Improvisational comedy: Difference between revisions
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'''Improvisational comedy''' (also called '''improv''' or '''impro''') is [[comedy]] that is performed with a little to no predetermination of subject matter and structure. The performers discover their lines and actions spontaneously, typically following a general theme and format, often in response to [[audience]] suggestions. Improvisational comedy is a form of [[improvisational theater]]. |
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==Origins== |
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Improvised performance is as old as performance itself. From the 16th to the 18th century, [[Commedia dell'arte]] performers improvised in the streets of Italy. Many [[silent film]]makers such as [[Charles Chaplin]] and [[Buster Keaton]] used this approach in the making of their films, developing their gags while filming and altering the [[plot]] to fit. The [[Marx Brothers]] were notorious for deviating from the script they were given, their [[ad lib]]s often becoming part of the standard routine and making their way into their films. |
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Modern theatrical improvisation began in Chicago in the 1950s. The theatre games of [[Viola Spolin]] evolved quickly to an independent artform worthy of presentation before a paying audience. The Compass Players and [[The Second City|Second City]] were among the first organized troupes, both originated in [[Chicago, Illinois]] and from their success, the modern Chicago improvisational comedy movement was spawned. Simultaneously, [[Keith Johnstone]]'s group The Theatre Machine, originated in [[London]] was touring Europe. This work gave birth to [[Theatresports]], at first secretly in Keith's workshops, and eventually in public when Keith moved to Canada. Notable also was San Francisco's [[The Committee]] theater active during the 1960's. |
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Improv comedy techniques have also been used in film, television and [[Stand-up comedian|stand-up comedy]], notably the [[mockumentary]] films of director [[Christopher Guest]], the recent [[HBO]] television show [[Curb Your Enthusiasm]] created by [[Larry David]], and the routines of [[Ross Noble]], [[Robin Williams]], [[Jonathan Winters]], and [[Eddie Izzard]], who often improvise onstage. |
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==Theatrical improvisation== |
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Improvisational comedy as a stand-alone, theatrical artform generally falls into two categories: short form and long form. |
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===Short form=== |
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'''Short form''' improvisation consists of short, unrelated scenes usually driven by an audience suggestion with a predetermined game, structure, or idea. In short form games, which take from two to ten minutes, the performers attempt to create a comprehensible scene from audience suggestions while conforming to the specified (and sometimes purposefully restrictive) rules of the game. Wit and speed are favored. Short form is often used as warmups, for beginners to learn basic principles of improv, or even portions of a long form. |
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Many short form games first created by [[Viola Spolin]] and [[Keith Johnstone]] are still performed to this day. Television audiences would be most familiar with short form through the UK and US versions of the television show ''[[Whose Line Is It Anyway?]]''. Short form improvisation is performed around the world and is closely identified with the competitive improv formats of [[ComedySportz]] and [[Theatresports]]. |
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===Long form=== |
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In '''long form,''' often termed '''Longform''', performers create shows in which improvised scenes are connected and progressive, interrelated by story, characters, or themes. Audiences are often asked for one or more suggestions or inputs which drive the narrative of the performance, as opposed to the more structured short form. This may take the form of a specific existing type of theater, for example a full-length improvised play or [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]]-style [[musical theater|musical]]. Or, the scenes may be largely unrelated with the exception of a single point of inspiration. Unlike short form, no further inputs are solicited, and the length can be anywhere from 20 minutes to 2-hours at the extreme. Long form improvisation can at times be episodic, spanning several shows with the same characters, each show taking the aforementioned time. Some long forms are narrative while others focus on character development, exploration of relationships, or the extrapolation of themes and ideas. Long form improvisation is performed around the world, and is especially widespread in [[Chicago]], one of the most active communities of modern [[improvisational theatre]]. Perhaps the best known long form structure is [[Harold (improvisation)|The Harold]], developed by [[ImprovOlympic]] cofounder [[Del Close]]. [[San Francisco]] style long forms (or play-length long forms) are 2-hour single-story long forms rooted in the idea that if someone can [[Performing_Arts|perform]] something scripted (like a [[play]], [[movie]], or [[Musical_theatre|musical]]) then it can also be improvised just as well. |
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==The improv community== |
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Many theatre troupes are devoted to staging improvisational performances and growing the improv community through their training centres. One of the most widespread is the international organization [[Theatresports]], which was founded by [[Keith Johnstone]], an English director who wrote what many consider to be the seminal work on improvisational acting, ''Impro''. |
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==Improv luminaries== |
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Some key figures in the development of improvisational theatre are [[Viola Spolin]] and her son [[Paul Sills]], founder of [[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago's]] famed [[The Second City|Second City]] troupe and inventor of [[Story Theater]]; [[Dudley Riggs]], founder of [[Minneapolis, Minnesota|Minneapolis]]' [[Brave New Workshop]]; [[Del Close]], founder of [[ImprovOlympic]] and creator of the long form improv known as "[[Harold (improvisation)|The Harold]]" along with his partner [[Charna Halpern]]; [[Keith Johnstone]], the British teacher and writer–author of Impro, who founded the [[Theatre Machine]] and whose teachings form the foundation of the popular short form [[Theatresports]] format and [[Dick Chudnow]], founder of [[ComedySportz]] which evolved its family-friendly show format from Johnstone's Theatersports. |
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==See also== |
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* [[Ad lib]] |
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* [[Atellanæ Fabulæ]] |
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* [[Clown#Clown .27bits.27|Clown]] (clown ''bits'' as improv tools) |
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* [[Commedia dell'arte]] |
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* [[Improvisation]] |
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* [[List of improv games]] |
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* [[List of improvisational theatre companies]] |
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* [[Wikistory]] |
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==External links== |
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===Resources and further reading=== |
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* [http://www.unexpectedproductions.org/playbook.htm The Living Playbook]: online collection of improvisational games, by [[Seattle]] troupe [[Unexpected Productions]]. |
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* [http://www.dangoldstein.com/howtoimprovise.html How to Be a Better Improviser]: an excellent primer on some of the basic precepts ("ground rules") of improv, by improviser and teacher [[Daniel Goldstein]]. |
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* [http://www.improvactor.com/Improv/improv-shakespeare.htm How To Improvise Shakespeare] A quick crash course on how to better improvise in the style of Shakespeare. |
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* [http://www.humanpingpongball.com Improv Encyclopedia] lists over 500 improv games, exercises, techniques and terminology. |
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* [http://greenlightwiki.com/improv The Improv Wiki] discusses techniques for performing and learning improv. |
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* [http://improvland.com Improvland] webpage about improvisational theatre, with articles, resources, message boards and an international links to the groups around the world. |
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* [http://www.yesand.com YesAnd.com] features improv news, resources and message boards. |
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* The [http://www.improvresourcecenter.com Improv Resource Center] is a community site for dedicated improvisers in Chicago, New York and other parts of the United States. |
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* The [http://www.chicagoimprov.org Chicago Improv Network] is a message board and portal for the Chicago Improv Community. Home of a Wiki devoted to long form improvisation. |
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* [http://www.phillyimprov.com Philly Improv.com] features Philadelphia's up and coming improv groups. |
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* [http://www.learnimprov.com Learn Improv] The web's oldest and most understandable list of improv warm-ups, exercises, and handles. |
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* [http://www.playimprov.com E-zine dedicated to Los Angeles Improv Comunity] |
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[[Category:Comedy]] |
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[[Category:Improvisation]] |
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[[Category:The Second City|Improvisational comedy]] |
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[[Category:Theatre]] |
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Latest revision as of 05:35, 31 May 2024
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