From the Renaissance commedia dell'arte to today's Second City comedy troupe, improvisation has been a hit. Learn the structure behind the spontaneity of comedy improvisation in this improv theatre text. Over 35 performance-tested improv structures and performance tips in this book help even a beginner tackle this "off the cuff" humor with confidence. Learn the elements of successful improvisation: setting, characters, conflict and action, dialog, and humor. Then have fun polishing your new skills in comedy clubs, coffee houses, or acting classes. Instructions on loosening up, writing routines, coping with audiences, and protecting original routines through contracts and copyrights are also included.