Improv

• Edit: An edit is a way of ending a scene and transitioning to a new one. An edit can be done by the improvisers on stage or by the improvisers on the sidelines. Some examples of edits are sweep edit (where an improviser runs across the stage), tag out (where an improviser replaces another one on stage), lights edit (where the lights go off), etc.
• Format: A format is a structure or a framework that guides an improv show or performance. A format can have rules, guidelines, or suggestions on how to create scenes, characters, stories, genres, or themes. Some examples of formats are The Harold, The Armando, The Montage, The Monoscene, etc.
• Game: A game is a pattern of behavior or a recurring element that creates humor or interest in a scene. A game can be based on a character trait, a relationship dynamic, a wordplay, a physical action, or anything else that can be repeated and heightened.
• Improv: Short for improvisation, improv is a form of live theater where everything is made up on the spot. Improv can be funny or serious, short or long, and follow different formats and styles.
• ImprovOlympic: ImprovOlympic (now known as iO Chicago) is a theater and training center for improv and sketch comedy in central Chicago. It is the birthplace of the Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB), a renowned comedy group. Notable alumni of the ImprovOlympic are Seth Meyers, Amy Poehler, and Tina Fey.
• Offer: An offer is anything that an improviser says or does that can be used to create or advance a scene. Offers can be verbal or non-verbal, explicit or implicit, and can come from the environment, the characters, the emotions, or the actions.
• Scene: A scene is a unit of improv that usually involves two or more improvisers who create a story in the moment. A scene can have a beginning, a middle, and an end, or it can be part of a larger narrative or format.
• Yes, and: “Yes, and…” is the basic principle of improv, where improvisers accept and build on each other’s offers. “Yes” means agreeing with the reality of the scene, and “and” means adding something new or relevant to it.

Watch some videos for inspiration and laughs, catch up with the basic lingo and search for improv groups, clubs and events near you.

• A Beginner’s Guide to Improv Comedy | Backstage

• 7 Research-Backed Benefits of Improv Comedy | Psychology Today
• Improv Boosts Creativity and Psychological Well-Being | Psychology Today
• Improv to Improve: The Impact of Improvisational Theater on Creativity, Acceptance, and Psychological Well-Being: Journal of Creativity in Mental Health | Taylor & Francis Online
• The benefits of participating in improvisational comedy: a global confirmatory survey study | Taylor & Francis Online
• What is Improv? | The Benefits of Learning Improv | Covert Theatre

• Improv Encyclopedia

• Beginners Improv Course | Fun & Friendly Courses | Hoopla Impro
• Improv Level One – Magnet Theater
• UCB’S TRAINING CENTER PRESENTS… – Upright Citizens Brigade

• Improv Clubs Near You
• Improv Events Near You
• Improv groups | Meetup
• List of improv groups worldwide | improwiki

• Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Improv is all about embracing the unknown and the unexpected and learning from your failures. Mistakes can lead to new discoveries, opportunities, and laughs.
• Have fun and play. Improv is not about being perfect, clever, or funny. It’s about being playful, spontaneous, and curious. Enjoy the process and the experience of creating something out of nothing with others.
• Listen and support. Improv is a team sport, where you work together with your scene partners to create a story. Listen to what they say and do, and support their ideas and choices. Make them look good, and they will make you look good.
• Be yourself and be honest. Improv is not about pretending to be someone else or saying what you think others want to hear. It’s about being yourself and expressing your thoughts and feelings honestly. Trust that you have something unique and valuable to offer to the scene.
• Take a class or join a group. Improv is best learned by doing it with others who share your interest and passion. Taking a class or joining a group can help you learn the skills, techniques, and formats of improv, as well as meet new friends and have fun.
• Always say “yes, and…”. “Yes, and…” is the basic principle of improv, where improvisers accept and build on each other’s offers. ‘Yes’ means agreeing with the reality of the scene, and ‘and’ means adding something new or relevant to it.