by 8 people |
Improv is more than just making up funny things on the spur of the moment. Done well, it can move an audience and change your life. The links on this page are intended to help you start improvising. In the process, you can improve your communication skills, your ability to speak in public, meet new people, develop your humor and storytelling, and have fun doing it. If you enjoy this lens, please take a moment to check out my Seattle based sketch comedy podcast, National Comment and my creativity blog, Creative Creativity.
Improv Classes
The best way to learn improv is to do it. These are some of the best places in the world to learn improv.
- Second City
- Chicago is the city for improv and Second City is the granddaddy of improv.
- Improv Olympic
- Where Del Close went after Second City.
- The Annoyance
- Mick Napier is one of the worlds greatest improv teachers and directors, this is his theater.
- Unexpected Productions
- If you are in Seattle, this fantastic theater is the best place to take classes. They also perform theatresports.
- The Groundlings
- The best place in LA to learn character driven improv.
- Upright Citizens Brigade
- The best place in New York to learn improv.
- The Brody Theater
- Get first rate improv classes in Portland OR from the Brody.
The Best Improv Books
The best way to learn to improvise is to do it, but these books can help.
Impro: Improvisation and the Theatre
Amazon Price: $20.84 (as of 07/13/2009) 
Improvise.: Scene from the Inside Out
Amazon Price: $14.35 (as of 07/13/2009)
Truth in Comedy: The Manual of Improvisation
Amazon Price: $12.21 (as of 07/13/2009)
Free Play: Improvisation in Life and Art
Amazon Price: $11.16 (as of 07/13/2009)
Impro for Storytellers: Theatresports and the Art of Making Things Happen
Amazon Price: $31.00 (as of 07/13/2009)
Improvisation for Theatre-Text
Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009)
Improv Resources
Free Improv Resources on the Web
- How To Be A Better Improviser
- Dan Goldstein's brilliant breakdown of the basics of improv. Even the most experienced improviser can benefit from this essay.
- YesAnd.com
- Yesand.com is the worlds greatest site for keeping up with the latest happenings and discussions about the art of improv. A great place to network, advertise your show and find out what's going on.
- Living Playbook
- The largest collection of short from improv games ever gathered in one place. Expand your knowledge and repetoire! Also, check out the glossary to get improv terms defined.
- Improv Encyclopedia
- Another list of games that is less authoritiative and more likely to include silly derivations of other games.
- Improv Resource Center
- Another improv discussion board focussing on Chicago. Search around for some great Del Close stories.
- Story Robot: Improv Blog
- Good source for games, comics and impov advice from an experienced improviser. Love it.
Improv on Ebay
Maybe you can get a deal on some books...
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Improv Pictures
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by zoomar
Hello, My name is David Wahl and I have been an improviser in Seattle for the last 8 years. I work at Archie McPhee. Check it out if you are intereste... (more)
