ON COMEDY AND ME:

I got interested in improv in high school. I would get home from school, turn on Comedy Central, and watch the (British version of the) show "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" Although I missed some of the cultural references (I still don't know what a Twiglet is), I loved the show.

In college, a group from Second City came and performed at our campus. I remember my freshman year - in addition to one of Chris Farley's brothers performing, there was a very pretty woman performing with the group. I was sitting on the aisle, and as she walked past me, I proposed marriage. The cast was incredibly nice about talking with me after the show, although I seem to remember the proposal woman avoiding me. Hmmm.

The next year, another group from Second City performed. I had been looking forward to this since the beginning of the year - I volunteered to help set up/tear down the stage just to interact with the performers. They were so friendly - we went to a pub across the street (I was only 19! How daring!) and talked about comedy. TJ Jagodowski recommended I take classes at Improv Olympic (now the IO Theater), and I signed up as soon as possible.

My class that summer was intimidating. I was 19 (I turned 20 that July) and I had no theater experience. Some of the people in the class had been improvising for years - just not in Chicago. I remember the names of people - Karen, Dave, Greg and some of the scenes we did (and it's what, ten years later?) I had a little crush on one of the girls (Heather), as you'd expect, me being me and all. I don't know. I was overwhelmed. I just felt very out of place most of the time. They were all very talented and funny people and I should probably look them up on facebook or something.

The next summer found me taking the Level Two class. And I honestly can't remember much about it, except developing a one-day crush on a girl - a girl who told me about the book "Fermat's Last Theorem." (To be fair, I didn't - and still don't - stand a chance against a funny girl who is also pretty who talks about math. I have no idea who this woman was. Maybe I should post a "Missed Connection" on craigslist.) I may have also made friends with a married woman named Phoebe that year. That sounds right.

My senior year in college - a different group from Second City came - a group which included one of the women from my Level One class! (Karen!) She half-remembered me, which was half more than I expected. I talked with one of the performers (Al Samuels? Sounds right.) and showed him some things I had written and he provided quality feedback. I resumed improv classes that fall (after graduating, falling back into a job, having back surgery...you know, typical stuff) and met some more phenomenal people and performers. (I do remember names here: Arnie, Nick, Marc, Molly, Suzi, Hansen, Tony, Matt, Berny, Jill, Steve, Kiki, Carrie, Tristan, Gianni, Eddie, James, Pat, and a few others...I am still moderately in touch with some of these people.) I continued to lack confidence, as I still felt out-of-place. I was a suburban kid - a suburban kid from freaking INDIANA, no less - with no theater experience to speak of. I felt...unworthy?...to share the stage with these people. And it probably showed on stage.

Classes went okay, our two-month performance run was a lot of fun. But at the end of it, I didn't get put on a team for regular performances. That hurt me more than I admitted or realized at the time. I took another class and once again didn't get put on a team. By then, my total investment in these classes had been in the neighborhood of $1600 (I paid for one session to attend one class and then couldn't make the rest), and work was picking up, and I was bitter, and...well, I stopped pursuing comedy.

When I moved to Massachusetts, one of the first people I met was the Director of our Women's Center. She encouraged me to get re-involved in improv, letting me know about groups in the area. I auditioned for one group - they said they didn't have any openings, but would call if something opened up (note: something did open up, and they didn't call me. Turns out that's how things work. Who knew?). But in the summer of 2007, I learned about a group in Newport, RI, known as The Bit Players. That audition went well, I felt very confident because of my Chicago background. This, of course, despite my lack of confidence while in Chicago. Weird, I know.

I can't help but wonder if I had the confidence I have now while I was in Chicago, how things would have been different. But, seeing as how everything happens for a reason, I guess I can't complain. I mean...I can, I just probably shouldn't.

I probably will, though.