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ImprovImprovisational theatre is better known as “Improv.” Improv is challenging in the sense actors must quickly react to suggestions given to them by an independent source, such as; an audience. In general, Improv is an acting technique which has spawned forms of improvisational comedy. The most popular form of improvisational comedy is shortform improv. A good example of shortform improv is captured in the television show Who’s Line is it Anyway? |
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Stand-UpStand-up comedy is typically performed by one stand-up comic who entertains an audience from a stage with a microphone. The stand-up comedy routine usually entails the comic telling fast-paced humorous stories based upon current events or newsworthy events from the past. These fast-paced stories are called “bits” and the expectation from the audience is “laughs.” Stand up is considered to be the most difficult area of comedy to master and many well-known comedians got their starts doing stand-up comedy routines. |
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SlapstickSlapstick is a comedy form in which actors use exaggerated physical actions to prompt silly responses. The term “Slap Stick” is the English word interpretation from the Italian word battacchio. The slapstick is an object made of two long wooden slats. When the slats are struck, even lightly, they produce a very loud noise. Imagine actors using very little physical force in order to create a loud audible effect and the results can be portrayed as humorous. |
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Dramedy Early
theatre was often divided into two categories, comedy and tragedy with drama
being intermingled in lieu of tragedy. The result of this intermingling
coined the term Dramedy for Comedy-drama's in which the humor and serious
aspects are balanced relatively equal on both sides. Dramedies include
series such as Moonlighting, Grey's Anatomy and Weeds. |
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SituationSituation
Comedy, known as Sitcom for short, typically exaggerates the humor often
found in everyday life and situations. These routines depicting
workplace and home environments originally started on radio and currently
are found primarily in recurring television series such as Scrubs and
The Office. Earlier television sitcoms have definitely made
their way into history and included shows such as I Love Lucy and
The Honeymooners. |
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SatireSatirical Comedy
typically represents actual events or individuals in a humorous way often
meant to point out flaws and to induce change. Satire may include deep
shades of irony and sarcasm. Like most comedy, satire exaggerates
truth which in turn gives satire the potential for extreme edginess which
can have mixed results. This form of comedy includes genres such as
television (The Colbert Report), print (The Onion), and
comics (Doonesbury). |
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