Improv has changed my life through the years. I started practicing and performing improv in 2000. In 2002, we started an improv theater in downtown Oakland - Pan Theater.
Keeping a theater running through a financial crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and just the usual economic cycles has been a challenge.
So many San Francisco Bay Area theaters have closed over the past few years - The Exit, Piano Fight, Flight Deck, and many others. We kept theater alive in downtown Oakland by focusing on being a community improv theater.
Thousands of people have studied improv at Pan. Some have used their skills to improve their work skills. Others have applied for MFA programs in theater, started their theater groups, or pursued performing in LA, Chicago, and NY. Others have also found more creativity and positivity in their daily life.
Several of our performers have written plays, books, or even movies.
The improv guide I wrote to help beginners has been quoted in books, used in classes, and referenced in various articles. The Rules of Improv I and II have helped a lot of people in the past twenty years or so.
One of the things I wish is that I started improving sooner.
While I can`t go back in time to do that, I realized that we could help Oakland teens start exploring improv and filmmaking. We can provide the opportunity for a new generation.
Pan Theater will offer our first Teen Improv and Filmmaking Summer School this summer.
The goal is to introduce the skills to local teens so they can explore their creativity and learn the power of yes and. We can make a difference for a few local teens by providing a positive, creative outlet.
Our goal is to offer 60 scholarships to the program. Similar programs run about $500 for a four-week class. We plan on offering the classes for $50 per four-week class.
We want to Empower Oakland Teens with the power of improv and help them learn to say yes to their dreams.
If you know any local teachers or teens interested in the program, please help spread the word. You can find out more about the program here:
https://lnkd.in/gcVAuERh
#OaklandArts #BayAreaTheater #ImprovEducation #YouthEmpowerment #CommunityOutreach #TeenOpportunity #SummerPrograms #ScholarshipFund #CreativeExpression #LocalYouth
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