Improv Looks Easy Right?

My last semester at Columbia I was told by my adviser, Marty, I had to start to make some choices as to what I wanted my next steps to be. He was one of the first people involved at Second City. He suggested for me to take a hard look at Second City as my next steps in my education.

A few classmates of mine were performing at an improv theater called The ImprovOlympic. I went to go see them and to vote for them in this contest called the CageMatch. I had never seen anything like this. In class at Columbia we had been looking at improv as an exercise to create scripted work, or as an exercise to strengthen our acting abilities. This was the first time I had see "long form" improv. The actors took a single word from the audience. From that point they made up on the spot what felt like a one-act play unfolding before me. It was funny, touching, and exciting all at once. I turned to my classmate and said, "This is what I want to do. How do I do this?" His response, "Take a class."

I don't want to take another class. I am so broke. I just want to start being famous already. How hard could it be to just make stuff up? I make stuff up everyday. I never have any idea what I am about to say before I say it, and very often don't even think before I speak. That’s got to be good enough right?

Marty offered me, as well as several students at Columbia, unlimited complementary tickets to see Second City at any time. I had several teachers at Columbia that worked at Second City. Besides Marty, my level two improv teacher Matt was on the E.T.C. stage. My Comedy Cabaret teacher Jim was on the Main Stage and the piano player Jeff had also directed the Main Stage show. Not to mention the head of my Theater Department Sheldon was a founder of Second City. So I had heard a lot about Second City before even stepping foot in the door. But not much more then it was a comedy theater and a place that paid actors to perform.

Of course I took Marty up on his offer of free tickets. I was to meet several of my classmates to see our Comedy Cabaret teacher, Jim, last night performing on the Main Stage. I slowly made my way up the main staircase. The walls were filled with Black and White pictures of famous people. My fingers would run along the small gold plates below each frame saying who was in each shot. A picture of Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd, and John Candy all sitting in the back of the car was at the top of the stairs. I remember thinking "What is this magical place where all this talent found themselves together on one stage?"

The show was fantastically funny. The ladies on stage that night especially took me a back. They were Tina Fey, Rachel Dratch, and Jenna Jolovitz. Up to this point my only female teachers were acting or voice teachers. I couldn't pick who my favorite was, but I knew I wanted in on this.

On Marty's comp I started to go to Second City every few days. Mostly I would go on Tuesday and Wednesday nights when they had room. If the show was sold out I would stay for the free improv set after. I became obsessed with everything Second City. My plan was set for me. I would audition to get into the Conservatory at Second City as soon as I graduated. Then after a few months I am sure I will get on the Touring Company. Shortly after that be placed on Main Stage. To only quickly be picked up by SNL. My five-year plan was set. It seemed easy to achieve as long as I stuck with the plan.

My next post will be about how that five year plan didn’t work out the way I hoped it would.