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Improv Theatre Booklist

A large number of books have been written about improvisational theatre, and the following is not by any means an exhaustive list. If you have some favorites you'd like to see added, see my contact information at the bottom.

One small note "theatre" is not a typo, it's the correct spelling in England and Canada (where a lot of the improv books are from). Please don't send me email telling me the spelling is inconsistent; I'm simply using the literal title from the front of each book, so it will be "theater" for books published in the United States and "theatre" everywhere else.

Title Impro Author Keith Johnstone ISBN 0-413-46430-X Publisher Methuen Ranking good Description An excellent book for someone just starting out in improv, and worthwhile reading for people who've been doing it for a while. Discusses a lot of basic theory, and explores the nature of spontaneity. Keith Johnstone is best known as the the inventor of Theatresports.


Title Improvisation for the Theater Author Viola Spolin ISBN 0-8101-1000-8 Publisher Northwestern University Press Ranking good Description Another essential text for budding improvisors. This and "Impro" are probably the two fundamental texts to start from. Whereas "Impro" covers the theory, this book emphasizes the practical use of theater games. Viola Spolin was one of the founders of modern improv, and her early work in the 1930's led to the Compass Theatre and Second City.


Title Truth in Comedy Author Del Close, Charna Halpern and Kim "Howard" Johnson ISBN 1-56608-003-7 Publisher Meriwether Publishing of Colorado Springs, Colorado Ranking good Description One of the best "contemporary" books above improv. Very practical approach, aimed directly at people who are actively performing in an improvisational format. Del Close is one of the pioneers of improvisation, and was one of the founding members of the Chicago-based Second City.

Title Improvising Better A Guide For The Working Improviser Author Jimmy Carrane and Liz Allen ISBN 0-325-00942-2 Publisher Heinemann Drama Description Whether you are a beginner or a veteran, Improvising Better A Guide for the Working Improviser is an easy-to-read self-help book created with the new generation of improviser in mind. It's written for today's performer who is looking for a quick fix to their performance problems. This book is a fast read with long lasting results that will catapult you to the next level.

Title Interactive Acting Author Jeff Wirth ISBN 0-9632374-9-7 Publisher Fall Creek Press, Fall Creek, Oregon. Ranking good Description An excellent primer for both interactive (audience participatory) theatre and improvisational theatre in general. Written in clear, simple language.

Title Improvisation in Drama Author Anthony Frost and Ralph Yarrow ISBN 0-312-04746-0 Publisher St. Martins Press, 1989 Description Tremendous book giving an overview of improvisation from ancient times to now. Contains a great comparison between Johnstone and Spolin and the "New York School" vs the "Chicago School".

Title Improv Comedy Author Andy Goldberg ISBN 0-780573-606083 Publisher Samuel French, Hollywood Ranking okay Description Good treatment of the elements of improvisation. One of the few books that actually discusses the practicalities of assembling a troupe, structuring a show, getting suggestions from an audience, lighting and music. Also presents a good list of workshop games and exercises. Andy Goldbeg is a director and performer with "Off the Wall", a Los Angeles-based improv troupe.

Title Comedy Improvisation Author Delton T. Horn ISBN 0-916260-69-0 Publisher Meriwether Publishing, Colorado Springs, Colorado Ranking okay Description Solid discussion of the basic principles of improv; also has a brief overview of forming a troupe and staging a show.

Title How To Be Really Funny Author Mark Stolzenberg ISBN 0-8069-6887-7 Publisher Sterling Publishing, New York Ranking okay Description Despite the goofy title (and a cover that makes it look like it's aimed at kids) this is a surprisingly good book with a fresh approach.

Title Improv! A Handbook for the Actor Author Greg Atkins ISBN 0-435-08627-8 Publisher Heinemann, Portsmouth, New Hampshire Description As the title implies, this book is aimed at the actor who wishes to improve his or her improv skills for use in straight theatre.

Title Commedia dell'Arte An Actor's Handbook Author John Rudlin ISBN 0415-047706 Publisher Routledge, London Description Includes a short history of the Commedia form, a guide to playing each of the stock characters, and possible applications for twentieth century theatre.

Title Playing Boal Edited by Mady Schutzman and Jan Cohen-Cruz ISBN 0-415-08608-6 Publisher Routledge, London Description A collection of essays by practitioners of Boal's techniques, exploring variations on and practical experiences with Theatre of the Oppressed.

Title Something Wonderful Right Away Author Jeffrey Sweet ISBN 0-380-01884-5 Publisher Limelight Editions (118 E. 30th St., NYC, NY 10016) Ranking history Description An outstanding history of the early days of improvisation in the United States, starting with the roots around the University of Chicago. Comprised almost entirely of interviews with the people who actually shaped the form, including David Shepherd, Paul Sils, Mike Nichols, Del Close, Theodore Flicker, Bernard Sahlins, Paul Sand, Alan Arkin, Alan Alda, David Steinberg, Valerie Harper and Gilda Radner. If you want to know how it all began (and learn something about improvisation, as well) then this is the book to get.

Title The Compass Author Janet Coleman ISBN 0-226-11345-0 Publisher Knopf, New York (hardcover), University of Chicago Press (softcover) Ranking history Description A more detailed examination of one of the earliest improv troupes, The Compass. Provides interesting insights into the group's dynamics, as well as the discoveries they made about the craft.

Title Something Like a Drug Author Clem Martini and Kathleen Foreman ISBN 0-88995-122-5 Publisher Red Deer College Press, Calgary Ranking history Description Subtitled "an unauthorized oral history of Theatresports".

Title House of Games Author Chris Johnson ISBN 0878300899 Publisher Routledge, NY, 1998 Description Frank Gallagher says "Very good on process of creating groups and performances. He focuses on the leader's role, which he calls facilitation. It appears his work is almost exclusively among marginalized segments of society. Nice mix of theory and application, the application is explained by the theory."

Title Theater Games for the Classroom Author Viola Spolin ISBN 0-8101-4004-7 Publisher Northwestern University Press

Title Theatre Games for Young Performers Author Maria C. Novelly ISBN 0-916260-31-3 Publisher Meriwether Publishing, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Title Let's Improvise Author Milton E. Polsky ISBN 0-13-532051-8 Publisher Prentice-Hall

Title Theatre Games Author Clive Barker ISBN 0-413-45380-4 Publisher Methuen Description As far as I know, this Clive Barker is not the same one that writes horror novels and films.

Title Improvisation Author John Hodgson and Ernest Richards ISBN 0-394-17099-7 Publisher Grove Press, New York

Title Gamester's Handbook Author Donna Brandes and Howard Phillips ISBN 0-09-1364213 Publisher Hutchison, London, UK Description Good collection of workshop games.

Title A Guide to Improvisation Author Ronald James and Peter Williams ISBN 0-906836-05-4 Publisher Kemble Press, Oxon, UK Description Fairly solid collection of games, oriented towards teaching theatre rather than performing.

Title Drama Starters Author Graham Stoate ISBN 0-17-444115-0 Publisher Thomas Nelson and Sons, Surrey, UK Description Another collection of games, mostly geared towards teaching drama to children.

Title Improvisation Through Theatre Sports Author Lynda Belt and Rebecca Stockley ISBN 0-9620799-1-X Publisher Thespis Productions, 2010-12th Ave SE, Puyallup, Washington Description Very good collection of performance games.

Title Whose Line is it Anyway? Author Dan Patterson and Mark Leveson ISBN 0-7126-3577-7 Publisher Century, with Channel Four Productions, London, UK Description A fun little book based on the popular British TV series (seen on PBS in the States). Very light reading, features many photos from the series along with descriptions of some of the most popular games (as well as hints about how how to play them).

Title The Improvised Play Author Paul Clements ISBN 0-413-50440-9 Publisher Methuen Description A description of the work of Mike Leigh, who uses improvisational techniques to create scripted theatre.

Title Don't Be Prepared Author Keith Johnstone ISBN 0-9698382-0-4 Publisher Loose Moose Theatre Company Description Described as a Theatresports manual for teachers and improvisors, but it actually contains a lot of insight into the craft of improv. Also contains a list of various games and some of the theories behind them.

Title SAK Comedy Theatre Lab Playbook Author SAK Comedy Theatre Lab Publisher SAK Productions, 45 E. Church, Orlando, Florida 32801, phone number (407) 648-0001 Description A great big collection of games, old and new, with short descriptions.

Title Theatresports Down Under -- a guide for coaches and players Author Lyn Pierse ISBN 0-646-23861-2 Publisher Improcorp Australia and ish group, distributed by ish group pty ld, 11 Power Ave, Alexandria 2015 NSW Australia phone +61 2 9699 1999, fax +61 2 9310 5744, email info@ish.com.au

Title Improvising Real Life Personal Story in Playback Theatre Author Jo Salas ISBN 0964235013 Publisher Kendall/Hunt Description Presents the history, techniques, and principles of the interactive form, Playback Theatre, developed by Jonathan Fox, in which stories told by the audience are "played back" by improvisational performers. Includes chapters on ritual, use of music, and conducting. [Wirth]

Title Scenarios of the Commedia dell'Arte Author trans. & ed. by Henry F. Salerno ISBN 0879101334 Publisher Limelight Editions Description A collection of fifty complete plots from the commedia dell'arte, presented in scenario form. This book can be used as a model for understanding scenario-driven, rather than script-driven, performances. [Wirth]

Title Tony n' Tina's Wedding Author Artifical Intelligence ISBN 0573694729 Publisher Samuel French Description A full-scale script for an environmental interactive show. [Wirth]

Title Acting Games - Improvisations and Exercises Author Marsh Cassady ISBN 0916260925 Publisher Meriwether, Colorado Springs, Colorado Description A textbook of theatre games and improvisations. [Halpern]

Title Improve With Improv! Author Brie Jones ISBN 0916260984 Publisher Meriwether, Colorado Springs, Colorado Description A guide to improvisation and character development. [Halpern]

Title Il segreto della Commedia dell'Arte Author Ferdinando Taviani Publisher La Casa Usher, Firenze, 1982 Description Written in Italian. Title Impro, Reflexion et Analyse Author Robert Gravel and Jean-Marc Lavergne Publisher Lemeac, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Description Written in French.

Title Playing the Game Author Christine Poulter

Title Improv Game Book II Author Lynda Belt ISBN 0-9620799-6-O. Publisher Thespis Productions, 2010-12th Ave SE, Puyallup, Washington. Description A followup to Improvisation Through Theatre Sports, its just a collection (albeit a good one) of performance games.


Title Theatre of the Oppressed Author Augusto Boal ISBN 0-930452-49-6. Publisher Theatre Communications Group, New York. Description The theory of Boal's system of interactive, empowering form of theatre.

Title Games for Actors and Non-Actors Author Augusto Boal ISBN 0-415-06155-5. Publisher Routledge, London. Description The practical application (exercises, games, and structures) of Boal's system.

Title Playing Boal Edited Author Mady Schutzman and Jan Cohen-Cruz ISBN 0-415-08608-6. Publisher Routledge, London. Description A collection of essays by practitioners of Boal's techniques, exploring variations on and practical experiences with Theatre of the Oppressed.

Title Improvising Real Life Personal Story in Playback Theatre Author Jo Salas Publisher Kendall/Hunt. Description Presents the history, techniques, and principles of the interactive form, Playback Theatre, developed by Jonathan Fox, in which stories told by the audience are "played back" by improvisational performers. Includes chapters on ritual, use of music, and conducting.

Title Stevie Ray's Medium-Sized Book of Comedy... What We Laugh At, and Why ISBN 0967178606 Publisher Punchline Publications Description Deals with the elements of conditions of laughter both on and off the stage. Look for this book on... Amazon | Chapters.ca | Barnes & Noble

Title Whose Improv Is It Anyway Beyond Second City Author Amy E Seham ISBN 1578063418 Publisher University Press of Mississippi Description Drawing on the experiences of working improvisers, WHOSE IMPROV IS IT ANYWAY? provides a never-before-published account of developments beyond Second City's mainstream approach to the genre. This fascinating history chronicles the origins of "the Harold", a sophisticated new "long-form" style of improv developed in the '80s at ImprovOlympic, and details the importance and pitfalls of ComedySportz. Here also is a backstage glimpse at The Annoyance Theatre, best known on the national scene for its production of The Real Live Brady Bunch. Readers will get the scoop on the recent work of players who, feeling excluded by early improv's "white guys in ties", created such independent groups as The Free Associates and the African American troupe Oui Be Negroes.

Adding entries to this list... This list is maintained by me, Bernie Roehl. Mail additional entries to me at broehl@improvcomedy.org and I'll be happy to add them. It sometimes takes me a while to process all my email, so be patient..ā

Lit2[Bearbeiten | Quelltext bearbeiten]

Creating a Role by Constantin Stanislavski Front Matter,

46, and 
47

Building a Character by Konstantin Stanislavsk1

Divine Horsemen by Maya Deren

158

How Children Fail (Classics in Child Development) by John Holt

173

FUNCTION ORGASM P by Wilhelm reich

201

Patterns of Culture by Ruth Benedict

195

Character Analysis: Third, Enlarged Edition by Wilhelm Reich

201

Seven Samurai: The Ultimate Film Guide by Roy Stafford

186

Titus Andronicus (Folger Shakespeare Library) by William Shakespeare

84

My Life in Art: CWE by Ko Stanislavsky Front Matter On Doing Time by Morton Sobell

203

Group Psychotherapy (Pelican S.) by S. H. Foulkes

85

Ecstatic Religion: A Study of Shamanism and Spirit Possession by I.M. Lewis

160

The Experience of Childbirth (Health Library) by Sheila Kitzinger

86

Interacting With Patients by Joyce Samhammer Hays

105

The Living Brain by W. Grey Walter

32

The Experience of Hypnosis (Harbinger Books) by Ernest Ropiequet Hilgard

203

The Birthday Party (Pinter Plays) by Harold Pinter

109

Voodoo in Haiti by Alfred Metraux

162

Experience in Groups by W. R. Bion

34

The Cloud Of Unknowing by Anonymous

202

King Of Comedy (Lively Arts Series) by Mack Sennett

105

The Three Pillars of Zen by Roshi Philip Kapleau

200

West Indies (Major World Nations Series) by Suzanne Anthony

173

Three Pillars of Zen by Roshi P. Kapleau