Guys. Tuesday night was incredible. WE GRADUATED (like graduated, graduated) from the DC Improv, and to celebrate, we put on a friends and family show. Yep, we completed Level IV, and therefore have completed all the improv courses DC Improv offers. (All of the emotions!)
We’ve spent nearly the past year learning the basics. We worked on short-form, advancing the scene, long-form, character development, range of emotion, and stage logistics. We were ready, even with all of the butterflies and nerves, we knew we had it in us.
We were broken up in three troupes, each troupe was to perform their own 25 minute Harold. And it was AMAZING. Now that I’m a DC Improv Alumna (still feels surreal), I’m going to share even more life lessons I’ve learned along the way, during this fantastic, life changing journey.
1. Trust is going to come in at number one, this time around. You absolutely have to fully trust your scene partner(s). Trust that they know what they’re doing when they initiate a scene, and you will be fine.
2. With that said, having a solid mutual respect for your partner(s) is very important. It will create a special bond and allow that trust to flow nicely (see above).
3. Support your partner(s). Remember, you are there to make them look good. If they look good, you look good. Do not try to be the funniest one up there, take care of each other on stage. Playing a supporting role will go far.
4. This ties into the YES, AND (which is a critical rule-of-thumb) and I’m going to say that agreement is key. Agreement and commitment to whatever it is, is a must. Commitment to your character, and who you’ve either chosen to be, or who your partner gifted you to be.
5. Energy! You have to, have to, have to walk into a scene with high energy and strong emotion, your audience will eat it up like cake, and go with it.
6. Of course, have fun and live in it. Living in the space and the world you’ve created for yourself and your scene. Keep playing, dig deep and find the funny.
7. You just said something hilarious, let the moment sit and breathe. Give your partner a moment to react. It will add to the scene.
8. Confidence, confidence, confidence not only in your partner(s), but in yourself!
9. Tragedy is comedy gold. And with that said, the truth is hilarious, so pull from your own world. You don’t have to try to make up something crazy. Your world is already funny, bring it to the stage.
10. And finally, LET IT GO. Get out of your head, and don’t overthink.
I know I say this every time, but I can’t believe class has already come to an end. In fact, this is it for the DC Improv. No more classes. As said before, graduated, graduated. What?! It feels like the end of summer camp.
Words seriously cannot describe the love and joy I have for my classmates. There is a special place in my heart for them, and this journey that we went on. I am ridiculously proud, and grateful, and forever changed because of this.
PS. Lessons After the Level II Graduation and lessons after the very beginning of my journey.