Shira Piven
A director, teacher, and improviser who studied at The Second City and performed with the Annoyance Theatre in Chicago. Piven is the sister of actor Jeremy Piven and daughter of acting teacher Joyce Piven. She has directed for stage and screen and teaches improvisation.
Companies and Organizations
Associated venues and institutional relationships currently documented in the archive.
Recommended Reading
Books are ordered from the strongest direct connection outward to broader relevance.

The Improv Handbook
The Ultimate Guide to Improvising in Comedy, Theatre, and Beyond
Tom Salinsky; Deborah Frances-White

The Improv Illusionist
Using Object Work, Environment, and Physicality in Performance
David Raitt

Process: An Improviser's Journey
Mary Scruggs; Michael J. Gellman

Improvisation the Michael Chekhov Way
Active Exploration of Acting Techniques
Wil Kilroy

Spontaneous Performance
Acting Through Improv
Marsh Cassady

The Actor's Book of Improvisation
Sandra Caruso; Paul Clemens
References
In the Archive
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). Shira Piven. Retrieved March 17, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/people/shira-piven
The Improv Archive. "Shira Piven." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/people/shira-piven.
The Improv Archive. "Shira Piven." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/people/shira-piven. Accessed March 17, 2026.
The Improv Archive is a systemically maintained repository. The archive itself acts as the corporate author.