The. Best. Improv. Resources. Ever!
Page Update: September 5th, 2024
This blog post was so dang popular, that we transformed it into
a permanent fixture here, found on the bottom of every page of our site!
So, you’re interested in improvisation as an art form or are taking improv classes in Portland or other cities. Maybe you’re a business leader who has taken a corporate improv workshop with us or another well-respected company.
Great! We’d love to help you on the next phase of your journey.
Now that you’re starting to understand how joyous, freeing, and transformative improvisation is, we’ve got recommendations on the best books, interviews, shows, and podcasts for you to consume. Trust us: exploring this list of improv resources can help take your learning to the next level!
Think of this page as a constant work-in-progress: as we learn of new resources to share with our students, corporate clients, and the larger improvisation community, we’ll make changes here so that we can share them with everyone. If you think we’re missing something from our list, contact us! We’d be happy to add additional names, titles, and references after reviewing them!
Books on Improvisation:
Patti Stiles - Improvise Freely
Keith Johnstone - Impro: Improvisation and the Theater
Viola Spolin - Improvisation for the Theater
Chana Halpren - Art by Committee: A Guide to Advanced Improvisation
Andy Goldberg - Improv Comedy
Adam Meggido - Improv Beyond Rules
Discussions/Interviews/Documentaries About Improvisation:
Follow the Fear - Documentary about Del Close
Keith Jarrett - The Art of Improvisation
Amy Pohler - Interview with Charlie Rose
Christopher Farlow - Rules of Improv (although I prefer the term “guidelines”)
Chris Gethard - A Lesson on Improv Technique
Ken Adams - Creator of the “Story Spine”
Improvised Shows/Movies:
Asscat - Upright Citizen’s Brigade on YouTube
Curb Your Enthusiasm - Youtube & Free Trial on Prime
Middleditch & Schwartz - Netflix
Murderville - Netflix
Music:
Herbie Hancock improvises for… Harvard?!
Chick Corea & Friends, Improvising at the White House, followed by two songs
Childish Gambino (aka Donald Glover) throwing down live on the radio (NSFW)
Eminem vs. Juice freestyle rap battle from about 1997 (NSFW)
Improv4Humans, by Matt Besser from UCB
Podcasts:
The Dead Authors Podcast, by Paul F. Thompkins
Mega, by Holly Laurent and Greg Hess
Mission to Zyxx, by an incredible ensemble
Improv4Humans, by Matt Besser from UCB
Classes:
For improv classes in Portland that focus on an acting-based “long-form” approach: OUR CLASSES. This is where we shine!
For improv classes in Portland that focus on a game-based “long-form” approach: Kickstand Comedy. Community-run, non-profit, and excellent.
For improv classes in Portland that focus on “short-form”: CSz (Comedy Sportz). One of the oldest in Portland and one of the best-known brands on the planet.
For improv classes online from a master teacher: Kenn Adams, Artistic Director of The Synergy Theater.
Shows & Performances:
The best long-form improvisation shows in Portland featuring the city’s top talent: Bridge City Improv
For great short-form improv shows in Portland: Curious Comedy, in NE PDX and CSz, in NW PDX
For community improv shows in Portland: “Open Court”, every other Sunday, where ANYONE is invited on stage to experiment with improv
