Have you ever wondered what it would be like to share the theater stage with other actors who are testing their ability to think on their feet by doing improv? You don't know the answer until you try, and you can do so right here in Springfield. Capital City Improv is a nonprofit organization established in 2017 that has as its mission to bring improv to the Springfield area by teaching workshops on the basic skills of improvisation.
Hope Cherry, actor, improv teacher and contact person for Capital City Improv says, "It's great if you've never experienced it. It makes my heart warm when people join because it improves lives. Maybe some have social anxiety, or they need help thinking on their feet more quickly. Improv has many practical applications. It is fun and used for entertainment, but you also learn to read people better by picking up on nonverbal cues. It builds trust because you rely on your improv partners to give you information, and you trust the interaction will go a certain way. It's most rewarding when you see people use it as a practical application."
Capital City Improv has members who have some experience and others who have done scripted theater but never tried improv. Stand-up comedians join because it improves their skills. No matter if you have experience or if you're a novice, you can audition for a troupe and see what it feels like to do improv in front of a live audience.
Capital City Improv is a resident of Hoagland Center for the Arts, and that's where most of the shows are offered. "It's great to see people experience improv and enjoy it," Cherry said. "It's attainable. You don't have to be from Second City or someone looking to go to SNL."
Cherry noted that improv is a part of each and every day; even sports are improv. "You have to make decisions based upon the actions of others. There are rules that guide you, and you have to anticipate and have trust within your team. You learn how to prepare for the moment," she said.
"We love to have people see our shows, but it's also important that we give back with free workshops offered throughout the community," Cherry said.
