I was fortunate enough to host the last round of Thunderdome which in my humble opinion was the best round I have seen. All 3 teams had great shows, if I was an audience member, it would have been a tough vote.
More importantly. Conversations after the show really made me proud to be an improviser here in KC. I think people are starting to realize that this can't be the next Chicago, LA, or NY. It just can't. They are larger cities, with a larger talent pool. However, I had some great conversations with people that agree with me on one thing we can do to help improv all around.
Why can't we be a stepping stone to those cities? Many people that come from Second City, and other established improv institutions, say that it was their University. So, it gets me thinking that Kansas City could be a High School of Improv, or (gasp) a Community College for those larger established institutions.
Roving Imp has started something that no one else in KC has right now. The ability to take improv classes, and perform as well. If that isn't a start to a training center, then I don't know what is.
There are no tiered levels, there is not enough interest yet to create the levels, but the pieces are in place, and I for one am proud to know that if anyone can handle it. It is the Roving Imp Theater. It is amazing to think what that Theater has done in 2 and a half years, and it will be amazing to see what it can accomplish in the next 2 and a half.
Kansas City Improv is making a turn right now. There are the great groups that have been around a while, but now there are groups that have sustained themselves for at least 2-3 years. We are starting to see some High School and College improvisers, but they need a place to perform and a place to train. (of course, collaboration with the aforementioned groups would be nice, but that is a whole other topic)
There is Exit 16, but that is for Liberty High School students only. (Don't get me wrong, if it wasn't for this program, improv would be less relevant in KC.) The College improvisers just made a name for themselves and created their own shows, which is inspiring to see. But it would be nice to see High School and College students interested in improv have a place to train and perform here in KC.
So, my question is, where do you see it going? What is the next step?
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5 comments:
—Improvisers have to be willing to put in the time, effort and money to take classes. As a community, we've got a big, bad sense of entitlement—we audition or start our own troupes and get to play right away. The majority of improvisers in KC today have very little training beyond what they get from their own directors.
—Once they're trained, they have to be willing to teach. It's not as glamorous as playing, maybe, but it SHOULD pay more.
Until improvisers are willing to pay for classes, teachers won't be willing to teach. And then we're stuck in a cycle where bad habits get reinforced and we grow at a snail's pace because a tiny percentage of troupes and players are doing the majority of the innovative work.
Thanks for the topic Kieth!
General disclaimer, I'm fairly new to the Improv world, but have learned through the immersion method!
I don't know if I agree that KC may not be the next Chicago, LA, NY.... I guess it depends on what we are looking for. I have seen shows in several cities including several in chicago... And while I have seen some amazing shows there, the consistency of quality wasn't there. There are disadvantages to these larger improv meccas... Everybody goes there to "live the life" and therefore the "Talent Pool" becomes more dilute...
While I agree that KC probably won't become a *Large* improv arena, I don't know why it can't be known for the quality of the shows... There are a lot of very talented performers here who are committed to bettering themselves, and many students who are as enamored as I am with the art of improv.
New improvisers learn amazing things being allowed to perform with the seasoned super-talents of the area... something that doesn't really occur in the larger arenas!
Trish's students and the Roving Imp are both a part of this, along with innovations such as Thunderdome!
I see nearly 200 shows a year, and the quality is on par or better than the shows I've seen in Chicago!
One of my biggest pet peeves as a Kansas City improviser is other improvisers that say things like "People in other cities really need to see what we're doing here" or things of that nature.
On that note, I think the biggest difference between us and other cities is that there are more people here in KC that treat Improv as either hobby or something that isn't tops on their list of importances. Not to say that those people (because I am one of them) don't take Improv seriously enough to want to get better. If paying money to take classes are the only way for a performer to get better, well then, I don't know what to tell you. I didn't participate in festival workshops these past two years strictly due to money. That doesn't mean that I don't want to grow as a performer.
What I have done recently is that I have gone up to the Roving Imp to do a couple of shows. John allowed myself and a couple other members of my troupe to mix in with two of his casts. Performing with people that you do not normally play with is another great option for growth. Just another reason for people to contact John and get up to the Roving Imp.
One more thing this blog has made me think about - running a free harold workshop either monthly or bimonthly. I did it once and would like to do it again.
Next step:
I generally agree with Trish, but mostly, just her first 13 words:
"Improvisers have to be willing to put in the time, effort and money."
This applies to classes, running troupes, seeing shows, etc. Do or do not, there is no try. And workshops aren't the only way of trying. We take huge risks on stage, why don't we take huge risks off stage? Do an innovative show. Bet big on a new venue. Do the marketing. Take that class. Teach that class. Reach out to those younger performers. See more shows.
Where is it going? Only time will tell. Extra helpings of great improv leads to more innovation in all sorts of actor-y endeavors. My guess is a mix of some of these: comedic plays, a web series or three, reaching out to traditional stage plays, commercial endeavors such as voice overs and commercials, and hopefully, above all else, further growth and community building in improv.
I went through the moment of doubt with respect to paying for training with which everyone here has no doubt wrestled. I finally settled on a thought process that went something like this, "I pay for gym membership because it's social, it makes me sharper and more active, and it allows me to age at a slower rate. It's a long-term investment in myself. So too is Improv." And that pretty much settled it. Thankfully, John doesn't charge us that much, and if we bring 5 audience members to our class shows, he charges us nothing at all.
One-off workshops, like the ones at the Festival, are another matter altogether. While reasonably-priced for me, since I have modest expenses, a decent job, and reasonable savings, I know 35-50 bucks is a pretty steep expenditure for someone living paycheck to paycheck. I think it's worth exploring the possibility of need-based and/or merit-based scholarships for next year's improv festival. I feel that the classes will be better and help the scene more if all KC's best improvisors participate, instead of just our improvisors with financially sound footing.
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