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Date: 1/25/2023
AGAWAM – There’s a new Improv Club forming at Agawam Public Library. Its first session begins on Feb. 9, with a meeting from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Judith Clini Community Room.
Facilitator Christian Boor said, “Improv is all about teamwork and having a good time. This is not a class, but just a place to meet people, connect with one another and find a sense of community.” He went on to say, “If people are already experienced improvisers, they’re more than welcome. If you’ve never done improv a day in your life, you are also more than welcome. We are interested in anyone of any age, as long as you’re an adult. It will be very fun for everyone.”
Improvisational comedy is a style of acting where instead of working off of a script, story or plot, everything is made up in the moment. Improv performers often structure their performance as a game, where they are given a situation or general description of a character, then have to fill out the details of the scene and the dialogue, as in the television show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” Improv builds collaboration, as each group of performers plays off each other within a scene, and the team plays off the audience.
Boor studied theater and dramatic arts at Gettysburg College and joined the improv club Shots in the Dark, which he said was a great experience and it changed his life.
In Western Massachusetts, Boor wasn’t able to find improv groups that were free or open to the public. So he met with the director of the Agawam Public Library and proposed the idea of the improv club late last year.
Adult Services Librarian Cher Collins said, “We have never done anything like this here at the library. Our fingers are crossed that it’s a hit in Agawam and Feeding Hills, and we’re excited for Christian to get started.” She continued, “Improv is an offshoot of the arts. It’s something the Agawam Public Library is very supportive of, providing the space and venue to do that, so community members can learn about improv and possibly stretch their wings a little bit and actually give it a try.”
The Improv Club will meet the second Thursday and fourth Tuesday of each month, 6:30-8 p.m. The first meeting will be a loose information session, and afterward each meeting will have a theme, including such topics as “Finding the Game,” “Yes, And,” and “Escalation.”
“Improv is not just about jokes and giggles, it’s a way for people to improve their public speaking skills, improve their confidence and get them out of their shell,” Boor added. “It’s the ability to see positivity in everything you do. I think the [coronavirus] pandemic was just awful for so many people, and this is an opportunity to look for that optimism again. It’s a really good time to bring this experience to other people.”
The library is at 750 Cooper St., Agawam. To register for the Feb. 9 meeting, visit bit.ly/rp13zr.