Improvisational Acting in Chicago and elsewhere
Yo. Hi. Salams. I'm Fawad Siddiqui. Remember me?
I've spent the last three months in Chicago, Illinois, taking improv acting, acting, and sketch comedy writing classes at such esteemed places as Second City and ImprovOlympic (where most of the Saturday Night Live cast members have come from over the years). It's been a phenomonal experience with a wonderful artform.
I've been performing improv acting for the past two years or so, studying and performing, in my native Miami, Florida. I had started to get some legit acting work and had a break in my schedule there, so I decided to come up to Chicago and see how they do things in the "big leagues" of improv.
It's been a very fruitful experience. A supercharged one, and I've been able to get familiar with the work of some of the best and most talented improvisors in the country, and probably the world, through it. I even made friends with most of them.
Anyway, I think I'll share some of my experiences here and also encourage other actors, comedians, or just regular folks with experience with this artform to post here.
Ever seen an improv show live? Check one out in your city! Most cities have troupes or teams performing on a regular basis and tickets are usually super cheap. It's a very unpretentious and light form of local theatre that can often produce the best comedy in town. Kind of an open secret that most people in a city don't think to take advantage of. Anyway, I highly recommend it. And if you end up, like me, taking a class and then eventually maybe even performing, all the better!
The shows and classes and work are all a wonderful creative outlet and usually a very positive and open community to get to know and be a part of. Check it out. You could see someone performing that may go on to be famous.
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