Comments from Karen Hough, Founder and CEO, ImprovEdge

This Women’s History Month, we’ve been thinking about the many women leaders who have shaped the world of improvisation. From its earliest foundations to today’s stages and screens, women have been central to shaping improv’s voice and values. Their influence can be felt in who gets laughs, how stories unfold, where ensembles collaborate, and when audiences connect to what they see.

Roots of Modern Improv

Modern improvisation owes much to Viola Spolin, whose groundbreaking theater games emphasized intuition and group awareness. Her philosophy rooted in play set the tone for improv as an art form built on curiosity and collaboration. Her seminal work, “Improvisation for the Theatre” is required reading for any actor.

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, performers like Elaine May, who got her start with the Compass Players in Chicago, demonstrated the expressive power of improvisation through sharp, relationship-driven scenes that balanced intellect with emotional truth. Her work showed that improv could be character-based and deeply human. Her influence continues to resonate in long-form comedy today.

As improv grew into a professional discipline, institutions such as The Second City became creative laboratories. Women were integral to this growth, contributing as performers, writers, directors, and teachers who helped shape improv into a sustainable and influential art form. They were particularly courageous in these early days, withstanding and overcoming extreme sexism in the comedy field. We must mention Gilda Radner here – she was a groundbreaking member of Second City who was the first hired female cast member of SNL in 1975.

Expanding Improvisation

As improv evolved, women performers consistently expanded its emotional and narrative range.  I was lucky enough to study with the legendary Del Close. His collaborator, Charna Halpern, though controversial, was a driver of the growth of improv and she was part of the team at the iO Theater in Chicago.  At the same time, artists such as Susan Messing demonstrated how emotional openness and trust could be powerful engines for comedy. I remember working with her at The Annoyance Theater in Chicago; she was fearless onstage.

We’re also finally seeing a stronger emergence of women of color in comedy. The incredible creativity, courage and voice of Karen Maruyama, Amber Ruffin, Sasheer Zamata, Kiki Yeung, and Aisha Tyler are rewriting the rules of comedy, among many others.

Theatres and training centers like The Groundlings in LA (founding member Laraine Newman) and Upright Citizens Brigade in New York and countless regional theaters have continued this legacy with women as performers, educators and artistic leaders.  Teachers such as Mary Scruggs and Jet Eveleth exemplify a generation of mentors emphasizing clarity and generosity, and those values strengthen ensembles and elevate the craft as a whole.

Women-led workshops and festivals have further enriched improv communities, helping create spaces where a wide range of voices and experiences fuel fresh, surprising comedy.

From the Stage to Popular Culture

The broader cultural impact of women in improv is unmistakable. Many of today’s most recognizable comedic voices developed their skills in improv theaters before moving into television and film. Performers such as Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Maya Rudolph brought improv’s ensemble mindset and character-driven approach to mainstream audiences.

Others, including Rachel Dratch, Awkwafina, Tiffany Haddish, Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy and Michaela Watkins, showcased how improv training fosters distinctive voices capable of blending absurdity and empathy.

Joy and Influence

Through teaching and fearless play, women have helped improv grow into an art form that reflects the full spectrum of human experience. Improv is what it is today because women have always been part of building it—moment by moment, together.