Endowment
The act of attributing qualities, characteristics, history, or emotions to a scene partner through dialogue or behavior. When one performer says "You look nervous" or "I know you hate flying," they endow their partner with information that the partner must accept and incorporate.
Mentioned In
Further Reading
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Devising Performance
A Critical History
Deirdre Heddon; Jane Milling
The Improv Handbook
The Ultimate Guide to Improvising in Comedy, Theatre, and Beyond
Tom Salinsky; Deborah Frances-White
Getting to Yes And
The Art of Business Improv
Bob Kulhan; Chuck Crisafulli
Improvisation for the Theater
A Handbook of Teaching and Directing Techniques
Viola Spolin
Something Wonderful Right Away
An Oral History of The Second City and The Compass Players
Jeffrey Sweet
Acting Through Improv
Improv Through Theatresports
Lynda Belt; Rebecca Stockley
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). Endowment. Retrieved March 17, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/learn-improv/concepts/endowment
The Improv Archive. "Endowment." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/learn-improv/concepts/endowment.
The Improv Archive. "Endowment." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/learn-improv/concepts/endowment. Accessed March 17, 2026.
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