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Date: 12/27/2022
HADLEY – Founded in 2014 by Head of Happiness Pam Victor, Happier Valley Comedy Theatre, provides comedy classes, performances and professional development workshops. They have programming catering to all ages, skill levels, and comedic tastes. The theater is located at 1 Mill Valley Rd. in Hadley.
Victor said that HVC currently offers 10 different weekly classes, which range from beginner-level to advanced.
“Right now we’re running 10 weekly classes. The improv curriculum starts with ‘The Joy and Ease of Improv 1,’ and goes up to ‘The Joy and Ease of Improv 4.’ These are improv curriculums I created after a couple decades of studying and performing improvisation. Then we have a whole bunch of advanced improv classes, as well. Plus, we offer weekly classes in storytelling and standup. And then we have workshops which happen now and then with visiting performers and teachers,” Victor said.
The first half of the month’s shows are of a theatrical and musical nature, but still keep the principles of improv in their work.
“Every single Saturday night at 7 p.m. we have a different improv comedy mainstage show. The first Saturday of the month is an improvised musical created by a group called The Understudies who make up a whole musical on the spot, including the lyrics and everything, and it’s inspired by audience suggestions. The second Saturday is a theatrical improv show with a group called Second Saturday Presents, so that rotates through a bunch of different theatrical improv structures,” Victor said.
The second half of the month features shows with more competitive and family-friendly content.
“On the third Saturday of every month our mainstage show is called ‘Not in Charge,’ which is a fantastic group of friends who all met at Happier Valley classes … they use their true life stories as inspiration for improvised themes …the fourth Friday of the month there is the ‘Championship Show’ which is like if the Super Bowl and ‘Whose Line Is It Anyways?’ had a baby. … There’s one more mainstage show, which is our family show, the ‘Happier Family Comedy Show.’ It happens on the third Saturday of the month at 3 p.m. at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Art in Amherst,” Victor said.
In addition to performing at the theater, Happier Valley Comedy also conducts workplace training. This utilizes the skills that improv teaches to transform employees and aid them with their mental health and their job performance.
“People find that improvisation has all sorts of fantastic applications outside the classroom, too. And in fact, after students’ first eight weeks in ‘The Joy and Ease of Improv 1,’ I ask them ‘I’m just teaching improv, but have you seen any other benefits from taking this class?’ and they’re like, ‘Oh my goodness, yes! So much! It’s helped me with public speaking, with showing up more authentically, with communicating and collaborating, and being more flexible, being in the moment, being more resilient and getting up after challenges’ and all that kind of stuff. So, we have formalized that into a program where we use the tenets of improvisation,” Victor said.
Victor explained that these skills are not radical changes, but rather “micro habits” which amount to tangible growth.
“And then there’s also a wellness component to it. I go in and teach these micro habits that have been proven by scientific studies and evidence to support wellness, the idea being that by just doing a couple minutes a day, you could significantly improve your wellbeing. They’re general habits, like gratitude and meditation, savoring the moment and giving more space to positive experiences. Everything that I do with workplace wellbeing is totally interactive … so it’s a very fun experience as well as very beneficial with lots of skill-building,” Victor said.
The theater is now offering season tickets for the first time in it history. The tickets, which are available for a limited time, come with special perks.
“For the first time ever, we are offering season tickets to our shows. That offer will continue until January. People select one or more of the four shows, and for one fee they get their preferred seat at every show, they get to lock in the 2022 pricing on tickets, so their price doesn’t go up when our prices go up and they get four free tickets to invite friends or family,” Victor said.
Victor said that improv can be thought of as “practicing life,” because of the skills it develops. She feels everyone can benefit from it, and encouraged anyone interested to come check out the theater.
“Improv is an amazing blueprint for navigating life. … Unless you got a script the day you were born, we’re all improvising. … Our shows and our classes provide a way for people to come together with positivity, with laughter and happiness,” Victor said. “Our mission is to share laughter, joy and ease with Western Massachusetts and the world using the tenants of improv comedy, and we really want to make the Happy Valley happier. People can find more information at happiervalley.com.”
HVC programming will return from its holiday break on Jan. 1, 2023.