By Mallory Nutt
Not asking questions for fear of sounding dumb was an awful habit of mine in college. For three and a half years I quietly coasted by, usually on the back row, rarely acknowledging the opportunities in front of me. I joined clubs, including Greek life, and enjoyed the President Bush sightings every other day. But I hardly took initiatives and never really gave any thought to the purpose of my every day choices.
Nowadays, my instinct is to explore any opportunity, or in improv lingo “gift,” within a twenty-mile radius. I think about why I do things now, as opposed to the previously thoughtless choices I made. Thanks to six months of improvisational comedy training at the Dallas Comedy House, founded in 2009 by Amanda Austin, recently crowned the city’s “Comedy Queen” by the Dallas Observer, and her equally funny brother, Kyle.
As an SMU alumna, having nearly three years to ponder regrettable things I did or didn’t do during undergrad, I’ve realized to accept the past as lessons learned. Make a “higher percentage” choice next time.
I have a newfound obsession and look on life in an improviser’s “yes, and…” attitude, something that’s drilled into all students the first day at DCH. I share that attitude with with anyone who will listen.
It’s truly remarkable how lexploring everyone’s ideas, especially your own, and resisting our human instinct to deny, can positively impact a person in so many ways. At work. At home. In relationships. You name it.
Aside from learning the key to solid scenes, exploring anything presented at that moment in time, improv teaches that exploration goes both ways. Knowing I can say the most obscure “gift,” that will not ever seem dumb to a fellow player, is a pretty fabulous feeling. Never in my life have I respected a group of people so much. My scene partner and I may live polarizing lives off stage, but our neverending support for one another on stage is what makes the whole thing easy. And most importantly, fun.
This is exactly how I should’ve made my SMU classroom experience.
Had I stopped Googling comedy classes in the comfort of my dorm and just tried that “yes, and…” mantra I’ve grown to love could have led me many places, both academically and professionally. Saying yes to the Boulevard was never an issue, but a red solo cup is only a “gift-giver” for so long, as any proud Mustang knows.
Needless to say, the self-respect and discipline I’ve gradually developed at my Deep Ellum playground would’ve greatly benefited me way back when. Many of my DCH instructors are some of the most inspiring, confident, and unapologetic mentors I will forever admire. So are every single classmate and troupe member. They have changed my life, as cliche as that most definitely is.
I can only imagine what would have inspired me had I taken improv years ago, and learned early on what life was all about. I know for a fact my GPA would’ve been higher, and I probably would’ve enjoyed the greatest three and a half years of my life even more. Though that didn’t seem possible at the time.
It’s summer and I’m only two levels away from graduating the Dallas Comedy House program. Luckily I have a few sketch writing classes to keep busy with down the road. I’ve never been a fan of endings but as a (mostly) unapologetic, (mostly) fearless, improvising work-in-progress, I’m not too worried.
So if you’re only half as clueless as I was, feel like releasing your inner-Leslie Knope or Ron Swanson, or you just like to laugh, Google the Dallas Comedy House. Unlike me, actually sign up for a class when you do. I promise you won’t regret it.
