At the end of January, I started taking classes at Comedy Sportz Improv Theater. When I showed up for the first class, I wasn't sure where to go. Our instructor was running late and we had some confusion about the location of the class.

As a group, we walked across the parking lot to a second building only to discover we needed to go back to our original location. The walk gave us an opportunity to talk to one another. We were an eclectic group, but we shared a common interest - Improv!

Matt signed me up for the class and I wasn't sure exactly what to expect. I'd seen "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" and had a basic understanding of Improv, but wondered what we would learn in class. Would we be ready to perform infront of an audience after only 8 weeks of training?  

The class started with warm up exercises. These reminded me a little of the activities from dialectic behavior therapy - an effort to teach us to clear our heads and be in the moment. Then, we moved on to games that involved working together.

By the end of the first class, I was frustrated!

My classmates weren't saying the right things. How dare they! Instead of coming up with ideas that fit into a story line, they were adding new ideas that didn't make any sense. Who sits down for a plate of spaghetti when a couple is on the way to the hospital to have a baby?

That night, I learned that I am a control freak. I struggled to accept my classmates offerings because they didn't fit in with ideas in my head. The class was going to be more challenging for me than I had expected. 

As time went on, I started to go with the flow. Some of the games were easier than others. I got better at accepting what my classmates offered me, but I still struggle with not asking questions! AND...every now and then, I still think, "Did he really just say that?" 

Ready or not...our showcase is tomorrow night. I'm nervous, but excited! If you see me in the next 24 hours, wish me luck!