A Little Improv Goes a Long Way




Children are amazing and deserve to learn all the tools to help them not only be successful but open and thoughtful in their lives. Parenting obviously helps a ton as do schools. But, to keep your child's imagination alive and their sense of play, while preparing them for the real world as they grow older, there's no question improvisation provides a ton of direction and knowledge of self. One knows how to handle any social situation. Any interview. Any conflict...with improv. Keeping on one's toes and developing quick thinking skills, organically, no question, is a valuable tool in society. 

With improv, messes are allowed. Shyness can be overcome. True freedom through art and comedy. For a moment in time, children can be anyone they want to be. They can base characters on their emotions, authority figures, friends and family. Getting in touch with one's inner-self and seeing the talents they have inside, is something adults often strive for and is made easier when started at an early age. The benefits of play and improv are truly remarkable. A tool for the ages which should not be exclusive to adults. 
 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Importance of Improv For Children

Image
Throughout my performance/acting career, I've found nothing ever prepared me more than improvisation. I learned the magic of how to improvise my first year of high school. As a freshman, my drama class teacher, Sue Wurster, taught us how valuable a character can be. Knowing everything about that character, be it an impersonation or imagined, helps determine what the character would say or behave, off-script. To think quickly and come up with ideas on the fly is not only an asset to comedians and actors alike, it helps the everyday person deal with literally anything which comes their way. Improv, as without a net as it may seem (and is), is a lot like life. We never know how someone will react to a situation. To something you might say. And rarely do those who have improvisation in their toolbox, struggle to find the right words or actions.  Improv and the development of characters is something necessary for children in that it keeps their imagination alive while maintaining a sens
Read more

Improv in Action

Image
I've had the extreme pleasure to utilize my improvisation and comedy skills to meet amazing performers and actors alike! Here are some prized moments from my career... I was at the 2012 Comedy Awards and received the "Best Mash-Up Video" Award. Can you spot me in character as Randall (hint, I'm behind the host of "Last Week Tonight")? I interviewed a gaggle of celebrities at the MTV VMAs, in character, as Troy the Confused Tourist.  Me, in character as Randall, at America's Got Talent with one of the judges...Howard Stern. I had the pleasure of appearing on the show in front of a live audience of 5,000. Me on "The Beat with Ari Melber" discussing my character, Randall. Happiness is a warm honey badger! Throughout my career, thanks to my background in performing improv on stage with various troupes and doing stand-up, I've always used my improv skills no matter the event. After writing a book (published by Andrews McMeel), I went on a book t
Read more