Video highlight from our January KidProv Event

Jackson Hall, 7th grader at Griffin Middle School, joins the KidProv comedians on stage during an FGA members-only event.

On Jan. 13, FGA members (29 adults and 43 kids) unleashed our inner creative, collaborative comedians in an evening of hilarious improv with KidProv! Kudos to all of our very funny and engaged participants, and many thanks to Clark Middle School for hosting!

Improv is a wonderful way to learn in a fun, inclusive, lower-pressure environment. Its basic rule is "Yes, And" -- meaning the participants are asked to accept what their team members have suggested ("Yes"), and then build on that idea ("And"). Many educators and learners are enjoying the benefits of incorporating improv into the curriculum. Check out this article for inspiration: How Improv Can Open Up the Mind to Learning in the Classroom and Beyond.

And Now, a First-Hand Account of Improv Night from 7th Grader Jackson Hall:

I really didn't know what to expect from KidProv. They told me it was where kids get on stage and start acting. When we got there I was pleasantly surprised.

I don’t take theatre as one of my electives, I haven't taken any theatre classes, I haven't even been to anything like KidProv. I never liked following a script. Maybe it's just the rebellious teenager, or the GT student in me, but I don’t like people telling me what to do. I like to come up with things on the fly. That’s exactly what KidProv allowed me to do. I got to decide where the story went.

There were no rules or restrictions for me to follow. Just getting up on stage and thinking fast, being reactive, and me being me. It was a great opportunity to express myself and make people laugh along the way. They introduced it in such an intriguing and interactive way, I just had to get up on stage and try it for myself.

The audience chose the location and what the character was doing. It didn’t matter where or what they said, I had to roll with it. I’m not going to go into full detail on what it was about, but apparently I did well enough to earn myself a spot in this newsletter. KidProv did an amazing job of letting me roam and explore the possibilities of improv. My name is Jackson and I highly recommend you attend the next FGA event.