Post Mortem

A fully improvised long-form show format that draws its source material entirely from obituary notices. In Post Mortem, performers read or receive details from real obituaries and use those biographical fragments to generate scenes, characters, and narratives inspired by the lives described. The format treats each obituary as a springboard for exploration, finding theatrical possibilities in the names, occupations, relationships, and life details contained within the notices. As described in Rob Kozlowski's The Art of Chicago Improv, Post Mortem exemplifies a commitment to pure improvisation; director Matt Hall cites it as a show where artistic integrity demands that every element remain fully improvised rather than scripted or preplanned. The format occupies a distinctive space in the improv landscape by grounding comedic and dramatic performance in real human stories, requiring performers to balance respectful treatment of their source material with the creative freedom that improvisation demands. Because obituaries compress entire lives into a few sentences, performers must expand those compressed details into fully realized scenes, often discovering unexpected connections, humor, and poignancy in the process. The format rewards ensemble listening and the ability to build rich worlds from minimal information.