Improv Origins
Improvisational comedy was born from social work. In 1940s Chicago, Viola Spolin — the mother of modern improv — was teaching theater to children of immigrant families. Her students were from different cultures and countries; they spoke different languages. Viola’s “Theater Games,” exercises focused on play as an avenue to creative self-expression and problem-solving, broke down all those barriers. Through experiential learning, the children found ways to connect and cooperate authentically.
Seeing the games’ effectiveness in children, Viola began playing informally with her friends, and later taught workshops and classes in adult theater programs. Her son, Paul Sills, was an active participant in theater and improv under his mother’s direction. In 1959, Paul founded the Second City, one of the most renowned improv theaters in the world.
Researchers continue to find links between play and learning, overall happiness, and the development of empathy.
At its base level, improv attempts to answer the question, “How do we relate to one another?”
Cool, but what is it?
Improvisational Comedy
It’s all made up. There are no preplanned characters, dialogue, or narrative arcs. There is no script. Props are pulled from air (or “space”).
As a form, improv asks players to inhabit the present moment fully while activating the intuition and the body. Pure spontaneity creates openings into the unknown, and the unknown is rife with discovery.
There is no talent requirement, nor is there an expectation of experience with being funny. The comedy of improv comes through the fun-house-mirror reflection of the human condition that arises when we attempt to reach one another by playing together. Life is (generally) absurd. Improv shines a spotlight on this farcical shared experience.
Long-form vs. short-form improv
Cantrip Comedy focuses on long-form improv. This style of improv is narrative-focused, with players crafting scenes that can connect and build upon one another. A character’s emotional state might be explored in depth; relationships could be created (or destroyed). The rules of the world are determined by the players as they build it. Typically, only one suggestion from the audience is used to inspire a long-form set.
In contrast, short-form improv scenes are generated from a specific game or prompt with the rules or objectives built in. These games tend to be fast-paced, fun, and energizing. In a show, audience suggestions and participation can be expected throughout. This form of improv was popularized by Whose Line is it Anyway? and is the more commonly known of the two styles.