Fourth Fridays Improv Workshop

Fourth Fridays Improv workshop started off with a “bang,” “eeek,” and a “bading.”  Located in The Black Box Theatre in the Dickinson Building at Piedmont Virginia Community College. Brad Stoller, the improv workshop instructor, prepares by taking off his shoes and stretching.

“The more you try to think of something to do the longer it takes for it to show. That’s what improv is really about, seeing if something can come from the ‘I don’t know,’” said Brad.  Improv, short for improvisation,  is a form of live theatre in which the plot, characters, and dialogue of a game, scene, or story are made up in the moment.

I was able to sit down and talk with a workshop attendee named Roland. He is new to the Charlottesville community and as an actor, Roland is involved in theatre. When asked what improv was to him, he said “improv is fun, exciting and spontaneous. If you don’t like where a scene is going you can take it in a new direction. You have to think on your feet.”

When asked what keeps him interested in improv, he replied, “I am an actor and improv is just another tool in my toolbox.”

After observing the first half of the workshop, I was amazed. I realized that improv is not just verbal communication. It is nonverbal as well. The feelings and emotions conveyed by nonverbal gestures and sound effects help tell a story capturing the essence of spontaneity.

I decided to put the pen and paper down and participate in the last half of the workshop and was completely surprised at how natural improv is. Improv is for everyone.