improv

[celine]

Hi, I'm french and I'm working at school on improv and I'm trying to compare the french and americain way to do improv.
Could you please explain me how it works over there: the rules and what not.
I know this might be kind of boring to answer but it would really help me...
Thanks a lot !
Celine

[tha perfesser..]

Celine-

Are you speaking of competitive improv (what is usually refered to as Theatre Sports) or improv (simply) for entertainment value?

[Celine]

I'm talking about improv, like sport theater... thanks a lot fort answering.
Celine

[tha perfesser..]

Here goes.

Theatre Sports is played competitively with lots of audience interaction. There's usually two teams. They will take a short form exercise or two to warm up with and then dive into the match. All excercises are short form due to the fact that it's competitive. Long form wouldn't really hold up. After every exercise the audience judges and awards points to the teams. The team with the most points at the end wins.

It's about the competition with Theatre Sports. (Which is why I am not to fond of it. ) It's also about getting the laugh. Which sometimes puts the strain on the performers because their going for the laugh and not for variety (Some jokes get WAY over used).

This is only one form of improv. There are endless types of shows that utilize improv in different ways.

Let me know if that helped.