Upbringing, Formative Experience, and Their Effect on Improv Comedy Performance at UIUC

This project investigates the effect of childhood experiences in forming an interest in comedy and aspirations to pursue comedy in the post-collegiate sphere. The author did participant observation and conducted three interviews, with members of the improv comedy community at UIUC and with alumni professional performers. The research investigates how the informants??? experiences in performing at a younger age were shaped by family and peers, and how these experiences affect their involvement in comedy today and influence their aspirations for the future. The results illuminate that improv groups on campus do not operate as part of the University and that the subculture of improv comedy on campus is rather small. All interviewees had a drive to act or perform at a young age and started taking their comedy seriously once they entered college. The project includes a proposal for continued research.unpublishe