Yes, and You Can Change the World
It’s been a minute since I’ve taught an improv class (okay, it’s been 7 years, but who’s counting?), but the current evolution of The Playful Stage has brought improv to the forefront of my mind recently, for a variety of reasons.
At the first session of a beginning improv class, I would explain that improv isn’t about trying to be funny—rather, it’s trusting in yourself, your scene partner and the process, and allowing a scene to unfold naturally. That process hinges on three main pillars: agreement (that’s the “yes” part), adding information (that’s the “and” part), and commitment.
Another thing I would tell my students is that the skills learned in improv are skills that they can (and probably should) use in daily life. As an instructor, I loved seeing the aha moments when my students would put these tools to use to create brilliant scenes. But what I loved infinitely more was when students would come to me and tell me how the tools I taught them helped them smooth over difficult communications with partners or coworkers, or how they now had the confidence to present their ideas in meetings, or how they were no longer afraid to speak up about their needs, or how they felt empowered to take up space and make themselves heard.
Those stories are why I taught. And my wish for all of my students was to take the tools I taught them and make them their own and use them in ways that would make a difference in their own life and the world, in whatever way made sense to them—and, ultimately, to surpass me. To paraphrase a line from my favorite TV show, Ted Lasso, a good mentor hopes their students will move on; a great mentor knows they will.
I’ve been so inspired to see what my former student Richard is creating at The Playful Stage in terms of inclusivity and a wide range of class and workshop offerings that can benefit students in a myriad of ways. He’s taken what I (and many others, of course; I was only his first improv teacher, certainly not his only one) taught him and added his own heart, putting himself out there with boldness and commitment to his mission of making the life-changing skills of improv accessible to and inclusive of all. And his dedication to being transparent and honest about everything takes courage that I didn’t possess when I went out on my own as an instructor.
It's just my (not very humble) opinion, but I feel like it’s the job of teachers to want their students to become their best selves, and to nurture that and celebrate it. In standing up for himself, being proactive in creating a safe improv space for all, and pushing himself to be the best teacher and human he can be, Richard has shown me what courage looks like and how I still need to improve. I’m delighted to learn from his example and strive to put those same tools to use in my life in bigger, bolder, better ways. This is a teacher who walks the walk, so to speak, and in doing so, empowers others to do the same.
Feeling supported by your instructors is very important in an activity like improv, which, by its very nature, puts people in a vulnerable position. Richard celebrates, values and truly supports his students. He teaches from a place of empathy and empowerment, and he genuinely wants everyone to take what they learn at The Playful Stage and change their lives—or even go out and change the whole world.
The student has surpassed the teacher in every regard, and I feel happy, proud and humble all at the same time. Congratulations, Richard! I can’t wait to see how this scene unfolds!
