“Yes and” the Cardinal Rule of improv and clearly explains
the acceptance of an idea with which our scenes/games are built upon. But I’ve come to realize that this simple
notion has far more reach in our lives and how we reach our goals.
Let me step back to elaborate. In 1995 I was asked by a co-worker if I could
give him a ride to an improv show after our shift, and he’d get me in for
free. At this time, in Pittsburgh, “Friday
Nite Improv” was the place for students at Pitt, CMU, Duquesne, et.al. to go
for a couple hours every Friday from 11pm-1am and play in a full audience
participation show. At this same time, I
was just beginning to perform in theater and was absolutely clueless to
improv. The explanation was, “It’s like ‘Whose
Line’. If you want to play, you raise
your hand, and hope the host picks you”.
Needless to say, every Friday afterward, until I moved in 1999, I was
there. Eventually, I joined the house
team, “The Susquehanna Hat Company”, and even became a regular host. And to this day, I still keep in touch with
my friends from FNI, even after the show’s 21 year run ended in 2014. Thanks to my co-worker, Steven Werber, I have
someone to blame for every bad scene.
Fast forward to 2019, Las Vegas. I’m now part of the “Old Guard” of
improv. Trained with Second City in Vegas,
performed with multiple troupes at multiple local and Strip venues, hosted my
own version of FNI for three years, and even got to coach many of the players
here in town. And one thing has stayed
consistent, “Yes and”. Not in the obvious
improv sense, but in the fact that every player in this form of art has been
accepting of me. They are my extended family. Yet I didn’t realize this until just a couple
months ago when I joined ComedySportz here in Sin City.
After a 5-year hiatus from regular improv performance, I auditioned
for the team here, and it struck me that these people are my family. The immediate trust given to me during the
audition process and the continued entrust given at practices and during my
first couple of matches is inspiring.
Here I am, 20 years in the game, yet a rookie with CSZLV, and I am
treated with respect and equality. I’m
playing with people half my age, or a fraction of my experience, but that’s
irrelevant. I’m playing with a group of
people that inherently understand “Yes and”, and they don’t realize the true
gift they’ve offered; the gift of family.
Like a family, Improvisers are a unique group. We’re certainly an eclectic group with a vast
set of skills and talents. And the CSZLV
team is no exception. And I’m truly grateful
for their acceptance. It took 20 years
and thousands of performances for this to `click’, but this old dog has learned
something. “Yes and” has new meaning for
me. It’s been ingrained in my performances,
but I hadn’t realized how much it’s entrenched in my personality, my
profession, and my world views. I’m a
better actor because of improv, for sure. But more importantly, I’m a better
person because of improv. Thank you to my
improv family here and across the globe. Yes, and especially to my brother,
Steve. It’s all your fault.
