It's Curious City, where we take your questions about Chicago and the region, and investigate, report, explore, from WBEZ.

I'm Alexandra Solomon, the editor for Curious City. Earlier this year, we answered the question, why is Chicago such a destination for

improv? We had a lot of funny conversations exploring the answer. One of my favorites was the one

between improviser T.J. Jagadowski and host Jimmy Corain. We're going to share a longer

version of that interview with you today. They talk about why so many people come to Chicago to get their start in improv comedy.

They also talk about the fundamentals of improv, do a little improvising themselves, and discuss

why TJ's chosen to stay in Chicago, even though he may have found greater fame or fortune

in New York or Los Angeles.

And they mentioned a few improv companies and actors who you may or may not know, unless you're

really into improv.

But hang in there, you'll get the gist of what they're talking about.

So here's Jimmy Corain and T.J. Jagadowski.

We got a question from Ty McCarthy.

And he was like, why is Chicago the improv mecca?

All right?

And so I have some theories I'm going to just throw out at you.

And one of the first ones is the history.

You know, Viola Spolin, she started here right with the games and then the compass and then the second city and then of course

you know all the people from second city go on to saturday night live the co bears the corrals

the farleys the tina fays the amy polars how much is that play into the fact that were the mecca

i think that might be the largest part of it. In terms of what?

It's history.

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