Today marks one year of improv-comedy training at The People’s Improv Theater. I will say, with no exaggeration, that 2006 has been one of the best years of my life, largely because I have met some truly awesome people along this journey. I think New York City’s greatest irony is that despite a population of 18.7 million (8.1 million in Manhattan), it can by incredibly difficult to meet new people. But on an improv stage, you’re taught from the outset NOT to be strangers, but instead to “know each other” in the scene. So much of my day-to-day is a circuit of events: Wake up, shower, walk to the subway, wait in the same spot on the platform, get coffee at 11:30am — you know the drill. But with improv, the moment a scene starts, I don’t know what’s next. The “what” may be good, bad, funny, not funny — but it’s not yet determined. And in some lucky cases, the “what” is already there, waiting to be found. Tonight is my 40th and final official improv class at the PIT, and on Thursday my classmates will perform one last time under the mantle of Level 5 students. And, yes, improv fans, my classmates and I have seen dozens of faces, and we’ve rocked them all.
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improv is good for you 
Is it too soon after you posted this entry to comment on it? No, I’m not refreshing your blog every 15 minutes, Keith. Get off my back. It’s every 45 minutes IF YOU’RE LUCKY.
I just wanted to tell you that I love you. And that I love this post. Thanks for always making me reflect on this stuff. I also wanted to mention that it really worked out nicely that the Magical Playing Area in good ol’studio 16M has those black drapes as a background. That really aided those photos, didn’t it? Nice. Also, I am going to need a little bit more information about why you’re getting coffee at 11:30am and not at 9:30am or 10:00am or 10:45am, which are all the times of the morning that I can be found getting coffee.
Keith, Happy One Year Improv Anniversary!!!! I can’t wait to see your grinning face at the bar tonight as we knock a few back in honor of how far we’ve come… and in honor of where we’re going. xoxo
Keith — fracture an appendage tomorrow night.
I find the idea of getting up in front of a bunch of strangers and trying to be extemporaneously (sp?) funny completely terrifying. Fortunately for you, you are surrounded with a bunch of good people with the good sense to understand you all sink or soar together. Which is not to say that it’s any easier or any less admirable that you’ve stuck it out.
Good luck with the next step in your improv career.
Great pics. Thanks for all your efforts in the past year, both on and off stage. You are the TRUE fuhrer! Looking fwd to next Wed. and futures shows. – AT
keith:
just wanted to congratulate you on your oneyeariversary! one day, ooooone day i will get up the nerve to actually take a class and get on that stage, instead of watching from behind a camera. though i still have yet to meet you [and now that i’m far away, who knows when i’ll get to!], i think you are completely awesome. consider me part of your fan club.
and i’m not kidding here when i tell you that the little mistake you made, in thinking that i’d moved to chicago a few months ago, totally, *totally* played a part in my actual move here, and i couldn’t be happier [although, i will admit, there are days i miss new york terribly]. anyway: thank you, and hooray, and yay, and congrats.
xo!
brandi.
16M! it has a fake window viewing the tropics!
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