First Class

I had my first improv class yesterday. There were 15 others in my Saturday class (there is another class that meets on Wednesdays) and they are a motley group. Wes is a school teacher, Ken runs a graphics design company, Bernardette is a retired pilot, Jaya is a homemaker, David is still at school, Charles practices stand-up comedy, Les runs half marathon,… so on! I will give a more detailed class profile over the next few weeks, but right now I am very excited at meeting so many Americans outside work. Lauren Goins is our instructor, she is simply amazing and taught us some neat warm-up games today (Zip-Zap, Free association, mirroring, etc ) . Also I will have jam sessions on Wednesdays; basically practice everything I learn in the previous week’s class with my class mates. And I get to watch free shows on Saturdays.
I got to talking to my new classmates today, and we decided to go for lunch at the nearby Deli. Charles and Steve had never talked to an Indian before (seems they have never really ventured out of Georgia) so were curious to know more about India, the culture, the food etc.
Oveall, I am so happy I took this up and am looking forward to some great 'Jam' sessions in the weeks ahead!

Whole World Theater

I still remember watching my first improvisational comedy show an year ago at Whole World Theater. My friend said that he had an additional ticket and asked me if I was interested to watch the show. More out of curiosity than any real interest, I agreed to come. And it was a decision I never regretted!

"And that's how the cat became a dog!" explained the lady on the stage, after her stage partner enquired about the cat he had gifted her on her birthday. The response was not scripted, the actors had not rehearsed their lines, and the whole story was improvised based on suggestions made by the audience . The actors were really funny and everything seemed so 'instinct-based', the ideas were amazing and there was just so much creativity in the air. At the end of the scene, the crowd whistled, applauded laughed and went crazy- they loved every bit of it. And so did I!

Last week, my friend called me to inform that Whole World was starting a beginner's improv program and asked me if I was interested to join. Of course I was! So i signed up right away, and received an email from Lauren, our instructor welcoming me to the program. She informed me that the first class would be starting next Saturday and there would be 20 other new joinees. I would, however, need to come prepared with a creative way of introdcuing myself! I do have a few ideas in my head (Flash Cards? Powerpoint slides? )

Anyway I am right now super-excited! And so, I have decided to start an Improv themed Blog to chronicle, what I am sure will be exciting times ahead as an improv artist (alright..an improv trainee :))!!