After just three weeks of Saturday improv classes, we have a small but strong group of 4-6 teenagers. They want to be there, they're not afraid to look silly, and I can see them already building skills.
Not only are they participating in my group, but they are becoming a part of the theatre. Starting the improv group has brought adolescents into our theatre community.... and that, is sssssssssssooooooooooooooooooo beyond exciting. Today, I told them that if they came back at 6:00 to help set up chairs and worked as ushers/sold food at the soda they could see the play for free, and that it was a great opportunity for them. They came. As we were all working together - setting up chairs to the beat of the pop music filling the theatre, I remembered what a community theatre builds. What a space it creates for, especially, adolescents. I remembered the feeling that caused me to study theatre arts education in the first place.
Watching the little group of them running the soda, laughing, making silly jokes about charging my water bottle rent for sitting on the table and charging service fees for handing people chips, I felt so proud that they were there. And that maybe I helped a little bit to set this experience in motion for them. And that maybe this beginning would lead to a journey that would continue far longer than the bit of the path I am walking with them....
Very cool what's happening with the theater and the improve class helping out is way awesomeness....
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