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Annoyance Productions

This theater was known for it's brash and unrelenting productions such as "Manson: The Musical", "The Real Live Brady Bunch", and the award-winning "Coed Prison Sluts," the longest running musical in Chicago. While there is no longer a physical theater space, the staff continues teaching improvisation and hopes to reopen sometime soon with a theatrical space and digital recording studios.

Armando

The full name is the "Armando Diaz Theatrical Movement and Hootenanny Experience." Named after improviser Armando Diaz, who is currently head of the Training Center and a writer for the Upright Citizens Brigade, it is the Monday night veteran show at the ImprovOlympic. Originally created as a show for alumni to return to improvise, the show recently evolved into a more elaborate and skillful form called the "Mosaic."

Bits

Any prepared, short piecemeal part of comedy. A standard comedic response to a straight line. An easy response engineered for a quick laugh. Considered a derogatory term in that long-form is supposed to be completely organic.

Chicago 7

Most people, when they first move to Chicago, gain approximately seven pounds due abundance of restaurants and/or the odd time schedules beginning improvisers have.

Coach

Also known as a Director. Seemingly related to the team analogy, a coach guides rehearsals and takes notes for a team. After a show, the coach will review the notes with the team offering constructive criticism.

ComedySportz

From the ComedySportz website: "A ComedySportz match features two teams of comedy actletes competing for laughs and points, with a referee keeping things moving and calling fouls. An average of seven to twelve games are played during a match, drawn from a repertoire of over a hundred improv games. Every show is different, with different players, different games, and different audiences supplying new suggestions."

Del Close

Creator of the Harold and considered the father of modern day long-form improvisation. For more extensive information, Del has his very own page.

Free Associates

Best known for its improvised parodies of literary works. Linear and character stocked (the players have worked out the beats of a style and each knows what character they are playing beforehand) the Free Associates perform fully costumed on a set that reflects the key elements of the style they are lampooning.

Form

Usually refers to the type or style that a group performs. While a group can perform long-form or short-form, there are several different types of long-form styles that are referred to as form.

Harold

A long-form improv piece comprised of a group opening, three scenes, group game, repeat if necessary. This is the signature piece of the ImprovOlympic. Created by Del Close.

ImprovOlympic Theater

What started as an improv sport concept, with the audience voting for teams in several categories, this theater has evolved into the country's leading long-form institution. Founded and coaxed into its current incarnation by Del Close and Charna Halpern, this theater also sports a 6 level training center. Students are chosen to be on performing teams. For more information, visit their website.

"Lights!"

Used as an (off-stage) exclamation to call for the end of a game or long-form piece. Probably originated from Second City Blackout scenes, which were very short scenes that ended with a big punch line and an instant blackout. Most long-form pieces end with either a blackout or fade to black.

Notes

Are given after a show. A team's coach takes notes during a show, offering constructive criticism or praise.

Second City

With three main branches (Chicago, Toronto and Detroit) this comedic institution uses improv as a springboard for scripted shows. Second City has been around for 40 years and has helped to shape American comedy more than any other theater in the world. For more information, visit their website.

Short-form

Also called Improv Games. Consists of rules that establish parameters of a short, usually less than 5 minutes, improv scene/game. Conducted Story and Freeze Tag are examples of Improv Games. ComedySportz does this expertly and exclusively well.

SNL

The initials for the long running sketch comedy show, Saturday Night Live. Many alumni of Second City, ImprovOlympic and the Annoyance have been or are currently employed by this show.

Team

Improv groups usually band together into teams of 8 or more. The use of the word team seems to originate with ImprovOlympic's audience competition days. The ImprovOlympic still employs the word and boasts some 21 teams currently. The Playground and ComedySportz also call their groups teams.