Improvisation, the act of spontaneously creating art without preparation, has deep roots across numerous disciplines. From comedians riffing jokes onstage to musicians jamming together, improv permeates both the performing arts and everyday life. While often associated with comedy, improvisation transcends any one genre. Through an exploration of its origins and development across time, we can better understand improvisation as a unique art form that cultivates creativity.
The Origins of Spontaneity
Improvisation emerged across cultures as a cornerstone of oral storytelling traditions. African griots, Medieval European troubadours, and other oral historians crafted extemporaneous stories, weaving myth, history, and poetry together. The art lay not just in remembering tales, but in the creative, in-the-moment telling and retelling. Likewise, early music often involved spontaneous composition. Medieval and Renaissance musicians improvised countermelodies and harmonies when performing. Indian classical music also centers around raga improvisation.
This improvisational spirit carried into theater. Commedia dell’arte troupes in 16th century Italy improvised scenes using stock characters and scenarios. Elizabethan theater in England featured ad-libbing as well. Shakespeare’s works even refer to impromptu performances, such as the “play within a play” in Hamlet. Evidently, improv has deep, cross-cultural roots.
| Improviser | Achievements/Inventions |
|---|---|
| Viola Spolin | Developed theater games as techniques for training improvisational actors; authored Improvisation for the Theater which became the ‘bible’ for improv comedy |
| Del Close | Pioneer of long-form improv; co-founded ImprovOlympic (later IO) theater and training center in Chicago |
| Keith Johnstone | Developed Theatresports, a competitive form of improvisational theater; founded Loose Moose Theatre Company |
| Paul Sills | Founding member and director of the Second City improv theater in Chicago |
| Elaine May | Pioneer performer and director of the Compass Players improv group; part of famous comedy duo Nichols and May |
| David Shepherd | Co-founder of both The Compass Players and Second City improv troupes |
| Josephine Forsberg | Founder of the Players Workshop school that was instrumental in development of Second City performers |
| Harold Ramis | Performed with Second City; directed iconic comedies like Caddyshack utilizing improv techniques |
| Bill Murray | Started career with Second City; starred in numerous comedies employing improvisational skills |
Comedy and Music
While improv permeated early performing arts, structured improvisation emerged more recently. In the 1920s, the development of radio and sound recording spurred more scripted content. Still, improv comedy persisted. The Compass Players formed in Chicago in the 1950s, giving birth to modern comedic improv. The group focused on games and scenic improvisation, employing techniques like “yes, and” to build scenes spontaneously.
The Compass Players’ work inspired spinoffs like Second City and the TV show Whose Line is it Anyway? These laid foundations for today’s improv comedy. Beyond standup, troupes now perform completely unscripted shows regularly. Festivals like the Del Close Marathon showcase various styles, from short-form to long-form improvised theater.
In music, jazz catalyzed improvisation’s reemergence. Early New Orleans jazz featured collective improvisation, while soloists like Louis Armstrong later improvised extensively over standards. Free jazz of the 1960s made group improvisation central again. Musicians like Ornette Coleman pioneered fully improvised sets. Other genres like psychedelic rock and avant-garde classical also incorporated improvisation. Music improv now thrives, from jam bands like the Grateful Dead to electronic groups like Autechre.
Everyday Improvisation
Beyond the stage, we improvise regularly in everyday life. Small talk, for instance, is largely improvised. We extemporaneously discuss random topics with strangers and acquaintances alike. Even close conversations with friends can involve improvisation, touching on spontaneous subjects. We adjust our tone and content on the fly based on the responses we receive.
Our behavior and decision-making also regularly involve improvisation. When plans change suddenly, we must improvise new solutions. Disasters and emergencies require quick, improvised thinking. Even driving requires constant split-second improvisation based on other drivers’ actions, traffic patterns, and road conditions. Adaptability and spontaneity assist us.
Skills and Techniques
Certain skills prove especially valuable for improvisers. Mental flexibility allows one to work without preconception. Being open to any creative possibility matters more than planning. Relatedly, comfort with uncertainty and the unknown is key. Improv scenes build dynamically; one cannot control or predict the direction.
Active listening is also integral. Excellent improvisers react meaningfully to their surroundings. They notice subtle cues from fellow players, responding intuitively. Presence and focus enable this. Moreover, sensitivity to group chemistry helps collaborators build a cohesive scene.
Other core techniques serve improvisers. “Yes, and…” involves accepting what precedes you and expanding upon it. This builds momentum organically. Asking open-ended questions and “football tossing” ideas back-and-forth fosters an engaging flow. Wordplay, characterization, physicality, and other tools can also develop scenes.
Ultimately, spontenaiety, imagination and synergistic collaboration lie at the heart of impactful improvisation. Trusting one’s instincts guides the art.
In summary, improvisation boasts a rich history across eras and cultures as an interdisciplinary art form. It deeply impacted early oral and performative traditions before evolving into structured improv comedy and music. We also improvise constantly in daily life, underlining its broader creative significance. Mastering key skills like listening, comfort with uncertainty, group awareness and “yes, and” philosophy allows one to improvise impactfully. At its core, the art rewards imagination, spontaneity, and embracing the unknown. So while improv carries risk, it often yields great reward artistically and beyond. Its enduring legacy confirms improvisation remains a vital creative outlet.