Improv Comedy Explained: 5 Tips for Doing Improv Comedy

Improvisational comedy, or improv comedy, is a theatrical art form where improvisers perform without a script. Many improvised comedy performances begin with a simple premise—often via an audience suggestion. The actors then riff on the suggestion, listening closely to one another and allowing scenes to spontaneously develop in real-time.

In the Western world, improv comedy draws from a centuries-old tradition.

• Ancient Rome: Theatrical improvisation dates back to at least ancient Rome, where improvisers performed in the Atellan Farce, a form of theater that accompanied an athletic contest called the Oscan Games.
• Commedia dell’arte: In the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries, a type of Italian comic theater called commedia dell'arte relied heavily on improvisation.
• Formalization: Leading up to the mid-twentieth century, formalized rules and improvisational theories began to solidify in large part thanks to the Compass Players troupe in Chicago and Viola Spolin, an actor and improv teacher.
• Famous improv theaters: The second half of the twentieth century saw the emergence of improv theaters like The Second City in Chicago, The Groundlings in Los Angeles, and Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB) in both New York City and LA.
• A seminal improv text: In 1979, improvisational theater actor Keith Johnstone published Impro: Improvisation and the Theatre, which ranks among the most influential books on the topic of improvisation. Johnstone introduced a technique called Theatresports, which uses competition as a way to generate comedy. The text is frequently taught in university-level theater courses and at prominent improv theaters throughout the United States, Canada, and the UK.
• Improv today: Today, some of the most famous comedians come from improv comedy theaters, many of which also offer sketch comedy shows and classes in addition to improvised performances. Improv training has aided film and television actors as well. Some famous filmmakers—including Christopher Guest and Larry David—have embraced improv as a crucial element of their movies and TV episodes.

In the modern performing arts world, most improvising falls into one of two categories: short-form improv and long-form improv.

• Short-form improv: Short-form improv shows are made up of short, self-contained scenes. These often take the structure of improv games with clear rules and audience suggestions. Short-form improv is the basis of some comedy television shows like Whose Line Is It Anyway? Actor and improv instructor Viola Spolin invented many of the improv games still played today.
• Long-form improv: Long-form improvisation is more expansive than short-form games. Actors often operate off a single audience suggestion and then craft a series of interlocking scenes that may feature recurring characters, joke callbacks, and an overarching plot. Some long-form improv groups even stage full-length plays off a single audience suggestion. One of the most famous forms of long-form improv is called the Harold, which prescribes a specific structure for a series of interwoven scenes. Del Close developed and refined the Harold technique at Improv Olympic (iO), a sketch and improv theater that helped launch the careers of many comedy stars including Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.

Whether you’re looking to become an improv performer for fun or as a career, there are a few key steps involved.

1. 1. Take a class. A great way to dip into the world of improvisational theater is to take improv classes. Most of the techniques learned from improv can apply to other forms of theater, including sketch comedy, stand-up comedy, and drama, which is why many acting schools offer improv classes. Improv theaters also offer classes with varying levels of difficulty.
2. 2. Go to improv shows. Attending a variety of shows featuring experienced and amateur performers will allow you to see techniques in action and identify the common traits of successful groups.
3. 3. Form your own troupe. Forming your own improv group with friends or fellow classmates will allow you to get more practice time and perform in amateur shows at local theaters.
4. 4. Audition for established groups. Once you gain more confidence as an improv performer, audition to join an established group. Joining an established group will secure a regular performance schedule at a local theater and ensure you get consistent practice time to hone your skills.
   

Improv comedy is an art form that requires practice and discipline. While many people can tell a funny joke or project energy on stage, sustaining comedic energy over a long performance can be harder than it seems. The following rules of improv theater make that task easier.

1. 1. Listen and respond. In an improv scene, it’s essential that actors listen to one another and react to the information they’re hearing. When group members actively work together to build a scene, the performance can feel cohesive and engaging. When another actor is taking the lead, listen to their words, observe their actions, and react accordingly.
2. 2. Embrace a “yes, and” mindset. One of the most crucial rules of improv is to "yes, and" your partner, or react positively to what they are saying and build on the scenario they’ve presented. For example, if your improv partner begins a scene by saying, "Ahoy, mateys!" a great response is to immediately act like you are on a pirate ship. By doing so, you have positively reinforced your partner’s choice and engaged them in gameplay. By contrast, responding with, "What are you talking about?" cuts off avenues for exploration and dampens the scene.
3. 3. Follow your first instinct. Improv actors maintain momentum when they trust their instincts. If you’re listening to your partner and staying emotionally present in the scene, your instincts will guide you.
4. 4. Be honest. Great comedy embraces truth, and audiences invest when they see human characters with honest emotions. Such emotions—love, lust, anger, jealousy, skepticism—can be funny in a comedic scene, especially if they come across as sincere.
5. 5. Relax and have fun. Worry less about being funny and focus instead on staying present in the scene. Listening to your partner, trusting your instincts, and reacting honestly all make for an engaging performance.

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