“Yes, and” is the basic rule of improv comedy, and the idea is quite simple. Whenever you’re on stage with someone and they say something to you or make a pronouncement about the scene, you agree with it (i.e., say yes) no matter how crazy their suggestion might seem—and then build on it. (That’s the “and.”) For example, if you are in a scene with someone who says that their father is Santa Claus, it is not acceptable to say—as I did in our final performance—“No he’s not.” Instead, the principle of “Yes, and” means that you accept the idea that their father is Santa and propel the scene
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