“Improv at the BES”

A year ago, we started our improvisational theater group on a drop-in basis, open to people having any level of improv experience. Six people (one of whom just moved) have been very committed and have participated just about every week we met. This group includes both BES members and nonmembers. Some have some prior experience while two have never done anything like this before in their lives. The name “Humanist Improv Group” is appropriate because really good improv is based on humanist principles, the chief one being that bringing out the best in others is the way to bring out the best in ourselves. While many view improv as a vehicle for getting quick laughs and being the star of the show, the core of good improvisational theater is paying close attention to and supporting scene partners along with maintaining the “truth” of the scene. The comedy naturally flows from that. In our presentation we will perform improvised scenes, discuss how the various skills we have been working are exhibited (or should have been exhibited) in the scenes, and engage in some personal reflection on our experience. We’ll also give a brief history of improvisational theater, including some video excerpts of some amazing show from the past.