Vintage Improv Festival

For improvisers 50+

Steve Circeo

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Improv in the Third Act

By Margot Escott

“You can’t help growing older, but you don’t have to grow old.” – George Burns

Almost a decade ago, my family sat in the hospital waiting room, waiting to hear the outcome of the surgery I was undergoing to repair the damage caused by a sudden cerebral aneurysm. My surgeons appeared with the good and the bad news for my family. I had survived the surgery, but my surgeon warned, it was too early to know if I would recovery my memory or ever speak again. To which my brother responded, “Too bad about the memory.”

As you can tell, I grew up in a family that laughed a lot. The 1950s were the stage for the “First Act” of my life. It was filled with hours of us gathered around a black and white television laughing along with “Leave it to Beaver,” “I Love Lucy,” Imogene Coca, Sid Caeser, Jack Parr, Red Skelton, Danny Kaye, Ernie Kovacs, George & Gracie, Carl Reiner. Regardless of what was happening in the world, these shows made you laugh and feel better.

Inspired by these comedy greats and by the work and teachings of Norman Cousins and others like him on “The Healing Power of Laughter & Play,” I used my “Second Act” to become a social worker and tour the country holding workshops to teach other therapists to use humor and play to help their clients.

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Relationship Building is Key to Good Longform Improv

By Tara Moorman, PhD

When I first started my Improv journey, I had no idea that that was true.  It never even crossed my mind.  Yes, the show that actually made me WANT to try this beautiful artform was ALL relationship, but I didn’t really know what I was seeing – just that I liked it.  I actually thought that what I was watching was an anomaly.  I’d been to shows before, and they just felt jokey and silly to me.  The players were sometimes quick and sometimes funny, but really, I didn’t see much that flipped my switches….until that ONE show.  I didn’t know WHY I loved it.  I just knew I wanted more of it, and I wanted to learn whatever magic that particular duo had to teach.

I stepped into my first Level 1 class almost 3 years ago, and I haven’t turned back.  I’ve taken lots of classes and traveled to play and to attend workshops.  I’ve watched A LOT of Improv.  I’ve learned many things, and I think I’ve gotten better at Improv generally.  The core of everything though, that piece that keeps me coming back and, in my not so humble opinion, makes everything else work, is Relationship.  

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