I decided to get back into improv this summer.
- Prior to Covid, I took classes for a few years.
- Performed with the Modest Hawties troupe.
- Had a ton of fun!
My former improv coach announced she was teaching eight weeks of dramatic improv this summer.
- Most improv is comedic.
- Silly yes-ands.
- Minds fly at warp speed to spin scenes with humor.
Dramatic improv is different.
- Imagine you and a scene partner are given secret backgrounds.
- You are dropped together into the beginning of a life-changing conversation.
- And for the next 20-30 minutes an unscripted dramatic show unfolds!
In the last scene I did, I was a secretly bitter, single mom who gave everything for my beautiful, 25 year old daughter.
- My secret – her father was my father – yep, you read that right.
- Her secret – her hubby wanted to have baby so they did a 23 & Me test – since I always refused to share details.
- She stopped by to let me know they were waiting for results and she looked forward to having her dad in her life.
- It was an intense scene – my partner and I were both fierce.
We always debrief at the end of a scene.
- Disclose the rest of our secret identity if needed.
- Explain why we made the choices we did.
- Hear from the audience how they interpreted the scene.
As I watched the scenes and listened to debriefs today something stood out big for me.
- Every scene, there were multiple ways to play each role.
- There was NOT one right way.
- We got to choose the path for us in that moment – and let the scene begin!
No matter the choices made by the improvers there is always a juicy scene for them to create.
Makes me think of successful women who want to live delicious lives...Do you make decisions on auto-pilot OR pause to choose the most delicious option for you?