Improvisational theater refers to spontaneous ensemble theater. When performing improv, actors come up with dialogue, setting, and characters in real-time. There’s no pre-planning involved in improv, nor a script. The point of improv is to perform comedic, spontaneous games, scenes, or narratives with the assistance of your supporting cast.
Improv is a great way to work on your public speaking skills and grow more confident performing in front of others. You might worry that improv will be too hard to learn, especially if you have no prior acting experience. This guide will help you understand the best methods for learning improv and what you should study first to make the learning process easier. This way, you’ll be successful, whether you choose to perform improv for fun or professionally.
What is Improv?
The first documented improvisations took place at the Atellan Farce of 391 BC. Actors put on comedic performances while wearing masks. Improv evolved over the years as a form of entertainment. Improv was a way for street performers to work on their comedic skills while also earning money. By the 20th century, improv was considered an important aspect of professional theater and comedic routines.
Comedy clubs featured improv routines by the mid-20th century. The popularity of comedians who improvised led to the airing of improv comedy shows on television which quickly became an established part of American pop culture.
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While improv was gaining traction among comedy circles, it had also established itself as integral to the world of theater. Improv is considered a core component of drama training. Knowing how to improvise can help actors with their auditions. It’s also a pathway toward becoming a more confident and imaginative actor.
Improv remains a popular form of live entertainment. Professionals engage in improv as a way to improve their skills and entertain audiences. Non-actors also partake in improv games as a form of group entertainment and to develop their communication skills.
Benefits of Learning Improv?
Actors and non-actors alike can benefit from learning improv. Improv requires you to think on your feet and make quick decisions that both make sense for the scene and will entertain your audience. Learning improv can therefore improve your decision-making and problem-solving skills.
Improv is unpredictable. There’s no script planned, so participants must work off each other. This can help you improve your communication skills. With limited information during a scene, you’ll learn how to predict and evaluate what will occur between the characters of the scene. Not only will this help you with your verbal communication, but it’ll also improve your ability to communicate non-verbally.
If you experience anxiety when speaking in front of others, learning improv can help. Engaging in improv will help reduce your intolerance to uncertainty. The more you practice improv, the fewer anxious you’ll become over your fear of the unknown. At first, you may be nervous about performing in front of a live audience. However, the more experience you have and the more prepared you are to handle roadblocks that might occur during a scene, the more comfortable you’ll become with improv and public speaking.
Is Improv Easy to Learn?
Learning improv may feel difficult if you have no prior acting experience. However, the goal of improv is to create an entertaining, spontaneous performance. Because it’s an ensemble performance, you’ll have other actors with you that you can work off if you’re unsure of how to continue a scene. Practicing improv and learning the fundamentals can make it easier to learn.
You can learn improv in several ways. If you enjoy learning on your own and are motivated to teach yourself, you can learn the basics of improv online using videos and tutorials. This method can only get you so far, however, because performing is an integral component of learning improv.
Guided learning is one of the most thorough ways to learn improv. There are in-person and online improv classes available on CourseHorse. These classes are led by professionals who can provide you with demonstrations and well-thought-out feedback to help you improve. Unlike self-teaching methods, taking a class will give you the chance to ask someone questions when you have them.
There are improv classes available at the beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. Beginner-level classes will typically focus on teaching the fundamentals while also facilitating learning through improv games and exercises. Those in the NYC area may be interested in signing up for Improvolution’s Intro to Improv. This Manhattan-based introductory class will teach you the fundamentals of improv by taking a character-based approach.
Intermediate and advanced-level improv classes usually focus on strengthening specific improv skills. This includes character development. Brooklyn Comedy Collective in Williamsburg offers a character workshop for intermediate-level learners. This class requires you to have taken sketch/improv classes before. All acceptable prerequisites can be found on the class webpage.
What You Need to Know Before Learning Improv
You don’t need acting experience to learn improv. Many improv classes focus on improving your confidence in making solid, entertaining choices during a scene. Although it can be useful to have prior acting experience and may make you more comfortable on stage, it’s not a necessity.
There are several common rules that you should consider before deciding to learn improv.
- Actively listen. Listening is an important aspect of acting, but it’s essential to improv, where you have no script. You must be able to actively listen to your scene partners so that you know how the scene is evolving and how you should respond.
- Understand the scene. Improv is spontaneous, but it’s important that you understand who the characters are, where the scene is taking place, and what is driving the scene forward.
- “Yes, and …” Once you understand the scene, you can begin reacting to your scene partners. It’s important that you go along with the choices of your partners and vice versa. If they establish a part of the setting, you should consider your character now a part of that setting. Asking what’s going on in a scene is frowned upon in improv, so be prepared to roll with the choices your partners have made.
- Get physical. Physicality can help enhance a scene. Making use of your body and space during a scene can make up for a lack of props and engage the audience more.
What You Need to Learn Improv
Learning improv doesn’t require you to purchase any tools or materials. Some improv classes may recommend that you bring a notebook and a writing utensil to take notes, but otherwise, you simply need to show up to a class. However, if you’re passionate about learning improv and would like to thoroughly learn, you’ll need free time, a working imagination and sense of creativity, and confidence.
Free Time
Learning improv will require you to set aside some free time. This can be the time you have after work or on the weekends. If you decide to take improv classes, you’ll need to make sure you have time in your schedule and can attend them when they take place. If you’re learning improv on your own, you’ll need to set aside a few hours each week. You may also want to ask a friend or a group of friends if they have time to watch you practice.
Imagination and Creativity
Improv requires imagination and creativity. Because there’s no script in improv, you and your scene partners will be entirely responsible for creating an entertaining scene. This means developing characters, the setting, and a conflict to move the plot. An active imagination and a creative mind will make creating a scene easier for you.
Confidence
When performing an improv scene, you need to have confidence. You need to be confident in the choices you make and your performance. If you’re not confident in your decisions, it’ll show in the performance and may make things more difficult for your scene partners. Practicing improv and receiving feedback can help you become more confident.
Key Takeaways
- Learning improv can be intimidating if you have no previous acting experience.
- Taking an in-person or online improv class can provide you with experience in improv while a professional instructor teaches you the fundamentals.
- In improv, it’s important that you actively listen to your scene partners, fully understand the scene, that you are willing to respond to the choices your partners make, and that you get physical.
- If you’re serious about learning improv, you’ll need to make sure you have free time, an active imagination and creative mindset, and confidence.
- Private lessons and classes are available on CourseHorse. These lessons can help you learn to make creative bold choices in improv.