Improv Is a Community

I've been blessed with many opportunities to practice improv with truly fabulous, sincere, and creative people all over the USA -- in New Jersey, Chicago, Michigan, Colorado, Pennsylvania -- all over. Each group brings their own spark and joy. One wonderful feature of participating in different improv groups is that it does not feel like we are competing with each other because improv is a community.

That makes it just about a perfect model for improving communication, crossing polarized divides, and recognizing people for the marvelously complicated but at heart well-intentioned beings that they are.

Last week I participated in a wonderful and meaningful workshop with UnScripted Productions: Purple On Purpose. Skillfully facilitated by Will Dennis, the two-hour workshop explored practicing improv as a way to strengthen communication and conduct difficult conversations without creating enemies. "Everybody wins" I heard Will say.

The evening was filled with flashes of inspiration. We did between ten and twelve exercises (or games) that built on each other creating a fun path toward connection, acceptance, and learning.

I highly recommend UnScripted Productions and I look forward to working with them more in the future.

-- doug smith

Comments

Smile

A smile can stop ten sad thoughts from filling your mind. -- doug smith 1. I started to type "smile" in the title and my fingers somehow typed "Smith" instead. That makes me smile... 2. Yes, this is related to improv. When we help other people smile we're building some part of a better world. What fun! 3. See how powerful improv can be? What if, in creating something new, we used that same quote but featured this picture: That changes things, right? Or we could get even darker: Because improv is not all comedy, or does not NEED to be all comedy or sunny and light. Although, sunny and light is nice so here's another nice smile for you. Now, go make someone (and yourself) happy: smile!

Quote Prompt: What You See

Topic: Improv Goal: Create a new and amusing scene. Prompt: Use this quote to prompt your improvisation: What you see in the mirror is not what the world sees. Coaching: What do you hope to see? Why would anyone see anything else? What are you afraid others might see? How do people decide what they see about you? What does one character in the scene want that they cannot have?

Scene Prompt: Status

Status is in every scene. People jockey for the top spot. Conflict spins out of the struggle to be recognized, to be in control, to win. Improvise a scene using this prompt: The struggle for status inevitably disappoints. Have fun!

improvarama

Search This Blog