Last updated: October 2026
Quick answer: Improv comedy is unscripted theater: performers create scenes, characters and dialogue on the spot, usually from an audience suggestion. Its core rule is “yes, and”: accept what your partner offers and build on it. Improv comes in short-form (quick games, like Whose Line Is It Anyway?) and long-form (longer connected scenes, like the Harold). Most people start by taking a class at an improv theater.
Key takeaways
- Improv is made up on the spot, together, with no script.
- “Yes, and” is the core rule: accept the offer and add to it.
- Short-form is game-based; long-form builds connected scenes.
- Chicago’s Second City (1959) and LA’s Groundlings shaped modern improv.
- The skills transfer to stand-up, acting, writing and public speaking.
What is improv comedy?
Improvisational comedy, or improv, is theater in which most or all of what happens is unplanned. Performers create the dialogue, characters and story together in real time, usually starting from a suggestion shouted by the audience. Improv can be purely comedic or more theatrical, but most improv shows in the US are built to be funny.
Where did improv come from?
- Viola Spolin developed improvisation exercises in the 1940s through the 1960s and codified them in her book Improvisation for the Theater.
- The Second City opened in Chicago in 1959 and became one of the most influential improv theaters in the English-speaking world.
- The Harold, a long-form structure, was first performed by San Francisco’s The Committee in 1967 and was developed further by Del Close, Charna Halpern and the Upright Citizens Brigade.
- Whose Line Is It Anyway? brought short-form improv to US TV on ABC in 1998, hosted by Drew Carey, with a later revival hosted by Aisha Tyler.
Short-form vs. long-form improv
| Short-form | Long-form | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | A few minutes per scene | 20 minutes to an hour or more |
| Structure | Games with rules | Connected scenes, themes and callbacks |
| Example | Whose Line Is It Anyway? | The Harold |
| Best for | Quick laughs, beginners, corporate events | Character work, storytelling, deeper scenes |
The rules of improv: 8 core techniques
1. Say “yes, and”
Accept whatever your partner establishes and add to it. If they say you’re on a boat, you’re on a boat, and now there’s a leak. Denying offers stops a scene cold.
2. Listen more than you talk
The best improvisers react to what was actually said rather than planning their next line.
3. Establish who, what and where
Early in a scene, make clear who the characters are, what they’re doing and where they are. The audience relaxes once the scene is grounded.
4. Be specific
“Dad’s 1998 Camry” is funnier and easier to build on than “a car.” Specific details give your partner more to work with.
5. Commit to your choices
Play every choice with full conviction, even a strange one. Half-committed scenes feel uncertain to the audience.
6. Make your partner look good
Improv is a team sport. Support your partner’s ideas and the scene, not your own jokes.
7. Find the game
The “game” is the unusual pattern that makes a scene funny. Once you spot it, heighten it. The same idea drives good comedy sketches.
8. Avoid asking too many questions
Questions push the work onto your partner. Make statements that add information instead.
Popular improv games
| Game | How it works |
|---|---|
| Freeze | Two players act out a scene; someone yells “freeze,” takes one player’s position and starts a new scene. |
| Questions Only | Players can only speak in questions; anyone who doesn’t is replaced. |
| Party Quirks | A host guesses each guest’s secret quirk from how they behave at a party. |
| Scenes From a Hat | Players act out quick scenes from audience suggestions pulled from a hat. |
| Expert | One player is an “expert” on an absurd topic, sometimes with a partner supplying the arms. |
| Slideshow | One player narrates vacation “slides” while others freeze into the poses. |
How do you get started in improv?
- Take a beginner class. Most theaters offer multi-week Level 1 courses.
- Go to jams. Drop-in jams let you get on stage with no experience.
- Watch shows. Notice how good players listen and support each other.
- Practice with a group outside of class.
- Audition for teams once you’ve finished a program.
Where to do improv in Los Angeles
LA has two of the most famous improv schools in the country. The Groundlings have been on Melrose Avenue since 1975, and the UCB Theatre at 5919 Franklin Avenue reopened in 2022. Find more rooms in our guide to comedy clubs in Los Angeles, and see how improv fits with other types of comedy.
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Frequently asked questions
What is improv comedy?
Improv comedy is a form of theater where performers make up scenes, characters and dialogue on the spot, usually from an audience suggestion, without a script.
What does “yes, and” mean in improv?
It means accepting what your scene partner establishes (yes) and adding something new to it (and). It keeps scenes moving forward instead of stalling.
What is the difference between short-form and long-form improv?
Short-form improv uses quick, game-based scenes, like those on Whose Line Is It Anyway? Long-form improv builds longer pieces from connected scenes, like the Harold.
Is improv the same as stand-up comedy?
No. Stand-up is usually a solo performer delivering written material. Improv is collaborative and unscripted, performed with scene partners.
Where can I take improv classes in Los Angeles?
The Groundlings on Melrose Avenue and the UCB Theatre on Franklin Avenue are two of the best-known schools. Many smaller theaters also offer classes and drop-in jams.
Does improv help with stand-up or public speaking?
Many people find it does. Improv trains listening, quick thinking and comfort on stage, which carry over to stand-up, acting, presenting and everyday conversation.
Sources
- Improvisational theatre, Wikipedia (definition, Viola Spolin)
- The Second City, Wikipedia (1959, Chicago)
- Harold (improvisation), Wikipedia (The Committee, 1967)
- Whose Line Is It Anyway? (American TV series), Wikipedia
- The Groundlings, Wikipedia
- Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, Wikipedia
Image credits
- Featured image: A group improv scene at Mettlesome Theater in Durham, North Carolina, by DNVaudit, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
- The Second City marquee at 230 W. North Avenue, Chicago, 2022, by PoetishBookwormus, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- A two-person improv scene at Mettlesome Theater, by DNVaudit, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.
Vianka Petines is a sharp, versatile writer with a gift for creative flair and the colorful details that make an artist’s story come alive. One of The LA Note’s most prolific contributors, she covers music and entertainment across the board. Away from the keyboard, she’s happiest helping her family and playing with her pets.
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