By Sonnjea Blackwell
I forgot to tell you all a funny story. What can I say, I've had a lot on my plate getting ready for Trixie and making posters and web pages for the upcoming Held2gether Improv Comedy for Teens Workshop and cleaning my house for the Trixie after-party. Yeah, even drunk improvisors have some standards of cleanliness.
So anyway, last week at the Level 2 improv class was the night we do some kind of specialized work: some sessions Mr. Held has each person work on something specific they struggle with, like having big emotions, or adding information or being more physical; other times he does an against type exercise, where each person plays a character that's opposite of their usual.
This time around we did the against type thingy. Because all the men in this class are really sweet, we had a bunch of characters all night who were loud, obnoxious jerks. So funny to see these nice guys playing meanies. Oddly, none of the women had to play bitches. I guess that's not against type for us. Hmmmmm.
Anyway, my story revolves (as so many of my stories do) around, um, me. And what was "against type" for Sonnjea? Someone who doesn't talk much. Haha. When you're done snickering, I'll continue. It wasn't just to shut up, although that was part of it because I tend to vomit information and sometimes don't let my scene partners in. But when I did speak, I had to speak dramatically and physically and emotionally because even my so-called emotional reactions tend to be calm and casual. Like me. It was fun to do the overly dramatic part, but I really ended up saying a total of only five words, which was traumatic to say the least. Natalie did an awesome job of getting out all the information - and then some - and it was my job to just react. Of course, in a real scene we wouldn't play it so all-or-nothing, but it was a good exercise to illustrate how being your polar opposite can be fun AND funny.
Okay, I don't have a special message today about how improv will save the world. I mean, it will and all, but this was just a story about how Darren won't let me talk. You see what I have to put up with around here? Sheesh.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Monday, April 18, 2011
Make It a Statement!
By Sonnjea Blackwell
Okay, I learned some stuff from this interesting Tina Fey interview on NPR that my friend and fellow improv-er, Lisa, sent me.
First of all, in case you weren't aware, Tina Fey is funny. No, really. She should look into a career in comedy.
But some of the more interesting bits weren't about being funny. She talked about how in improv, we learn not to ask questions. Well, some of us learn that. Some of us, not so much. But it is a tenet of improv that you want to make statements rather than ask questions, in order to add information to advance the scene and not put the entire burden of coming up with information on your scene partner. Tina said this was also a good rule for life, especially for women. She noted that younger women in particular tend to be almost apologetic in their normal conversation, and ask things rather than being confident in their knowledge or opinions or whatever and just coming out and stating things. Even statements are often delivered with a question-mark tone at the end of the sentence: This is a great party? Let's go bowling? I like tacos?
Let me just say, I like tacos. And I'm not sorry, either.
But I digress. Shocking. Anyway, as Tina was saying, improv teaches you not to ask questions. But Sonnjea says it teaches much more than that - it also teaches you to be comfortable taking a risk like just saying right out there for everyone to hear: I like tacos! You get braver as a result of improv, and you learn to trust your instincts and be comfortable in the gray area - that zone where you don't know what's going to happen next and you can't plan for it because it depends on what someone else says or does.
Tina said some other cool stuff as well, and I'll probably steal more of it later in the week. But for now I just want to add that, as our name states - boldly - improv is for LIFE. Yeah, it makes for awesome entertainment, but the skills taught at Held2gether improv classes in Long Beach improve and enhance day-to-day life in countless ways, and that's where the real value of improv lies.
You'll notice there was no question mark at the end of that last sentence. Right?
Okay, I learned some stuff from this interesting Tina Fey interview on NPR that my friend and fellow improv-er, Lisa, sent me.
First of all, in case you weren't aware, Tina Fey is funny. No, really. She should look into a career in comedy.
But some of the more interesting bits weren't about being funny. She talked about how in improv, we learn not to ask questions. Well, some of us learn that. Some of us, not so much. But it is a tenet of improv that you want to make statements rather than ask questions, in order to add information to advance the scene and not put the entire burden of coming up with information on your scene partner. Tina said this was also a good rule for life, especially for women. She noted that younger women in particular tend to be almost apologetic in their normal conversation, and ask things rather than being confident in their knowledge or opinions or whatever and just coming out and stating things. Even statements are often delivered with a question-mark tone at the end of the sentence: This is a great party? Let's go bowling? I like tacos?
Let me just say, I like tacos. And I'm not sorry, either.
But I digress. Shocking. Anyway, as Tina was saying, improv teaches you not to ask questions. But Sonnjea says it teaches much more than that - it also teaches you to be comfortable taking a risk like just saying right out there for everyone to hear: I like tacos! You get braver as a result of improv, and you learn to trust your instincts and be comfortable in the gray area - that zone where you don't know what's going to happen next and you can't plan for it because it depends on what someone else says or does.
Tina said some other cool stuff as well, and I'll probably steal more of it later in the week. But for now I just want to add that, as our name states - boldly - improv is for LIFE. Yeah, it makes for awesome entertainment, but the skills taught at Held2gether improv classes in Long Beach improve and enhance day-to-day life in countless ways, and that's where the real value of improv lies.
You'll notice there was no question mark at the end of that last sentence. Right?
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Trixie Keeps the Books Improv Show Tonight!!
By Sonnjea Blackwell
Tonight is the Held2gether long form improv show, Trixie Keeps the Books at EXPO Theatre in Long Beach's Bixby Knolls 'hood. You know, in case you live under a rock and have somehow managed to escape the barrage of promos we've done for it.
I'd just like to say publicly that it's been a joy to work with everyone in the long form class: Barbi and I sewed funeral garb on our dead father, Andy and I ruined the song When a Man Loves a Woman for everyone forever, Waverly and I drank ourselves silly - even though we were only 4 years old, Brenda and I celebrated Christmas with Easter bunnies and Thanksgiving with chocolate hearts, Viet shaved my legs at a party, Paul and I gave away our children so we could play pinata in the living room, Lisa was my lizard sister and Robert arrested me for prostitution - again. Thanks, everyone! And especially thanks to Darren Held for yet another amazing improv class!
Okay, enough with the thanking - back to pimping: Trixie is going to ROCK! You know about our awesome cast and this time we also have an awesome set, arranged differently than our last couple of shows at EXPO. And there will be beer and wine (and water - um, whatever) available before the show and during intermission. Doors open at 6:30 and the hilarity begins at 7:00. Five bucks at the door. Come see us! And if you read the blog and/or like us on FB, come up and introduce yourself after the show. I'm the blonde who flaps her arms a lot.
Tonight is the Held2gether long form improv show, Trixie Keeps the Books at EXPO Theatre in Long Beach's Bixby Knolls 'hood. You know, in case you live under a rock and have somehow managed to escape the barrage of promos we've done for it.
I'd just like to say publicly that it's been a joy to work with everyone in the long form class: Barbi and I sewed funeral garb on our dead father, Andy and I ruined the song When a Man Loves a Woman for everyone forever, Waverly and I drank ourselves silly - even though we were only 4 years old, Brenda and I celebrated Christmas with Easter bunnies and Thanksgiving with chocolate hearts, Viet shaved my legs at a party, Paul and I gave away our children so we could play pinata in the living room, Lisa was my lizard sister and Robert arrested me for prostitution - again. Thanks, everyone! And especially thanks to Darren Held for yet another amazing improv class!
Okay, enough with the thanking - back to pimping: Trixie is going to ROCK! You know about our awesome cast and this time we also have an awesome set, arranged differently than our last couple of shows at EXPO. And there will be beer and wine (and water - um, whatever) available before the show and during intermission. Doors open at 6:30 and the hilarity begins at 7:00. Five bucks at the door. Come see us! And if you read the blog and/or like us on FB, come up and introduce yourself after the show. I'm the blonde who flaps her arms a lot.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Improv Workshop for Teens!
By Sonnjea Blackwell
Held2gether has a new improv class to tell you about! And we may even share the awesome poster we made to promote it. But first, a disclaimer.
See, the thing is, I don't understand the concept of "children." I mean, I know what they are, of course (no matter what this blog may have implied, I really am not dumber than dirt). I just don't understand their purpose, or appeal, or really anything about them. In my opinion, people should hatch from an egg or possibly emerge from the trunk of a hollowed-out tree, full grown and with the skills and intelligence of an average twenty-two year old.
Yeah, in my world, life begins at college graduation.
That being said, I am aware that I am in the minority when it comes to the notion of offspring. So when Darren said he wanted to teach a teen workshop in the summer, I thought it was a fab idea. I mean, I know everyone who has kids (and simply adores them, of course) just can't wait to get rid of them during the summer. My neighbors schlep their kids to everything from kids' cooking classes to karate to basket weaving during school vacations. They don't care what they learn, they just want them out of the house for a few hours.
But how about a class that teaches those know-it-all teens how to listen? And agree. You know that's what we teach in improv classes, right? What if your kid actually paid attention to what you said, and then replied with something like, "Yes, Mom, I will take out the trash... and I'll put a new trash bag in the receptacle."
Well, it's only a two-week class, so you can't expect miracles. But after two hours of laughing, they'll at least come home in a good mood and maybe wait a few minutes before starting an argument with their sister about who gets to sit in which chair. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go sit in whichever chair I want and spend the afternoon with people who aren't sarcastic and don't talk back to me. Cuz that's just how I roll.
Held2gether has a new improv class to tell you about! And we may even share the awesome poster we made to promote it. But first, a disclaimer.
See, the thing is, I don't understand the concept of "children." I mean, I know what they are, of course (no matter what this blog may have implied, I really am not dumber than dirt). I just don't understand their purpose, or appeal, or really anything about them. In my opinion, people should hatch from an egg or possibly emerge from the trunk of a hollowed-out tree, full grown and with the skills and intelligence of an average twenty-two year old.
Yeah, in my world, life begins at college graduation.
That being said, I am aware that I am in the minority when it comes to the notion of offspring. So when Darren said he wanted to teach a teen workshop in the summer, I thought it was a fab idea. I mean, I know everyone who has kids (and simply adores them, of course) just can't wait to get rid of them during the summer. My neighbors schlep their kids to everything from kids' cooking classes to karate to basket weaving during school vacations. They don't care what they learn, they just want them out of the house for a few hours.
But how about a class that teaches those know-it-all teens how to listen? And agree. You know that's what we teach in improv classes, right? What if your kid actually paid attention to what you said, and then replied with something like, "Yes, Mom, I will take out the trash... and I'll put a new trash bag in the receptacle."
Well, it's only a two-week class, so you can't expect miracles. But after two hours of laughing, they'll at least come home in a good mood and maybe wait a few minutes before starting an argument with their sister about who gets to sit in which chair. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go sit in whichever chair I want and spend the afternoon with people who aren't sarcastic and don't talk back to me. Cuz that's just how I roll.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Addicted to Improv!
By Sonnjea Blackwell
Lest I inadvertently give you the idea that once you start taking improv classes you'll be hooked, and pretty soon your life will revolve around getting your next improv fix, and you'll turn into a babbling junkie who doesn't think or talk about anything but improv classes or improv shows or improv people, I should just point out that it's really not so bad.
I mean, as far as things to get addicted to go, improv is pretty cool. You learn to listen. You learn to be funny. You learn to work well with others. And if you already knew how to do those things, you get even better at them. So people don't get too upset if you become an improv addict.
But most of my Held2gether troupe- and classmates aren't addicts like me. They have regular jobs that don't have anything to do with H2G or improv. They have families who are not forced to play New Choice at the dinner table. They can get through entire conversations without blurting out, "Make it a statement!"
I know some of you probably think I'm a cautionary tale of what could happen if you start down the slippery slope of improv. But I'm not. I don't have a problem. And I can quit anytime, I swear.
Lest I inadvertently give you the idea that once you start taking improv classes you'll be hooked, and pretty soon your life will revolve around getting your next improv fix, and you'll turn into a babbling junkie who doesn't think or talk about anything but improv classes or improv shows or improv people, I should just point out that it's really not so bad.
I mean, as far as things to get addicted to go, improv is pretty cool. You learn to listen. You learn to be funny. You learn to work well with others. And if you already knew how to do those things, you get even better at them. So people don't get too upset if you become an improv addict.
But most of my Held2gether troupe- and classmates aren't addicts like me. They have regular jobs that don't have anything to do with H2G or improv. They have families who are not forced to play New Choice at the dinner table. They can get through entire conversations without blurting out, "Make it a statement!"
I know some of you probably think I'm a cautionary tale of what could happen if you start down the slippery slope of improv. But I'm not. I don't have a problem. And I can quit anytime, I swear.
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