Improvisation is a lot of fun and an incredible experience that is not only beneficial for theater and film, but also for other aspects of life.
Shawn Landry is the first African American founder of an African American improv group in Los Angeles. I was impressed with what she had to say in a lively discussion about improv. Here are some of her thoughts.
“Improvisational theater is an incredible tool for personal growth and development. It requires quick thinking creativity and willingness to take risks. Through this art form individuals are able to push themselves out of their comfort zones and learn to think on their feet. It helped me, not only being useful in a theatrical setting, but also in everyday life – being able to adapt to unexpected situations that has happened. Over the 40 or so years of doing improv, I can respond quickly. Improv is an incredibly collaborative art form. It requires a group or individuals to work together to create something wonderful right away, and in an unscripted scene each actor in an ensemble, and I say each actor in an ensemble because that is respect for the art form -- must be willing to listen to one another be present in the moment and take risks. This level of collaboration can lead to an incredibly strong bond and a sense of community among all of us. I am still in the game, because …It’s just plain fun. There’s’ something incredibly exhilarating being onstage without a script and creating something from scratch and it’s the purest form you can have when it’s with an audience -- while they take the ride watching you create something from nothing.”
Interested in improv? Sign up at our website www.HanfordMTC.com or call 559-997-3838
