Using Letters in Improv Scenes This came up in a class I was teaching last night, and I thought it would be a fun thing to write a blog about; using letters in improv scenes. It’s such an enjoyable move in a scene to come in and…
Holding Both: Art, Business, and the AndAlso Way Running an arts company means constantly balancing two worlds. Art and commerce. Creativity and logistics. Shows and availability spreadsheets. I’ve been thinking a lot recently about energy and artistry. It sits somewhere in the territory of work–life…
Three-Quarters Through the Madness of Impro Amsterdam 2026 I’ll write something practical about the shows later. For now, this is what three-quarters through a festival feels like. It’s a very strange feeling to be homesick at the same time as feeling like I’m at home. Coming to improv festivals transcends…
Influencing Stakeholders Training with Improvisation At AndAlso, we’re often asked about influencing stakeholders training for businesses. And I don’t know about you, but whenever I hear the word influencing, I get a tiny shiver down my spine. I don’t like the idea of it. It…
Disrupting Turn-taking in Improv I recently ran an improv coaching session all about playing with turn-taking, and it reminded me how much there is to explore once you move beyond the basics. When we first start learning improv, “yes, and” is often about taking turns, making sure everyone gets a…
Playing the Protagonist in Narrative Improv Lots of people fall in love with improv because of the collaborative nature of the work. They love the connection it brings with others, and the egalitarian feeling of creating theatre together in the moment. So when it comes to…
Dirty Dancing and Improv: 5 Things They Have in Common Dirty Dancing to me is one of those films so woven into my existence that I can’t have any kind of objective opinion on it, it’s just part of who I am. As is improv. So I suppose…
What to Expect in a Workplace Improv Session: For Introverts, Skeptics, and Anyone Who Hates the Idea Oh no. You’re a total introvert, or maybe you’re just someone who really, really hates the idea of improv, and your boss has signed up your team for a workplace improv…
How to Remember Names in Group Settings: Improv-Inspired Tips for Facilitators and Teachers A quick note: these tips are for remembering names in everyday group settings. I know that some people have memory challenges, like dementia, or other cognitive differences and this is shared with understanding and respect…
Naming Characters in Improv: Why It Matters Names are so important, as I was gently reminded while writing this blog. Naming my kids might be the highest-pressure job I’ve ever had! But naming characters in improv, while lower stakes, can have a surprisingly big impact on your…
How to Handle Improv Audition Rejection Hello! I’m Heather, and I make my living through improv. I perform in shows, teach classes, facilitate applied improv, and occasionally do things like this; writing and thinking about improv. One thing I am not particularly good at, though, is auditions.
Why Embarrassment Feels So Awful—And How Improv Helps I once did an improv show at the Edinburgh Festival with Jim Bowen from Bullseye as a guest. I was so awful that I couldn’t leave the dressing room for over an hour afterwards for fear of seeing anyone that…
