To be a master, you must remain the student. We all want to master improv. But a true master accepts that he's never going to master what he's trying to master. Shunryu Suzuki explains it better in his book Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: “If your mind is empty… it is open to everything. In the beginner’s mind there are […]
Kim Greene is the owner of The Laughing Academy in Glenview, and she’s someone I have known in the improv scene in Chicago since the ’90s. We first met doing a business theater gig for Second City, and today, I teach classes for her at her theater. What I love about Kim is that not only […]
When we watch an improv team or a person on stage who loves improvising, it can be contagious. If we are having fun, the audience is having fun. But often, I forget to bring the joy and bring the love to what I am doing, both on stage and in life. In my improv classes and workshops, we […]
As we come to the end of this year, I have 3 wishes I'd like to make for all improvisers in 2024. 1. Slow Down Slow down on stage and in life. When we slow down, we feel our feelings. Feeling leads to more creativity and a deeper connection with the improvisers on stage and […]
Want to become a better improviser? Sometimes, making a simple adjustment is all you need to do to make your improv scenes really work. Here are three long form hacks that can make an okay improviser good, and make a good improviser great. They are simple, but not always easy to do. But with a little […]
Music is the space between the notes. Claude Debussy When people first start working with me and they begin to slow down in their improv, they notice the pauses or the space between dialogue. This can seem strange at first to people who are used to improvising very quickly, but I try to teach my […]
An improviser is a true artist. And to be a true artist, it takes true humility. It takes more humility to be on stage than ego. When I improvise from my ego, and I still do sometimes, it's “Get out of the way, I am the best." And "I am the best" never leads to getting better. […]
This week, I am on a break from writing about my experience, but that doesn't mean you won't get your usual dose of inspiration. I've compiled three of my favorite quotes that I have found helpful in my art and my life that I wanted to share with you. Here you go: “There is a vitality, a life force, […]
“90% of life is showing up.” -- Woody Allen I want to write something, but I can't. It’s one of those days when the best thing I can do is to just show up to the page. And the hardest part is being alright with that. I have a wise friend who says just because I am […]
Finding your voice as an improviser can be confusing. You may have heard your improv teacher or coach talk about it and not have a clue what they mean. So what exactly does it mean when your improv teacher tells you to “find your voice” as an improviser? To me, I think you have found […]