50 Improv Comedy Scenes

“50 Improv Comedy Scenes” has two main parts.

Part I uncovers what goes on behind the scenes. I share my perspective on the underlying theory of improvisational comedy. The chapters delve into the following major subject areas: The 10 Commandments of Improvisational Comedy, the Three Essentials Skills of the Improv Performer, Four On-stage Performer Variables, How to End a Horrible Scene, and Doing Your Own Show.

Part II, which is the longer part by far, delivers on the book’s title by detailing how to execute 50 different improv scenes. The scenes are categorized as drills, unstructured scenes, body gags, cast line-ups, guessing games, entrance-and-exit bits, freeze-and-alter bits, language games, translation gimmicks, commentaries, panels, musical numbers, and storytelling. Each of the 50 scenes is broken down in the same format so as to clearly explain casting, the required audience suggestion, structure, helpful knowledge or skills, tips and techniques, common pitfalls, variations, and audience member participation options.

As a bonus, the appendix lists 25 questions useful for eliciting audience suggestions to start any improv scene.

I hope you have as much fun implementing the theory and practice contained in this book as I did learning it!