Communication and the Art of Improvisation

Abstract

Over the last 15 years, improvisational theater has been increasingly applied in organizational contexts to improve the communicative environment of that organization. It is widely held that improv benefits the communicative environment, but the reasons for its effectiveness are illusive in the literature. This study seeks to better understand the reasons for its effectiveness in application in extra-theatrical application. It does this through analyzing significant improv texts and interviews conducted by the author with several highly experienced improvisers in Chicago, the birthplace of modern improv. Through thematic analysis, nine significant topoi were established that provide understanding for what is happening when people engage in improv. Ultimately it was found that when all the topoi are combined in practice improv serves as a communicative method designed for spontaneously solving problems as they arise.