and diverse collection of classes and courses offered at The Home Comedy Theater, The Second City was a place of true innovation for improv. But before discussing the famous performers and actors who emerged from The Second City, it’s remiss to not mention an offshoot which formed in Toronto in the 70’s and found a large audience in the 80’s called Second City TV (SCTV). This popular Canadian spawn of the original Second City gave us some of the most talented comedic minds of the late 20th century.

ImprovOlympic

Co-created by Charna Halpern and Del Close, the ImprovOlympic (now known as the “iO Theater”) is considered by many the mecca of “longform” improvisation. Although not mentioned by the media much, the theater eventually became one of the most sought-after places to study improvisation and a hidden gem to scout for talent.

Using theater games created by Viola Spolin, David Shepard created the ImprovOlympic to put up competing improv teams against each other in friendly and funny competitions. At the time, performances were being held at The Players Workshop in Chicago, where Charna Halpern was an improv student and assistant to David Sheperd. She later would become the producer of the competitions, and eventually took over operations and ownership of the ImprovOlympic name.

Charna believed that improv was capable of more than the short games and competition-style shows that dominated the scene through the 1970s.

It was then that she met legendary Second City director and improv luminary, Del Close, who had already reimagined improv as an art unto itself. She approached Del about teaching classes at her theater and he agreed. With Del leading the way artistically, the true nature and mission of the ImprovOlympic began to take place. With Del serving as the mentor and Charna the guide, “longform improvisation” was born and the two would eventually help change the face of improvisational comedy.

Annoyance Theatre

Founded by iO alum Mick Napier, The Annoyance Theatre rapidly became one of the most popular and beloved improv theaters in Chicago due to it’s unique, fun, and loose approach to teaching and performing improv. Led by the brilliance of Mick, the theater quickly became one of the top three improv theaters in Chicago (alongside Second City and iO) to study. perform, and scout talent.

Chicago Improv Theater Community

Perhaps inspired by the Annoyance, more and more theaters with different styles and approaches to improvisation eventually began to pop up all around the city in the late 90’s and early 2000’s to form one of the biggest and most supportive improv communities in the country. Eventually, thanks to places like Comedysportz, The Playground, and CIC Theater,  to name a few, not being selected to perform on stages like Second City or iO wasn’t such a huge blow to young students anymore because they had plenty of choices to call home that fit their style of performance.

The pandemic changed the landscape of improv (and theater in general) in Chicago and sadly brought the closing of many of the smaller theaters in Chicago. However, now led by places like Logan Square Improv (LSI), Bughouse Theater, CIC, and The Home Comedy Theater, the Chicago improv community is now going though a wonderful new resurgence.

John Belushi

Before he was a King Bee and flawlessly impersonating Joe Cocker as one of the inaugural cast members of the famous comedy sketch show, Saturday Night Live, John Belushi honed his craft at The Second City where he forged a bond with another Chicago native, Dan Akroyd. Together they starred in The Blues Brothers in 1980 which served as the first of many movie spin-offs from SNL sketches. Even with his short-lived career, John left an indelible mark on American comedy before meeting a tragic end in 1982.
Like most of core artistic founders of The Home Comedy Theater, Belushi was taught and mentored by the late Del Close.

Bill Murray

Perhaps no one else is the walking embodiment of what it means to be a Chicago native more than Bill Murray. The beloved actor, staunch Cubs fan, and affable man-about-town was a standout performer at The Second City before a stint on SNL in the late 70’s and early 80’s.

Perhaps the most successful actor to come out of The Second City, his storied movie career includes Caddyshack (1980), Stripes (1981), Ghostbusters (1984), Groundhog Day (1993), and Kingpin (1996). Later in his career he became part of a select group recruited by director Wes Anderson to appear in his highly-stylized movies such as The Royal Tenenbaums (2001),  The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2003), and The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014). Along the way, he made his mark as a dramatic actor in films like Lost In Translation (2003), and Broken Flowers, (2005). Bill continues to appear in movies and random amusing stories told by those who encounter him.

Gilda Radner

As The Second City Toronto gained popularity in the improv scene, more talented performers we’d later all know and love began to take shape in its workshops and stages. One such wickedly talented performer and comedian who rose to the ranks of Saturday Night Live Alum as well was Gilda Radner. As one of the original “Not Ready For Primetime Players”, Gilda brought a unique energy that complimented her often boisterous male co-performers. After a successful stint on Broadway and a middling TV career, like others on this list, Gilda was taken far too early in 1989 at the age of only 42.

John Candy

There are few comedic actors more beloved than John Candy. A standout member of the SCTV improv group in Toronto, where he was born, Candy made the jump from the small screen to feature films starting with classics like 1941 (1979) with John Belushi, and alongside Bill Murray in supporting roles in The Blues Brothers and Stripes.

He became a leading man later in his career in memorable films like The Great Outdoors (1985), Summer Rental (1985), Planes Trains & Automobiles (1987), Uncle Buck (1989), Cool Runnings (1993), and Canadian Bacon (1995). Much like John Belushi, Candy was taken from us far too early by a heart attack at the age of only 43.

Dan Aykroyd

Hailing from Ottawa, Canada, and with an estimated net worth of $250 Million, Dan Akroyd may be the most financially successful improv alum on this list. Like John Candy, Dan got his start with Toronto’s SCTV before becoming a member of the original cast of SNL in 1975. As a writer and actor, he was the other half of the original Blues Brothers with his friend John Belushi and starred alongside Bill Murray in Ghostbusters, and John Candy in The Great Outdoors.

As an actor, writer, skilled impressionist, and musician, he also has been in numerous TV appearances throughout his career. He also co-founded a successful chain of music venues, House Of Blues, and a vodka company which has contributed to the considerable wealth he enjoys today.

Catherine O’Hara

Catherine came to fame on Second City TV after coming up through The Second City in Toronto.
This hilarious, award winning phenom found a place in mainstream comedy throughout each decade of her career. You may know Catherine O’Hara as Kevin McCallister’s mom in Home Alone (1990), her stint in Christopher Guest films, or more recently as the highly quotable Moira Rose in the sleeper TV hit Schitt’s Creek (2015 – 2020).

Chris Farley

When people think of a larger-than-life presence who can fill a room with laughter as easily as he can fill our hearts with joy, at the top of the list sits Chris Farley. Born in Madison, Wisconsin, Chris made his way through the ranks of the Chicago comedy scene starting at the famed ImprovOlympic (now iO Theater) then onto The Second City in Chicago, and then onto a blistering stint on SNL before embarking on a successful, albeit brief movie career.

You may remember him from legendary SNL sketches as “Chippendales”, and movies like Tommy Boy (1995), Black Sheep (1996), and Beverly Hills Ninja (1997).
Chris met his fate at a criminally young age of 32.

Mike Meyers

Another Canadian on this list, Mike Meyers found his way through The Second City to the hallowed halls of Saturday Night Live (1975 – Present). It was on SNL where he brought characters he developed during his time in improv like Wayne Campbell of Wayne’s World (1992), and the titular character in the recurring sketch “Sprockets”.

Through a wildly successful movie career including Wayne’s World, the Austin Powers movies series (1997, 1999, 2002), and as the voice of the lovably flawed Shrek in the movies of the same name, Meyers has made a small fortune.

Adam McKay

Adam McKay was hugely influential in bringing improv into pop culture following his roots in improv at Chicago’s ImprovOlympic (now iO Theater) as a star pupil and friend of improv innovator, the late Del Close. While at iO, he was a founding member of the famed improv group (and now theater) ‘The Upright Citizens Brigade’, that included fellow performers and friends, Amy Poehler, Matt Walsh, Matt Besser, and Ian Roberts.

McKay eventually made his way onto the stages of The Second City in Chicago where he co-wrote and performed in one of its most groundbreaking revues, “Piñata Full of Bees”, alongside future SNL alum, Rachel Dratch. While at Second City, he was hired as a writer for Saturday Night Live and within a year was promoted as head writer.

Adam left SNL after 6 seasons and teamed up with fellow SNL alum, Will Ferrell, to collaborate on several projects including the high profile comedy films, Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy, Step Brothers,, The Other Guys, and Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues. He later went on to become an Academy Award nominated -and Winning- writer and director for the films  The Big Short, Vice, and Don’t Look Up.

Adam continues to write, produce, and direct and carries with him those early lessons he learned in Del Close’s improv classes.

Tina Fey

Another Chicago transplant, Tina Fey cut her teeth in improv by studying and performing at the ImprovOlympic before joining the Second City, and then rising through the ranks at Saturday Night Live to become the first female head writer in the show’s storied history.

Following this success, she parlayed her skills into seven seasons of one of the sharpest sitcoms of the time, 30 Rock (2006 – 2013) on NBC as well as the Netflix sitcom Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2015–2020). Fey is also known for her vast work in comedy films, including the iconic film, Mean Girls, which she co-wrote and starred in. (She also created the Broadway musical adaptation of the film which earned her a Tony Award nomination.

In her 2011 book memoir, Bossypants (which topped The New York Times Best Seller list for five weeks and garnered her a Grammy Award), Fey credits her background in improv for a lot of her success as a writer and performer.

Through all of her success she’s become not just one of the most beloved female comedians, writers, producers and actors, but a standard bearer for the comedic craft.

Amy Poehler

The Yin to Tina Fey’s Yang, Amy also got her start at Chicago’s ImprovOlympic (Now the iO Theater). At “iO” she was a founding member of the well-known improv comedy troupe The Upright Citizens Brigade. With a move to New York City, the troupe was developed into a 30-minute comedy sketch show on Comedy Central. It was the following phase in Amy’s career that brought her together with Tina Fey at SNL where they consistently pushed each other to reach new comedic heights.

Amy honed her comedic acting tone as the main character, Leslie Nope, in the sitcom Parks & Recreation (2009 – 2015) for seven seasons on NBC. Since then, she has gone on to write, produce, and act in several highly successful projects, including voice acting for the animated franchise, Inside Out.

Stephen Colbert

A true student of the craft, Stephen Colbert began developing his improv skills following his move to Chicago to study at Northwestern University. It was here he first discovered a love for improv and soon after continued his “education” at The Second City under the tutelage of the legendary Del Close.

With a move to Comedy Central as a correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (1996 – Present), Colbert became keenly talented at delivering often politically-focused comedy through a direct, yet humble persona. He then turned this into his own successful spin-off, The Colbert Report (2005 – 2014), as the tongue-in–cheek host and political antithesis of Jon Stewart’s more progressive delivery.

Following the success of the Report, he was selected to receive the torch from David Letterman when he retired from The Late Show (1993 – 2015) on CBS where Stephen enjoys a hefty salary to deliver an often sharp monologue and chat with celebrities and pundits featuring his comedic prowess as a constant backdrop.

Tim Meadows

Last, but certainly not least on this short list is Tim Meadows.

Meadows also got his start at Chicago’s ImprovOlympic. His journey to The Second City began by being cast in a show by Del Close alongside his friend, Chris Farley. In 1991, Meadows landed a spot on Saturday Night Live and went on to become a longtime cast member, appearing on the program until 2000. (Meadows was on the show for 10 seasons; this was the record for the longest tenure on the show until it was surpassed by Darrell Hammond in 2005, whose record was also surpassed by Kenan Thompson in 2017.)

Along with his long list of accomplishments, Meadows continues to perform improv in Chicago and Los Angeles.

Again, these are just a few of the names that have found their background in improv helpful to their careers and that have helped make the art of improvisation a pivotal part of the entertainment industry on stage, paper, TV, and Film.

Fun fact regarding some of the people mentioned above:
John Belushi, Bill Murray, Amy Poehler, Chris Farley, Stephen Colbert, Mike Meyers, Adam McKay, and Tim Meadows, were all fond students of the late Del Close, as was the founder of the Home Theater and most of its core teaching staff.

Scripted Improv Sitcoms

There have been several TV shows to successfully incorporate improv to create the flow of a story line. In these sitcoms, a scene is set with a definite conclusion to be met. However, there are only a few scripted lines written in a given scene to help move the plot line along. The rest of the action is entirely improvised by the actors in full character.
On an improv stage, personas are created on the spot, in these types of TV shows, the personas are known prior to the action so the actors can anticipate the type of interactions they may encounter from one another.

Curb Your Enthusiasm

One excellent example of this loosely based sitcom structure is Larry David’s Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000 – 2024). Running periodically for the past 24 years, this “comedy of manners” features a core of characters who all possess predetermined identities, but their on-camera interactions are improvised nearly entirely by the actors themselves. Each scene was given a rough outline treatment before cameras began rolling and the result is a very natural progression along a storyline.

The League

Similar to Curb Your Enthusiasm, The League (2009 – 2015) was a scripted sitcom that also incorporated elements of improvisation. Running for seven seasons in the early 2010s, the show was based on a group of friends and their antics surrounding a fantasy football league. While jokes were scripted and the episodes were fully-structured, the actors were encouraged to go off script if they felt it would help to expand on the brevity of the scene.

Documentary-Style Improv Comedies

A traditional documentary is a rather simple concept. The topic can be anything, a person, a historical event, public interest, social issues etc. The story is unveiled through subject interviews and discovery and follows the natural path it leads. The documentarian may have a general idea of where it will lead, but the journey is the real meat of the documentary. Sometimes, the viewer simply ends up where they began with more questions than answers. This is just the nature of the documentary format.

In the “mockumentary” genre, the rough outline of the story is determined beforehand. The characters are cultivated, the sets are scouted, the costumes are selected and the end is known. These are the only principles in place because when the improv element is added, the real substance of the story unfolds.

This Is Spinal Tap

Widely regarded as the first of the mockumentary genre, This Is Spinal Tap (1984) was the brainchild of Rob Reiner in his first directorial role. The film follows a fictional group of rock stars “Spinal Tap”, regarded as “one of England’s loudest bands”. Right from the jump you can tell the satirical journey is full of tongue-in-cheek quips.

This Is Spinal Tap is loosely based on rockumentaries of the time such as Led Zeppelin’s The Song Remains The Same (1976) and the Martin Scorsese directed The Last Waltz (1978) which followed the final live performance of The Band. Most of its dialogue was improvised and dozens of hours were filmed.
The star is an aloof band member, played brilliantly by Christopher Guest, who works with the world provided around him to fashion hilarious scenes with his co-stars to tell the story of the band. You may have heard the line, “These go to 11” where Reiner is befuddled by an explanation of why the volume on the amplifiers go up to 11 instead of just 10.

Christopher Guest

Christopher Guest parlayed his role in This Is Spinal Tap to direct a successful run of mockumentaries featuring many of the same actors in each, many of whom have ties to the Chicago improv scene. Hilarious storylines about a dog show in Best In Show (2000), a community theater in Waiting For Guffman (1996), and the chronicles of a 60’s era folk duo in A Mighty Wind (2003) highlight these masterly crafted improvised stories. The final cut of these films are only a fraction of dozens of hours of riffing and improvising scenes. The delicate method of allowing the actors to find their character’s voice in real time is a sight to behold.

Documentary Now!

The brainchild of storied SNL alums Bill Hader and Fred Armisen, Documentary Now! (2015 – present) recreates classic documentaries such as Grey Gardens (1975) called Sandy Passage, Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011) called Juan Likes Chicken & Rice, and Final Transmission based on the aforementioned The Last Waltz.
 The goal is to tell a very similar story, but with a humorous undertone. Much like in an improv show, the actors are given a loose goal for each scene and they improvise their lines to reach that conclusion while staying true to the source material.

Jury Duty

One of the more unique uses of improv in media is Amazon’s Jury Duty (2023), a herculean effort to completely immerse an unknowing subject into a completely improvised event. Playing out like a real life The Truman Show (1998), the premise involves a jury trial where the members of the jury are sequestered during the trial’s proceedings while they hear the case before them and deliberate the verdict.

This program is a masterclass in tracking human reaction and emotion as the unknowing subject, Ronald Gladden, is consistently faced with situations regarding morality and right vs wrong. With any number of things that could have gone wrong to expose the hoax and ruin the entire farce, the improv actors had to think incredibly quickly to convince Ronald nothing was ever amiss.

Improvisational Comedy Game Shows

While shows like SCTV, MadTV (1995), and Saturday Night Live brought sketch comedy to the masses, the game show format brought improv into our homes.

Thank God You’re Here

The supremely simple premise of this Australian game show involves performers walking through a door into a situation completely unknown to them, greeted by the line “Thank God you’re here!”. They then improvise their way through the scene and the person who improvised the best is crowned the winner. The show has been adapted to several different countries including the U.S., U.K., and Indonesia.

Whose Line Is It Anyway?

Perhaps the most well-known in the improv game show genre is Whose Line Is It Anyway? (1998) where “The show where everything’s made up and the points don’t matter.” Originally hosted by comedian Drew Carey, three performers, and sometimes involving Carey himself, play popular improv games to an audience in a studio setting. Recurring performers like Ryan Stiles, Wayne Brady, and Colin Mochrie partake in hilarious scenes at the suggestions of the audience. The occasional celebrity guest, such as Richard Simmons, would also appear to amp up the hilarity.

This show is credited with bringing some of the most popular improv games to the masses like “Scenes From A Hat” where audience suggested scenarios are pulled from a hat throughout a scene and the performers must pivot into and out of. “Questions Only”, where all dialogue can only be conveyed in the form of a question. “Props” is also a simple yet funny game where simple props are used and manipulated to guide a scene. The best performers are skilled in singing, dancing, and impressions as these are frequently called upon from scene to scene.

Impressions of Improv

This list is just a portion of the shows and movies that helped bring the fun of improv out from the cramped stages of the comedy clubs and into the broad expanse of the mainstream. Asking anyone, you will be hard-pressed to hear they haven’t at least heard of a couple of these shows and films, and probably think of them fondly. Moving from the screen to the club to enjoy improv is an exhilarating transition, and in Chicago, taking in an improv comedy show is always near the top of the list for visitors at venues like The Home Comedy Theater… right after the hot dogs and pizza, of course.

COGNITIVE GROWTH

Improv helps you grow mentally. You may find yourself feeling foggy at times, or you might feel like a dulled version of yourself. The skills you learn in improv classes help sharpen that part of your mind. and also help you improve your communication skills, your creativity, and confidence in public speaking while having a blast doing it. Plus, you might even find a hidden talent for comedy that will surprise yourself!

SOCIAL GROWTH

Learning how to interact with others in quick-moving situations helps you to think on your feet. We tend to spend more time on our own now than in any other time in history as the gathering of community has slowly dissipated in modern society to the point where a lot of people feel isolated and alone. When we may spend only a few moments a day interacting with others, it feels invigorating to make that interaction meaningful. Learning to read people’s mannerisms and perhaps anticipate the direction of a conversation makes you a better conversationalist, friend, partner, and neighbor.

COMMUNITY

Have you ever heard that there is camaraderie amongst people working towards a common goal? That is exactly what you’ll find with your peers in improv while you learn to tap into your inner weirdo. You will learn to support your fellow performers and root for them to succeed. You’ll find yourself working to do your very best to lift them up because when you do well, the group does well. Many people who meet each other in improv remain friends or even move on to develop other creative endeavors together.

Your First Day In An Improv Class

If you’re wondering what it may be like to take an improv class,  allow us to guide you through the range of emotions and expectations you might experience. Spoiler alert: You’re gonna enjoy yourself!

YOU MAY BE APPREHENSIVE

Let’s just get this out of the way. Anything new can feel intimidating, especially when you’re also meeting new people. But remember, improv is supposed to be fun, which is why you may have signed up in the first place! You don’t need to impress anyone. In fact, we’re not expecting you to be “funny”, we’re teaching you new skills via exercises that are designed to be both helpful and fun at the same time. Like learning any new skill, you may not be a natural improv professional, and that is perfectly fine.

YOU WILL PROBABLY FAIL… INITIALLY.

Like most new endeavors, you will not jump in as a polished expert. Look at at it this way; on day one of learning how to ride a bike, you’re going to fall …a lot. However, every fall will be a learning process and every time you get back on the bike, you will be a little better at it. Free of the burden of immediate perfection, you’ll be able to progress slowly as you move through each level of our classes. You’ll find more and more successes along the way and before you know it, you’ll get to a place where you’re loose, sharp, and comfortable.

How to Make the Most of Your Improv Class

Deciding to take an improv class may be an easy choice… or something you struggled with. But once you’ve taken the plunge and you want to be sure to make the absolute most of it. The Home Comedy Theater has expertly designed classes to bring a novice to an expert, but it’s up to you how quickly you progress. Allow us to share some tips for making the most of your improv class.

COME PREPARED

The best preparation advice we can give is to leave your judgement at the door. Improv classes are meant for us to take risks and not be afraid to fail. It’s a lot harder to do that while we’re judging the exercises, judging others, or worse, judging yourself. Come prepared to be open to the exercises, open to learning new things, and open to having a good time. Besides that, wear comfortable clothing, comfortable shoes, bring a water bottle or another hydration source, and maybe some class essentials like a notepad and pen/pencil for notes.

DON’T “PRE-PLAN”

Don’t worry about “bringing the funny”. One of the worst approaches to an improv class is to plan to be “funny” or to overthink things. So, if you are typically a type A and like to have a plan, this may be a bit more of a struggle. But don’t worry! Our instructors will help redirect your expectations.

BE AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT

Remember that you’ll get out what you put into the class. It’s important to be an active participant, especially in the warm-up portion to get your mental and physical juices flowing. Don’t be afraid to take risks along the way! This is how you learn and improve.

BE A TEAM PLAYER

One of the most important lessons an improv student and performer can learn is to pay attention to what your scene partners are saying and doing and respond genuinely to them. While this level of awareness may take a bit of time to develop, focusing on the success of your fellow performers will ultimately shine a positive light on your performance as well. The bottom line – focus on collaboration more than competition.

RECEPTION & REFLECTION

Be an active student and understand that feedback is meant to help you improve. Never hesitate to ask questions if you need clarification. Find the ability to be self-reflective to see how you’re progressing. Our instructors are some of the most influential teachers and performers in the field of improvisation of the past three decades, and will always provide useful feedback. However, it is up to you to process that feedback and put it to use in your improv journey. So, with their advice, identify areas where you can improve and set goals to get there.

Improv & Business

Improv doesn’t just transfer to your personal life, it also can benefit your professional business life. Interpersonal skills like active listening, adaptability, and collaboration and teamwork are all transferable skills taught in an improv class.

ACTIVE LISTENING

Active listening is crucial for effective communication, understanding client needs, and responding to team members’ concerns. It promotes better decision-making and stronger interpersonal relationships within the workplace, which is why improv classes are being taken more and more by business professionals.

ADAPTABILITY & FLEXIBILITY

Adapting quickly is imperative in business to handle new situations and unexpected changes. This skill is highly valuable in the business world, where professionals can encounter unforeseen challenges regardless of the industry they work in. Being adaptable allows businesses to pivot strategies, manage crises effectively, and stay competitive in their market.

COLLABORATION & TEAMWORK

Improv is inherently a team activity, emphasizing the importance of working together to create something greater than what one could achieve alone. In business, collaboration leads to stronger team dynamics, better problem-solving, and more innovative solutions. It encourages an environment where every team member contributes to the success of the group.

Conclusion

So, there it is. Everything you need to know about improv comedy from A to Z. Whether you came here to learn about what it’s like to take an improv class, learn improv history, learn how improv skills apply to the business world or explore a career in improv, we have even more answers for you in our blog.

If what you’ve read has tickled your fancy and you’re ready to see what it’s like to be a student of improv, have a look at our upcoming schedule and sign up for an improv class or workshop!