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What is Improv?
What is Improv?
"Improv" is short for Improvisational Theater. Imagine going to see a play where every character, every scene, and every line of dialogue is made up on the spot! Improv shows tell stories that are wild, often nonsensical, sometimes heartfelt, sometimes thrilling, and almost always hilarious.
Improv shows are put on without costumes or props, except for chairs. The entire world of the show is made up by the improvisers on stage through miming, which in improv is called objectwork. A typical team has two to eight improvisers, and shows can vary widely from just a few minutes to an hour.
Improv is often divided into short-form and long-form. In short-form shows, improvisers play games with set rules, like in the popular show "Whose Line is it, Anyway?" Long-form shows are more like a stage play, where you watch a story with characters and conflicts unfold over multiple connected scenes, all of it made up on the spot. There's also musical improv, in which both the melody and lyrics of songs are improvised!
Want to learn more? Check out a show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHGgNHRlyvw
How do you do improv?
How do you do improv?
Improv is social storytelling. It works well when we pay close attention to each other, support each others' ideas, and collaborate to build a believable world. You may have heard of the phrase "Yes, And". That refers to a fundamental principle of improv: When your improv partner says something, you believe and acknowledge it ("yes"), and then you add something of your own to the imaginary world that moves it one step forward ("and"). By taking these tiny steps one at a time, we can build shows that look (and feel) magical.
Although we don't have a script to rehearse, improvisers do practice, and there are a ton of fun theater games that help us hone the skills of paying attention and collective storytelling. Want to learn more? Check out: https://improvencyclopedia.org/
...could I do improv?
...could I do improv?
Yes! Yes you can. In fact, you probably already have, as a kid. Improv is, at its heart, play. Introductory improv classes are mostly about remembering how to relax and access that space of play in a social setting.
Head on back to our main page or our calendar to see what's coming up soon!
Watch Some Improv Shows:
Watch Some Improv Shows:
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