What inspired me to start improv for life, is having a 13 year old son who is an only child and thinks outside of the box. I can’t say I don’t blame him when most of my career choices have always been from an intuitive subjective point of view; which lead me to wanting a platform for kids where others can see their intuitive subjective point of view ON STAGE in a different art form besides band, choir, musical theatre, and basic art (painting, ceramics, or drawing). Those other art forms are important, but generally it’s not the platform where your child stands alone on a stage in front of a live audience for his/her uniqueness to really be seen, to really be heard, and really be challenged. This platform allows middle school and high school kids to walk away and know he/she did that himself; and it can’t be taken away because it is his/her own. This is a place where or when teenagers are having a bad day, they can think to themselves, “if I can just hold on long enough to make it to Improv For Life, then I will be okay.” Adolescents might not consciously know that, but unconsciously they are developing and understanding it’s a place where they can be seen, heard, and feels one’s internal dialogue is funny, unique and exceptional. I believe in storytelling, probably why I received my Masters Degree in Counseling from Radford University in 1999. I’ve worked in criminal justice, was a Substance Abuse Therapist, Foster Care and Adoption Services, and was an Adjunct Professor where I taught Psychology and Critical Thinking. I don’t care if you are young, old, from the wrong side of the tracks, have an addiction problem ,or been in prison, I believe your story matters. I have completed the entire Improv Training through Four Day weekend several years ago, and write and do standup time to time.
