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{{About|the Indian comedy show| the American comedy club franchise|The Improv}}
{{Infobox television
| image = The Improve in.jpg
| caption = The Improv performing during a show
| alt_name =
| genre = [[improvisational]]
| creator = [[Saad Khan]]
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| writer =
| director =
| creative_director =
| presenter = [[Saad Khan]]
| starring = Abel Mathews, [[Sal Yusuf]], Darius Sunawala, Richa Kapoor, Tim Schultz
| judges =
| voices =
| narrated =
| theme_music_composer =
| opentheme =
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| country = [[India]]
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| num_seasons = 
| num_episodes = 
| list_episodes =
| executive_producer =
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| location =
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| company = CenterStage India
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}}

'''''The Improv''''' is an [[improvisational]] [[comedy show]] which was started in May 2012<ref name=":0" /> in [[Bangalore, India]].<ref>{{cite news|last = Datta|first = Sravasti|title = Dine away your blues|url = http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/events/dine-away-your-blues/article5052487.ece|access-date = 8 February 2014|newspaper = [[The Hindu]]|date = August 23, 2013}}
</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://in.bookmyshow.com/events/the-improv-by-centerstage/ET00017484|title = The Improv By Centerstage|access-date = 4 November 2014|website = bookmyshow.com}}</ref> The show has no script and is totally improvised, as its name suggests. The audiences give suggestions, situations and scenarios to the host and taking the cue, the actors create on-the-spot hilarious scenes on stage.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Improv by Centerstage|url=http://bangalore.afindia.org/events/the-improv-by-centerstage/|publisher=[[Alliance Française]]|access-date=4 November 2014}}</ref><ref name="decc">{{cite news|title=Great presence of mind|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/384326/presence-mind.html|access-date=8 February 2014|newspaper=Deccan Herald|date=Feb 4, 2014}}</ref> It is hosted and directed by [[Saad Khan]], an Indian filmmaker. The show is conceptualized by Saad Khan. The show's performers are [[Sal Yusuf]], Darius Sunawala, Abel Mathews and Tim Schultz.<ref name=":12">{{Cite news|url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/theatre/Laugh-your-hearts-out-at-the-Improv/articleshow/35638379.cms|title = Laugh your hearts out at the Improv|work = [[The Times of India]]|access-date = 4 November 2014}}
</ref><ref name=":22">{{Cite news|url = http://epaper.deccanchronicle.com/articledetailpage.aspx?id=1271463|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141106121015/http://epaper.deccanchronicle.com/articledetailpage.aspx?id=1271463|url-status = dead|archive-date = November 6, 2014|title = Ring Finger First|work = Deccan Chronicle}}</ref> The team has performed over 100 shows in [[Bangalore]], [[Hyderabad]], [[Mumbai]], [[Chennai]], [[Dubai]], [[Abu Dhabi]] and Sweden.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news|url = http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31806&articlexml=THERE-IS-A-LOT-OF-DEMAND-FOR-BANGALORE-24092014103020|archive-url = https://archive.today/20141105050737/http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31806&articlexml=THERE-IS-A-LOT-OF-DEMAND-FOR-BANGALORE-24092014103020|url-status = dead|archive-date = November 5, 2014|title = THERE IS A LOT OF DEMAND FOR BANGALORE ACTORS: SAAD KHAN|last = Dhwani|first = Desai|work = [[The Times of India]]|access-date = 5 November 2014}}</ref>

== Background ==
The show was created in May 2012 by [[Saad Khan]]. College mates, Khan and Sundar spent hours in their campus canteen performing improvisational scenes together. Such [[impromptu]] performances in college earned them an early audience, who cheered and motivated them. After college, they pursued their respective media careers and Khan left for the [[US]] for further studies. On Khan's return to India he started Centerstage in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|title=THE MOVEMENT SO FAR |url=http://centerstageindia.com/the-movement-so-far.html|access-date=8 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Comedy: Vasu Primlani & Kenneth Sebastian|url=http://thetossedsalad.com/events/comedy-vasu-primlani-kenneth-sebastian/|access-date=8 February 2014}}</ref> On May 6, 2012, Centerstage launched ''The Improv'' in Bangalore which had actors on stage performing many scenes without any rehearsal or script and from situations given by the audience. Since then they have performed over 100 shows in Indian cities like [[Bangalore]], [[Hyderabad]], [[Mumbai]], [[Chennai]] and their first overseas performance was in the [[UAE]] in April 2014.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=The Movement: New Waves|url=http://www.centerstageindia.com/the-movement.html|publisher=CenterStage|access-date=4 November 2014}}</ref> In 2016, THE IMPROV was selected and invited to the Sweden International Improv Festival that takes place at the [[Regina Theatre]] in [[Uppsala]] every year. Saad's team was the only Indian outfit performing at SWIMP and the audiences couldn't stop raving about the show's format and energy of the improvisers.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.swedenimprovfestival.com/shows.html|title = SHOWS|website = www.swedenimprovfestival.com|access-date = 2016-03-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url = http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/bengaluru-improv-in-sweden/article8360791.ece|title = Bengaluru improv in Sweden|date = 2016-03-16|newspaper = The Hindu|language = en-IN|issn = 0971-751X|access-date = 2016-03-26}}</ref> They have had shows for varied audiences like in the general public, corporate houses, college fests, and communities. The show was featured on NDTV prime for its uniqueness, production value and organic reach.<ref name="DNA">{{cite news|title=These guys are just insane, man!|url=http://epaper.dnaindia.com/story.aspx?edorsup=Sup&wintype=popup&queryed=860004&querypage=3&boxid=20410010&id=9678&eddate=2012-10-04&ed_date=2012-10-04&ed_code=860004|access-date=8 February 2014|newspaper=The Daily News Analysis|date=Oct 4, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222031301/http://epaper.dnaindia.com/story.aspx?edorsup=Sup&wintype=popup&queryed=860004&querypage=3&boxid=20410010&id=9678&eddate=2012-10-04&ed_date=2012-10-04&ed_code=860004|archive-date=22 February 2014}}</ref>

== Format ==
[[File:Improv india audiance.jpg|thumb|Audience enjoying an Improv show]]
Every show of The Improv has four to five rounds. Each round has a prefix ‘SHUT UP AND’. The first round is a general improvisation round called ‘SHUT UP AND IMPROV’ where a general situation, topic or location is given by the audience to the host who assigns roles and scenarios to the performers, who must improvise and perform a skit on the spot. The popular rounds of THE IMPROV are Freeze, Switch and Rotate.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://epaper.newindianexpress.com/333350/The-New-Indian-Express-Hyderabad/06-09-2014#page/17/2|title=The New Indian Express-Hyderabad, 06-09-2014 : readwhere|website=epaper.newindianexpress.com|access-date=2016-05-19}}</ref>

Freeze: Where the actors are frozen during the scene and a type of film genre or emotion is taken from the audience and the scene continues. Switch: Where 2 actors are given characters that don't get along with each other. One actor starts aggressive and the other submissive. The host calls out 'Switch' and the actors switch between these emotions. Rotate: It is an improv game for 4 actors. Each actor is assigned an occupation, type of sport, accent and place. Every time the host calls out 'Rotate' the actors shift from one position to the next.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://m.deccanherald.com/articles.php?name=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.deccanherald.com%252Fcontent%252F541678%252Fsaad-khan-my-pinboard.html|title=- Deccan Herald|website=m.deccanherald.com|access-date=2016-05-19}}</ref>

==Uniqueness==
''The Improv'', though similar in its genre as the popular show ''[[Whose Line Is It Anyway? (American TV series)|Whose Line is it Anyway]]'', is quite unique indeed. The only common ground between ''The Improv'' and ''Whose Line is it Anyway'' is [[improvisation]]. ''The Improv'' amalgamates acting, spontaneity, interactive banter, entertainment, group dynamic, audience involvement and live reactions.<ref>{{cite news|title=Why not have a symbol of positivity?|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/439591/why-not-have-symbol-positivity.html|access-date=5 November 2014|work=deccanherald}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Dine away your blues|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/dine-away-your-blues/article5053301.ece|access-date=5 November 2014|work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=They Script Their Plays on Stage|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bangalore/They-Script-Their-Plays-on-Stage/2014/06/11/article2274521.ece1|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141105193117/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bangalore/They-Script-Their-Plays-on-Stage/2014/06/11/article2274521.ece1|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 5, 2014|access-date=5 November 2014}}</ref> The Improv and its followers have chosen the [[ring finger]], also known as the ‘Other Finger’ or the ‘Finger of Happiness’, as their symbol. It is a tongue in cheek contrast to the [[Middle finger (gesture)|middle finger]] and its inappropriateness.<ref>{{cite news|title=Why not have a symbol of positivity?|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/439591/why-not-have-symbol-positivity.html|access-date=7 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Ring Finger|url=http://epaper.deccanchronicle.com/articledetailpage.aspx?id=1271463|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106121015/http://epaper.deccanchronicle.com/articledetailpage.aspx?id=1271463|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 6, 2014|access-date=7 November 2014}}</ref> Another highlight of the show is the interactions of the host with the audience. Known for his sarcastic sense of humour, Saad Khan brings out quirky suggestions from audience members.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/lets-get-improvisational/article6649528.ece|title=Let's get improvisational|date=2014-12-01|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=2016-05-19}}</ref>

==The team==
The show is hosted and [[Theatre director|directed]] by [[Saad Khan]] and produced by Maaz Khan.<ref>{{cite news|title=IN BRIEF|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/352817/in-brief.html|access-date=8 February 2014|newspaper=Deccan Herald|date=Aug 24, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title='Center' of attention|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/131231/lifestyle-offbeat/article/%E2%80%98center%E2%80%99-attention|publisher=Deccan Chronicle|access-date=8 February 2014|date=31 Dec 2013}}</ref> The on-stage improvisational actors on the show are:<ref name="DNA" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Things To Do This Weekend|url=http://mumbaiboss.com/2013/05/16/things-to-do-this-weekend-37/|publisher=Mumbaiboss.com|access-date=8 February 2014}}</ref><ref name="thehindu.com2">{{cite news|last = VAKKALANKA|first = HARSHINI|title = Fifty shades of Danish|url = http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/fifty-shades-of-danish/article4952493.ece|access-date = 8 February 2014|newspaper = The Hindu|date = July 25, 2013}}
</ref><ref name=":22"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Dejavu presents The Improv|url=http://www.timeoutdubai.com/nightlife/events/31185-dejavu-presents-the-improv#.VFmxQ9j5ncd|access-date=5 November 2014|work=Time Out Dubai}}</ref>

* Richa Kapoor- School [[teacher]] and actor<ref name=":12"/>
* Darius Sunawala - RJ & Actor<ref name="A">{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/bengaluru-comedy-groups-go-global/articleshow/57410360.cms|title=Bengaluru comedy groups go global|work=The Times of India|last=Agarwal|first=Stuti|date=1 March 2017}}</ref>
* [[Sal Yusuf]] - Actor and Comedian<ref name=":12"/>
* Tim Schultz - Writer, Actor and Comedian<ref name="B">{{Cite web|url=https://www.indulgexpress.com/entertainment/theater/2018/aug/10/black-dog-easy-evenings-india-tour-brings-papa-cj-danish-sait-and-cyrus-sahukar-to-hyderabad-9454.html|title=Black Dog Easy Evenings' India tour brings Papa CJ, Danish Sait and Cyrus Sahukar to Hyderabad|work=Indian Express|last=Prasad|first=A. Harini|date=10 August 2018}}</ref>
* Abel Mathews- Actor and Comedian<ref name="B"/>
* Siddharth Sundar - Actor<ref name=":12"/>
* [[Danish Sait]] - Actor<ref name="A"/>
* [[Sumukhi Suresh]] - Comedian and actress<ref name=":12"/>
* Praveen Raj - Comedian<ref name="A"/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Improv}}
[[Category:Improvisational troupes]]
[[Category:Theatre companies in India]]

The Improv (TV series) - Revision history

JudithBehan6: New