Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - March/April 2012 - (Page 13)

Head by Matthew Goodkin-Gold Out of My I A Journey in Improv mprovisation. While the word might evoke images of comedians onstage, the art of improv provides bene ts that extend far beyond entertainment value. From sports and science to medicine and the military, many professions are built upon the quick actions and reactions of well-trained individuals. As such, there’s a trend toward o ering improv classes as part of corporate training, and even This is the world of improv, a world of uncertainty, inevitable failures, and—when all goes right—a completely unique kind of success. It’s a world that has been mine for the better part of my lifetime. It’s taught me spontaneity, positivity, and creativity, and has helped shape the person I am. It all started with Drew Carey. When I was seven, my brother and I became fascinated with the TV show Whose Line Is It Anyway? We stayed up well past bedtime to witness the show’s special brand of off-the-cuff humor, and played the as academic training in graduate school. As this story shows, improv also o ers valuable lessons for life. The lights come up. The comfort of darkness broken, I find myself alone on stage. The audience—a legion of eyes that I can’t see, but which I know are watching me—waits expectantly for my monologue. I step out. I take a breath. But—I don’t know my lines. I don’t have any. Instead, I step behind a pantomimed podium and begin a mock presidential press conference. I burst into a song that turns into an ode to American military history. I still have no idea why. www.cty.jhu.edu/imagine imagine 13 SHutterStoCk http://www.cty.jhu.edu/imagine

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - March/April 2012

Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - March/April 2012
Big Picture
In My Own Words
Theater Bound
Art Song
Out of My Head
Playwright’s Journal
Play(wright) in Progress
For All Time
My Life in Felt and Foam
Preserving the Golden Past of the Silver Screen
An Actor and a Critic
Selected Opportunities & Resources
Broadcom MASTERS
Off the Shelf
Word Wise
Exploring Career Options
One Step Ahead
Planning Ahead for College
Students Review
Mark Your Calendar
Knossos Games

Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - March/April 2012