Build your "people" skills with Terry Sand’s Improv Classes
For almost two decades Terry Sand has been performing in, producing, directing, teaching, and promoting improvisational comedy in the San Francisco Bay Area. She teaches an ongoing class nearly every week in Redwood City, California and produces and directs improv shows every year with the help of students from her class.
What Students Gain from Improv Class
Most people don’t realize that when they sign-up for an improv class, that they will actually gain some real-world, practical experience as they perform. Here are just a few things students learn:
- To give and receive trust and support
- To let your first idea be the "right" idea
- To discover new ideas within yourself and others
- To take the initiative and lead sometimes
- To take the back seat and follow other times
- To say YES to new ideas, expanding the creative flow
- To be innovative and spontaneous
- To learn to work together effectively while having fun
- To use humor to get your point across
- To build your self-confidence
All the work done in the class is group work so you don’t have to appear on stage all by yourself. The class is very supportive and nurturing and helps students build up self-confidence and risk-taking skills through a series of improvisational games. And since the audience (students not on stage) provide the suggestions, it’s a very interactive class and everyone is included along the way. Many Silicon Valley professionals return to the class over and over so many new friendships develop as well.
How to Sign-up for Improv Classes
If you’d like to sign-up for one of Terry Sand’s improv classes, you can call the Red Morton Community Center in Redwood City at (650)780-7311 to get a copy of the latest schedule or visit their website. Classes usually meet on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00p.m. There are four regularly scheduled sessions—one each in fall, winter, spring and summer. No experience is necessary to take the class.
| Terry is on a temporary sabbatical from teaching improv class until early 2009. Her return will soon be announced. She is still available for corporate engagements. |
Improv Shows
Since 1996, students from Terry Sand’s improv classes have volunteered to help her put on three to four shows a year in a nearby community theater. Students who have completed at least eight weeks of class and have Terry's approval of their readiness to perform on stage can be in the show. Generally the cast is kept to about 12 people or less. There are also plenty of other volunteer positions for students to help with lighting, production, set design, stage management, front theater management, ushering, and the like.
To learn more about participating in an improv show, either as a cast member or as a volunteer to help with production, please visit the Red Herrings information page.
If you just want to get in on the fun as an audience member, check out the Red Herrings' show schedule to find out when you can see them next!
