Great Things are Happening!

This Muse is one happy camper!

Here are a few upcoming events and some others news that I’d love to share. Hope to see all of you, or at least some of you there!

Come on out Cher, Clair, Mar, and bring your Opare.

‘Cus these events will be something extrodinaire

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Lessons-Of-Laughter-Fun-New-Programs.html?soid=1101242677820&aid=zZlwLPdN3AM

The Kids Speech

Improv Classes Designed For Young People Who Stutter

Maryann Kaminsky of In Plain English, and Christine Walters of Lessons Of Laughter and ComedySportz, are teaming up to provide a series of improv programs to help students with speaking disorders increase confidence and learn theatre tips and techniques to aide in speaking with ease.

Maryann is a speech therapist, and president of In Plain English LLC. She teaches clear, confident communication skills. Christine is an improviser, director, and founder of ComedySportz Improv Theatre of Richmond and president of Lessons Of Laughter. Over the past 18 years of improv, Christine teaches acceptance, commitment, teamwork, trust, and how to fail, and fail big.

Both women worked with students at Anna Julia Cooper Episcopal School in Richmond, Virginia during the 2010 – 2011 school year. A student of Maryann’s demonstrated dramatic  improvement in her speech in the early spring of 2011. When asked what was different, she replied; “I have confidence”. When asked what made the difference she stated;  in my improv class here at school my teacher expects me to do what everyone else is doing”.

After connecting with Christine and realizing how complimentary the goals of their individual programs were,  they decided to create programs, weaving both speech therapy and improv techniques together for people who stutter. This Fall three “LOL In Plain English” programs will be launched. Each class will offer 6 weeks of improv training and will conclude with a performance by the students for their family and friends.

Classes will be held at the new ComedySportz Improv Theatre 8906 West Broad Street, Richmond VA, 23294. Each class is two hours. There will be three programs offered; for Elementary, Middle and High School age students. A program for adults is in the planning stages. Please contact us for more information.

Dates of Programs:

Elementary Program: grades 2 – 5 October 4, 11, 18, 25, November 1, and 8
Middle School Program: grades 6 – 8 October 5, 12, 19, 26, November 2, and 9
High School Program: grades 9 – 12 October 6, 12, 19, 27, November 3, and 17

Program cost: $250.00

Classes are limited to 12 students per session. Scholarships are available for each program series. To register for the program contact maryannkaminsky@mac.com or call 804-539-8843.

To contact Christine, that would be me, with any questions about this program please call 804.833.2067.

I’ve Got Your Back

“I’ve Got Your Back!” These are the words we say pre show at ComedySportz just before we’re introduced. We high five each other, and pat each other on the back and say “I’ve Got Your Back”. And we do!

Many people think that improvisation is about being funny, and that only really funny people can perform improv. Well, personally, I think everybody is an improviser, and with time and practice we get better every day, month and year.

Being funny happens. It just happens. We have all been funny at one time or another. Improvisation is feeling safe and comfortable. Trusting the other people with you in the scene, and knowing that they will support your ideas, efforts, and performance. Once you know you can trust the other members of your team, you can commit to performing. Once you commit to performing and just start playing together a funny thing happens, and then comes the laughter.

One student, always thought he was funny and he knew how to perform improv. He always forced the funny, and tried to be funny, which resulted in not being funny at all. He was more interested in him and his performance. Of course this frustrated the other students in the class. Then, during their gradation performance something happened. He started to focus on his team mates and make them shine. He had their backs! He supported his team and a funny  happened almost as a mistake. He hadn’t expected the scene to unfold as it did, but you could see he was just going with the moment and performing with his team. In doing so, the audience laughed and laughed hard. You could see the transformation on his face as he realized, in that moment, how making your partner look good made him look good.

When the show was over, the group bonded and hugged each other as they laughed and learned an important lesson. The lesson of “I’ve Got Your Back”.

John Adams

I know it’s crazy, but since I was a little girl my favorite musical was 1776. This is a musical based on our founding fathers, which sounds like it should be a comedy. In 1977 my brother, an avid musical lover,  had the record, yes record, and he would play it all the time. When he wasn’t around I would sneak into his room and borrow the record. Which usually got me into a good amount of trouble.

I loved singing those songs. My favorite character is the portrayal of John Adams.  At one point in a heated debate over Thomas Jefferson’s point of view on slavery, the Southern delegates walks out of congress. Those for independence feel an overwhelming sense of defeat as the final vote to sign the Declaration of Independence is the next day. After a brief time out, Adams composes himself, devises a plan of action to win back the South, and is moved to sing “Is Anybody There”. This song was song with such passion and strength, and the lyrics were all about commitment. At the time, I just liked the excitement and energy of the song. It wasn’t until much later that I understood the value of the lyrics.

Adams:
Is anybody there?
Does anybody care?
Does anybody see what I see?

They want to me to quit; they say
John, give up the fight
Still to England I say
Good night, forever, good night!
For I have crossed the Rubicon
Let the bridge be burned behind me
Come what may, come what may

Commitment!

The croakers all say we’ll rue the day
There’ll be hell to pay in fiery purgatory
Through all the gloom, through all the gloom
I see the rays of ravishing light and glory!

Is anybody there? Does anybody care?
Does anybody see what I see?

I see fireworks! I see the pagaent and
Pomp and parade
I hear the bells ringing out
I hear the cannons roar
I see Americans – all Americans
Free forever more

How quiet, how quiet the chamber is
How silent, how silent the chamber is

Is anybody there? Does anybody care?
Does anybody see what I see?

Ooof right. I mean, well, can’t you feel it? Ooof! Not only has this musical taught  a great deal about John Adams, our founding fathers, and the Declaration of Independence, it also teaches of Attitude, Commitment, Teamwork and Trust. And one interesting aside, this musical was based on the letters of John Adams, Abigail Adams, and Thomas Jefferson.

I’m fairly certain, the songs, and lyrics were not sung by Mr. Adams, or that our founding fathers really sang any of these songs. I do believe that this song captures who Adams was, and his beliefs in commitment.

Happy Fourth of July to you all! Enjoy your holiday, the cooking out, the fireworks, the baseball games, the pool parties, and watching the movie musical of our founding fathers…1776!

Can’t Sleep!!

So I decided to not fight it, and just get up. Wayne Dyer is a big proponent of the concept that if you can’t sleep at night, take that time to get up and write. It is his belief and many others, that this is the time when source, God, Universe whatever you believe in, is trying to connect with us and when we are most open to receive the message.

After browsing on Facebook, I saw a video pic of a student I’ve had the pleasure of teaching at Center For The Arts, Miranda Harrison, with a young girl that was obviously going through an illness. As Miranda is currently Miss Hanover VA, I thought perhaps one of her Miss Hanover ambassador visits was visiting children in the hospital to give inspiration, encouragement and cheer.

The message under the video was intriguing. It stated:

WE DID IT ABBIE!!! NEVER SAY NEVER!!! ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

So I clicked.

Miranda and Abbie

Miranda and this young girl start singing Justin Bieber’s song Baby, Baby, Baby. It’s a wonderful little video clip of two girls just having fun together.

After jumping onto Miranda’s Facebook page I saw this post.

JUSTIN BIEBER RESPONDED TO A TWEET WITH A VIDEO OF ABBIE SINGING “PRAY” TODAY! THANK YOU GOD!!!!! HER WISH CAME TRUE! TEARS OF HAPPINESS RIGHT NOW FOR MY ANGEL ABBIE! WE DID IT!!!!!!

I quickly jet off a note to Miranda asking about the young girl and what the message meant.

She responded:
She is my God Sister and Miss VA Princess. She died of stage four rhabdomyosarcoma in April, 2 days after her 9th birthday, and that video was taken less than a month before she passed away.  She was obsessed with Justin Bieber and we made about 20 music videos singing for him and we’ve been sending them to him for months and he finally replied today.

At this very moment, Miranda is at the Miss Virginia Pageant. This is probably a very wonderful time for her, and yet, I can’t help thinking that it must be emotionally difficult to participate in the event after losing a family member that was also involved in the pageants. And after months of trying to get Abbie’s video to Justin Bieber she finally gots a response.

“what a precious little girl. it warms my heart to see such devoted fans. seeing fans like this makes me love what i do. im truly sorry for your loss. thanks for the video. peace, jb.”

One might think it’s a coincidence, others might think it’s an interesting co incidences. Some might think it’s a sign, and others might think it’s a little angel named Abbie reaching out and saying back to her God sister – We did it! Now you do it!!

Good luck Miranda! Abbie is with you! Sending positive vibes your way! God Bless you both.

Miranda is trying to start a campaign called “Pray 4 Princess Abbie”. She passed April 22, 2011. Abbie was at the ASK clinic at MCV.

Nothing was going right!

It’s been one of those weeks where it seems that nothing is going right. Is Mercury in Retrograde again? No. Just one of those days.

As hard as I tried things just were not clicking together. I was thinking of just sitting on the floor, crossing my arms, furrowing my brow, and saying herumph waiting for it all to pass. Who knew how long that could take though. All the signs were pointing to the same message, “it would appear that it was time to just take a break”. Well, I’m much more stubborn than that so I continued to work feverishly at accomplishing a big fat nothin’!

Soon it was time for me to head off to the improv class I teach at Anna Julia Conner Episcopal School in Church Hill. I left early to stop and get a Coke Zero for the drive. Oh, and by the way, have you tried Coke Zero? I wasn’t going to, because it sounded like Coke Nothing to me. One day it was the only choice, so begrudgingly I sampled the “nothing” soda. A MAZ ING! Now it’s the Coke Gotta Have. Perhaps they’ll rename it.

Where was I, ah yes, I left early, got my soda and onto the highway to…you guessed it…sit in traffic making me late for the class! As I sat there I screamed out “I WANT THIS DAY TO START MOVING!!!”

The student at AJCES are great. Oh, it’s not easy to teach improv to young people that have never seen improv.  They’re seventh graders, and just about at that appathetic age, but it’s truly a joy to teach, to play with them. More of those stories to come in future blog entrees.

As the day started, the kids were a bit less focused then usual. One of them even said I’m board, I don’t want to do this. At this point, I just chalked the comment up to the make up of the day. Slowly, however, things started to turn around.

After class, when I got back to the office there was an email from the speech coach of AJCES.

“I just wanted to touch base with you regarding one of your students. We have been working together on her speech this year and I have noticed tremendous improvement lately which she says is due to working with you in the Improv class at AJCES. She said her confidence has improved because you expect her to do everything that everyone else is expected to do. I would love to chat with you sometime to hear more about your work.”

Wow! What a note. All because I teach the children how to play. Correction, how to play with each other.

Ah, after a note like that its time to put the pen down, turn the computer off, and take a much deserved break. Eventually we all see the benefits of our hard, often slow moving, work.

ComedySportz Improv Theatre Open For Lau

ComedySportz Improv Theatre Open For Laughter! http://ow.ly/4RvG4

ComedySportz Improv Theatre Postpones Op

ComedySportz Improv Theatre Postpones Opening http://ow.ly/4RrLU

ComedySportz Improv Theatre Postpones Op

ComedySportz Improv Theatre Postpones Opening http://ow.ly/4RrDE

Abundant Relationships

Living in Harmony with Yourself and Your Relationship
• Do you sometimes feel that your relationship is all work and no fun? • Do you feel stuck and long for a way to move forward as a couple? • Is the condition of your home a challenge in your relationship?
If you want to learn how to live, love and laugh in a richer life and a richer relationship with yourself and your life partner, register now!
In this seminar you will learn:
☀ to make more play through the stresses of your day, ☀ five steps to make your dreams a reality, and ☀ how to improve relationships by decluttering your home.
Presenters:

Christine Walters – inspirational comedian, professional speaker, and owner of Lessons of Laughter

Vickie Griffith – professional speaker, Certified Hypnotist, Master Energy Therapist, Licensed Science of Mind Minister and owner of BreakThrough

Debbie Bowie – feng shui practitioner, Certified Professional Organizer®, professional speaker and owner of Rock Scissors Paper Institute

Date: April 2, 2011 Time: 8:00a.m.toNoon Cost: $77, early bird special $47 until 3/21/11

To Register: Call Debbie Bowie at 804-730-4991 and provide credit card information or send a check to Rock Scissors Paper Institute, 7293 Jay Way, Mechanicsville,VA 23111.