A new improv group in Petaluma has taken the stage by storm. Within just a few months, over a dozen community members have assembled at Clear Heart performing arts theater to bring eccentric personalities to life under a warm and welcoming spotlight.
The improv group is a gathering for anyone who wants to take part in theater and improvisation games that do not include the watchful, and often judgmental, eyes of an audience. The group reviews the basics of improv, performs a few warm-up activities, then jumps right in to numerous improv exercises. Improv enthusiast and founder of the improv group, Janice Hardy, along with other active members of the group, take turns leading each meeting. Anyone can suggest an improv game to play. After the scene has ended, the group will often discuss what worked well and what could be improved as a learning tool, but the focus is on laughter and entertainment.
The improv group began developing in April of this year. Hardy had previously studied and performed improvisation many years ago, and wanted to get back onto the stage.
“I approached Leslie Scatchard from Clear Heart, and she has been very enthusiastic and supportive, and helped me get the word out,” said Hardy.
With this improv group, Hardy wished to create a safe, welcoming and positive environment for the participants. Those who have attended have exhibited skills in not only theatrics, but also courage.
“The people who have shown up are so willing to take a chance and get out of their comfort zones,” said Hardy.
Dan Gaines, an improv group attendee and frequent facilitator was an involved part of an improv group in college, along with running the improv group at Sonoma State University for a year. Gaines has brought his trained knowledge of improvisation to the spotlight of the small-town group.
“When you are doing improv, you are creating stories on stage that you have never thought of before,” explained Gaines. “We practice embodying different characters and exaggerating them - not for the sake of being funny, but funny things usually come out of it. We’re just trying to be critical and improve our skills in regards to creating things that are grounded in reality, but absurd.”
Improvisation truly defines the way to perform a task on the spot.
“Giving up the preconceived ideas that you had and just trying to do the best that you can in a foreign situation embodies, to me, all of the wonderful things that improv has to offer,” said Gaines.
The art of improv presents life lessons along with stage lessons.
“Listening to others, saying yes, going toward what seems scary instead of playing it safe,” added Hardy, to name a few. “My favorite thing has been watching people who have never tried it before jump in and do great. I think it just takes letting out your playful spirit.”
“I think that there is an interesting thing about the art form of improv because, more than any other art that I know of, improv is equally for the performers and the audience. There are games that we’re playing, and we are enjoying them almost more than the audience because we are getting to put these funny ideas in and see how our other improvers respond to it,” said Gaines. “I think it is a unique experience to improv, and that’s what draws me to it over and over.”
The improv theater group convenes every other Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Clear Heart performing arts theater, 90 Jessie Lane. All skill levels from beginners to seasoned performers are invited to attend.
For more information, contact Janice Hardy at hardy3kell@comcast.net.
(Contact Kate Hoover at argus@arguscourier.com)
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