I never thought I would be writing about my journey into improv theater, but here we are. It started as these things usually do, with a flyer and Chuck searching for a novel experience. The show was an Improvised Newlywed Game, and the laughter was infectious. Afterward, Chuck turned to me and said, “I haven’t laughed that hard in I don’t know when!” And trust me—Chuck laughs a lot. 

Chuck had officially caught the improv itch. His hints about taking a class weren’t exactly subtle, but I managed to hold out for a full six months before finally uttering the magic words: “Yes, and.” It took him approximately thirty seconds to get us both registered for Improv 101 at Hear.Say Theater.

When I told my friends, the reactions were split. Some were eager for updates; others looked at me with pure horror, asking “Why?” as if I’d joined a cult or decided to go vegan again. Yeah, I get it. I was wondering that, too.

My Improv Journey

Looking back, I’m amazed at how much that first class stretched me. It turns out you don’t discover confidence by staying in your comfort zone; you find it by standing in a circle of strangers and being a little bit brave. By the time 102 registration rolled around, a massive wave of FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) hit me. Before I knew it, I was back for another eight weeks.

Our instructor, Josh, was brilliant. Even though he was following a curriculum, he taught with incredible finesse. He has an uncanny ability to provide feedback in the moment—a gentle cue here, a bit of direct eye contact there—always nudging us to relax, lean in, and just have fun.

The Games We Play

Each week, Josh ratcheted up the stakes, introducing new concepts through short-form games. My favorites? Soap Opera Freeze and Party Quirks.

Soap Opera Freeze is a high-octane exercise in absurdity. Six of us are given “tropes”—a baker, a harpist, a French maid—and we build a tangled web of drama based on audience suggestions. During our showcase, I was cast as the “Secret Sister.” My internal monologue immediately panicked: How do I play a secret sister? But that’s the magic—the scene builds itself. Suddenly, Taylor was my evil millionaire sister, and John was her fleeing hedge-fund manager, dodging the FBI. 

Throw in a yoga teacher, and the whole thing spiraled into glorious, dramatic chaos. Before I knew it, the scene was over, and the audience was roaring.

The Power of the “Charger”

We actually opened our showcase with a game called “Invocation.” My classmates absolutely rocked it. They took a simple suggestion from the crowd—a “phone charger”—and elevated it to god-like status through escalating phases: It is, You are, Thou art, and I am.

• “It is never where you can find it!”
• “You are hot!”
• “Thou art a tangled mess!”
• “I am… a charger.”

They delivered the lines with such mock-conviction and “divine” confidence. Bravo!

Putting the Cart Before the Horse

I’m still riding the high from that showcase. It’s essentially a grown-up version of a kid’s piano recital—a way to show off our recently acquired (and occasionally shaky) talents to a room full of supportive friends and family.

There’s already been plenty of joking about our class becoming a real-deal improv troupe. That might be putting the cart before the horse, but in truth, that’s exactly how the best troupes start: a group of people who are just brave enough to be ridiculous together.

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