Improv Your Life ~ Blog No. 28

Hi Creative Explorers,

FYI - From now on Blog emails will be prescheduled for 10am on Tuesdays ~ a more optimal time. I’m creating reliable systems! Thanks for your continued support.

GREAT NEWS

I am SO PROUD of my African-American 7th grade voice student, Haley Walker!

After 14 beginner voice lessons, Haley competed VERY WELL in 4 categories at a middle school performing arts competition!

5-STAR GOOGLE REVIEW

"Karen did an excellent job preparing my daughter for several competitions. As a result of her training my child placed in numerous categories including: semifinals for monologue, 2nd place lip sync, 4th place solo performance, 6th place costume design."

~ LaShonda Walker, Life Coach

Thank you very much, LaShonda!! Haley is DELIGHTFUL and she did AMAZING, as a beginner!!

...and Haley is not the only one benefiting from improv training!

7 Research-Based Benefits of Improv Comedy

Improv reduces social anxiety after 20 min.
Improv boosts creativity.
Improv boosts confidence.
Improv helps promote brain connectivity.
Improv activates language and creativity centers in the brain.
Improv reduces uncertainty intolerance.
Improv decreases stress.”Psychology Today” article by Clay Dinko, PhD, 04/01/2023. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/play-your-way-sane/202303/7-research-backed-benefits-of-improv-comedy

Back in the 2000's, I was a teaching theater artist with SteppingStone Theatre for 4 years, and taught improv and dramatics programs for public schools, day camps, and even the Girl Scouts (400 in one day)!

So, I have seen first hand how improv can change lives!

Fast forward to today, and not only am I continuing to teach improv as a Holistic Voice Coach ~ it's the basis for my New Choice: Improv Your Life! board game, which I am developing.

How does it work?

ROLL > TRAVEL > IMPROV!

1. Roll the dice.

2. Travel around the world and land on one of the 20 country squares.

3. Improv with the help of a Thought, Feeling, Action, or Place card prompt ~ and make money to help your parents pay for college by speaking, singing, acting, or creating a tune. (BONUS $ for RHYMING and making the other team LAUGH!)

Ages 6 to adult - great for families!

Play with 2 - 40 players (on two teams)

IMPROV CARD PLAY EXAMPLE

PLAYER 1: Reads FEELING card out loud: “I feel LOVED!”

OPPOSING TEAM CAPTAIN: Says “New Choice!” and counts with thumb.

PLAYER 1 (or 2): Sings out: “I feel PRETTY, oh so PRETTY!"

OPPOSING TEAM CAPTAIN: Says “New Choice!” and counts with 2 fingers.

PLAYER 1 (or 3): Acts out: “I feel HUNGRY!”

OPPOSING TEAM CAPTAIN: Says “New Choice!” and counts with 3 fingers.

PLAYER 1 (or 4): Speaks out and gestures: “I feel HILARIOUS!”

OPPOSING TEAM CAPTAIN: Says “New Choice!” and counts with 4 fingers.

PLAYER 1 (or 5): Improvises tune with a funny voice: “I feel DELIRIOUS!”