Arts & Culture
The Roots of Theatrical Improvisation in Commedia dell'Arte
Quick fact
In Commedia dell'Arte, actors did not memorize full scripts; they followed a plot outline (canovaccio) and improvised the dialogue, making each performance unique.
Why this is interesting
You've probably seen improvisers create comedy out of thin air. But did you know that this practice has roots in a 16th-century Italian theater that used masks and stock characters?