What Is Chicago Style Improv Comedy?

Video Transcript

"I'm talking to you about all different kinds of Improv comedy. There's all different kinds of styles. There's Comedy Sports and National Comedy Theater. There's Theater Sports and Narrative Long Form. And there is a Chicago style or the Herald. And that's what I'm going to talk to you about, right now. Chicago style Improv started in all of places, Chicago. It's most famously known at the Second City theater and Improv Olympic. And now known as IO. And this style of impov is very focused on characters. Creating really interesting, unique characters that, that you, you're drawn to. And want to see again. And it's also about creating a long form that is connected by a theme. Or a concept or an idea. And those kinds of long forms, most famously and originally, is called the Herald. Which was created by Del Close and Charna Halpern in Chicago. Some of the other places that do the Chicago style or the Herald style Improv, are the Upright Citizens Brigade in New York. And Second city which is all over the country now. In Toronto, Chicago, LA and more. And in Herald, often times they'll get a word from the audience. They'll do an organic opening. Where they kind of, just explore the meanings of that word. And have fun with each other. And then they use that as source material for the scenes that are going to come along, in the Herald. So the Herald is known for a very organic style. Real flowing, kind of, Jazz, kind of Improv style. And it's a real landmark of Improv comedy. And one good way to think about it, is Chicago style Improv is similar to what you might see on Saturday Night Live. Where you've these great characters that make you laugh a lot. And Theater Sports or Narrative Long Form Improv is closer to Kids in the Hall. Where there's these kind of, regular people that go through these interesting story arcs, during their scenes. So that's a little bit about Chicago style Improv or the Herald."