The earliest well-documented instance of improvisational theatre in Western history dates back to 391 BC with the Atellan Farce. These performances emerged from ancient Roman traditions where actors relied on masks and stock characters to create spontaneous scenes without a fixed script. From the 16th century through the 18th century, commedia dell'arte troupes roamed the streets of Italy performing based on broad outlines rather than written dialogue. Performers like Arlecchino and Pantalone would improvise their lines while adhering to established character types and plot frameworks. This tradition allowed for fluid storytelling that adapted instantly to audience reactions or unexpected events during the performance. Theatrical theorists such as Konstantin Stanislavski and Jacques Copeau later drew heavily from these historical roots when developing modern acting training methods in the 1890s.
Chicago Revolution And Second City
Viola Spolin developed improvisation exercises in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s that became the cornerstone of modern American comedy training. Her son Paul Sills co-founded The Compass Players in Chicago alongside David Shepherd before establishing The Second City troupe. The Second City opened its doors on the 16th of December 1959 under Paul Sills direction. By the mid-1960s, Jo Forsberg took over Spolin's classes and developed them into The Players Workshop, the first official school of improvisation in the United States. Many original cast members of Saturday Night Live emerged from The Second City including Mike Myers, Tina Fey, Bob Odenkirk, Amy Sedaris, Stephen Colbert, Eugene Levy, Jack McBrayer, Steve Carell, Chris Farley, Dan Aykroyd, and John Belushi. Elaine May provided central development for the premises while Mike Nichols, Ted Flicker, and Del Close served as her most frequent collaborators during this transformative period.