Washington Improv Theater, Free To Me, and Other Confessions
March 20, 2008 · Print This Article
I remember the moment– the exact moment– I realized what it was I wanted to do with my life.
Ah, yes… how could I forget? It was summer and I was at recess with my friend Natalie. We were on the monkey bars… but, wait… it must have been spring, rather than summer, if we were at recess, right? But whatever! The moment is tattooed on my brain! Natalie and I were on the slide… except it must have been Dominique because Natalie didn’t like the slide… and… oh, hell, I may as well burst into a soulful rendition of “I Remember It Well” from Gigi, the 1958 Academy Award winning musical film starring Leslie Caron, Louis Jourdan, and Maurice Chevalier, and be done with it! GOSH. I didn’t say I could focus clearly on the minutiae of the moment! I just said I remember the moment! The having of it! So step OFF me.
*ahem*
So, Dominique asked me what I wanted to do when I grew up.
Well, this was a deep question in the sixth grade, I tell you what. We’d gone way beyond, “Do you like me? Check yes, no, or maybe.” And as an aside, why “maybe”? Had no one taught us that “maybe” was the new “no, but I don’t want you to cry or hit me at recess”? Honestly.
I remember thinking very seriously about Dominique’s question. Probably for more than a minute, even. No one had ever asked me that question before, you see. And then, I just knew.
“I want to make people laugh,” I said with conviction. “You know, like Erma Bombeck!” (Shut up. I was eleven.)
Oh, the folly of youth! There I was, thinking there was a career to be had in making people laugh! Ha! There Dominique was, asking “Who the heck is Erma Bombeck?” Double ha!
Dominique and I drifted apart in junior high.
So, there it is. I’ve always wanted to be a comedian. Or a lawyer. And for a short while, there was that dream of becoming a professional Orca trainer at Sea World. (Hey! They get to swim with Shamu. And ride the dolphins!) Sadly, not one of these careers has ever panned out.
That being said, guess what?! Give up? Okay! I have been invited to attend some (free!) improv classes at Washington Improv Theater, that’s what! But, hello? Scary. I mean, I’m not sure what to expect. For instance, will I be required to take part in any type of miming activities? Because I don’t mind saying that mimes? Give me the wiggins. With their imaginary glass boxes and drinking from cups that aren’t there and whatnot! Good LORD! It’s just not RIGHT!
On the other hand, I’m pretty sure I already mentioned the free-to-me part. No cost whatsoever. Totally free.
I’m torn. Should I set aside my Metamfiezomaiophobia and sign up? Well? Should I?!
Oh, who am I kidding? I’m going in, y’all, the possibility of being trapped in a glass box be damned! I’ll see you on the other side.
(Any one in the DC Metro area who has a wild a hair and wants to join me, give me a holler! Or an email! Whichever!)
How cool! Have fun!
Improv is always fun…If I lived there I would so go. I used to run and Improv classlike 7years ago. It was not really a class but more like a “hey who wants to try improv? Lets meet up at the Recreational center and goof off.” It was always fun.
Hey! I’m the Managing Director of WIT, and I PROMISE that there will be no imaginary glass boxes, just some low-pressure fun. We’re having free workshops next week Mon, Tue, Wed, Thur from 7-9 PM. Email me to take the plunge with DWM - topher@washingtonimprovtheater.com