Yes, And.

Aug 8

Cigarette smoking Santa and his gangster elf.

Let’s talk about Improv!

HOW IT STARTED

Last year, I found myself doing what most of us like to do in downtime (read: mindlessly scrolling Instagram in the bathroom), when the algorithm gods at Meta reached out to me with a post from my local theater offering an Improv Drop-in Night. The IG post invited “anyone with any level of experience” to come join a night of fun. Now, I loved the television series: “Whose Line Is It Anyway?,” especially the British version that aired in the 90’s. I don’t know, maybe it was the influence of Whose Line, but with absolutely zero experience on a stage of any kind and no idea what to expect, I made plans to head down to the theater.

THE PLAYGROUND

Imagine walking onto a playground where every kid welcomed you out to play with them. That was my first experience at improv. After a brief and very fun introduction from everyone around the circle, I found myself quickly on stage playing and acting along with everyone in the group. To say that I had fun would be an understatement. I discovered a group of people who delighted in playful absurdity, united by the simple goals of enjoyment and shared laughter. I quickly discovered that their approach to comedy was unrestricted, embracing unconventional, peculiar, and even provocative elements of humor.

LEARNING THE CRAFT

Here’s the best part: this group met every two weeks to play games and have fun together. After a few more drop-in sessions, the group invited me to join them for formal improv training. This led to a series of local classes (think: Improv 101, 201, and 301) where we were introduced to the basics of improvisational acting. The first of many lessons I learned was that improv is not always focused on the funny and we had many opportunities to work on serious scenes together. We focused on character development (getting to know your character and creating a believable representation of them for the audience). We developed our skills in object work (learning how to mime what it looks like to hold a pan, operate a microwave, drink a beer, or make a telephone call).

We also studied improv as both individual scene work and long-form presentations. Along the way I somehow missed that our end goal was to produce an hour long show for a live audience to come watch as we performed. Practicing and perfecting our skills with a bunch of goofy friends for the sake of laughing and learning was one thing, but being on stage in front of an actual audience who paid to watch us perform was quite a different thing to consider. It wasn’t the acting. It wasn’t the material. It was the fear of disappointing an audience or not meeting expectations that got to me.

PERFORMANCE

Walking out on stage without a script and without any idea what you are going to do can be very scary. I spent months practicing these skills with my fellow actors, but suddenly I found myself on a real stage with a real audience with real expectations. The good news is that I didn't freeze. I don't know how to describe it, but everything clicked into place. My skill set started firing with perfect timing. I found my space, my groove, and my people. Improv felt natural and normal, and I seemed to know exactly what to say and what to do. I don't know what it's like for other people, but my best guess is that for some, improv can feel like a comfortable pair of clothing.

GROUP WORK

Practice can be a lot of fun, and performing brings a level of exhilaration that I'm sure others can relate to, but I really think my favorite part of improv has been doing the group work with a regular troupe of friends. Over the last year, I have learned how to trust my fellow actors, how to accept what they bring to the stage, and then do what I can to elevate our collaborative efforts. This group effort and the relationships that have developed have become my favorite thing about improv.

COMMUNITY

In a past life, I was a community group director at church. I've always said that everyone finds their community. Pipe smokers, bird watchers, trail walkers, and dog lovers have been a few of the communities that I hang out with. My improv community has been one of my favorites. Funny people who like to be funny together. Just going out for dinner or drinks becomes an opportunity to work on scenes, be inappropriate, and find the funny in the world around us. I think I've found my people.

If you are local and want to join in the fun, check the online calendar at Prospect Theater Project in downtown Modesto. I'd love to have you come play along.

Quietly making noise,
Fletch