Improv – Page 2 – Vanessa Anton

Blog When the Magic Happens

February 7, 2021 admin

Thank goodness I finally found my way to the good vibes felt in the improv jams hosted by Michelle Gilliam and MKE Improv. Should’ve happened sooner, but the new year finds me with a change in routine and structure in my calendar and headspace. So really, I think I made it at just the right time. The MKE jams have such great energy and I’m just sitting here at home going from anxious and blah to feeling like my cup was just filled within 75 minutes. And sometimes when you least expect it, there’s a moment of improv magic. The…

Blog Teaching Again!

January 12, 2021 admin

So 2020 was something wasn’t it? And 2021 is already acting up. But here we are. While I’ve been lucky to coach improv teams online during the pandemic, I haven’t taught a regular class or workshop in a while. Aside from coaching, I spent much of 2020 in the student seat. Losing the opportunity to travel, teach and connect with folks in person was such a shock. And it’s one that we’ve all dealt with in so many different ways. I couldn’t handle not staying connected to others in some way. Online improv has been such a gift! And it…

Connection Life in little boxes

August 5, 2020 admin

*See bottom for photo info!Over four months into the pandemic and here we are, living a life where much of our entertainment is found online. Live comedy, music, art, theater, sporting events. This has been such a strange time with so many unexpected turns. I feel lucky to be where I’m at. Able to safely work from home for a job I’ve wanted to leave so often in the last decade to follow my passion. But here I am with the steady job to catch me. I can’t complain. I’m lucky. Just missing that passion part. Which feels so extra right…

Improv Ireland

December 23, 2019 admin

I brought in the last month of 2019 in Ireland, one of the most magical places I’ve ever encountered. I paired an improv festival with a solo weekend trip and with that so many of my little fluffy dreams came true. My journey started in Galway which was buzzing with Christmas markets and twinkle lights at every turn. It was my third trip to Ireland and I was finally visiting this lovely little land. I wandered streets and drank tea and took a tour of the Cliffs of Moher. It was all the things I’d wanted to do for so…

Camp Improv Camp

September 9, 2019 admin

For six years Camp Improv Utopia has been filling my life with all kinds of joy. And it is a fantastic thing to see how many lives are constantly changed along the way. This year I taught a vulnerability workshop which was wonderful and terrifying and life goal reaching. I couldn’t have asked for a better group to join me on the journey to authenticity and vulnerability. So thankful. Camp reminds me to embrace the delicious moments and to be present with others. To think outside of myself and appreciate all the many perspectives and outlooks. To be quiet and…

Chicago Lessons from Chicago

June 7, 2019 admin

Last week I returned to Chicago for an intensive at one of my favorite theatres, The Annoyance. I was pretty excited to get back there for the advanced version, and to catch up with great people. There’s something about that city and theatre that feels like home. It felt amazing to be back. I haven’t been a student this intensely in a while and have been teaching and traveling and going through a lot of transition in my own community. I didn’t get to many touristy things this visit. It was more about the theatre and the people. Spending time catching up….

Blog An Ode to England

March 23, 2019 admin 1Comment

Oh England, how I love your cold and gray March days. Some may wonder why I’d travel for dreary days during the last days of winter. But why not go to the sun and surf? A tropical island adventure! Nope. I’ll take a rainy cool England adventure instead! Sure maybe it’s not the most fun walking a mile in the chilly rain to the train station. But I much prefer this to sweaty soiled travel clothes and sunburns. As long as I have my favorite jacket and my waterproof Merrell boots, I’m the happiest kid in town. And even happier…

Blog 2018 The Year I Fell In Love

December 23, 2018 admin 7Comment

This is the title I wanted to use for every Christmas card I never sent. For too many years I wanted to alert the masses that I found someone to write home about. If only a love interest could validate my existence, because I was incapable of doing this for myself. Over the years I’d be in and out of finding those someones. I spent my life trying to perfect the best relationship scenario. Each one was finally it! Spoiler alert: none of them were ever “it”. This year I finally grew exhausted by this pattern. Every new potential someone…

Improv The Hinges

December 5, 2018 admin

December is really here. And I’m doing that thing where I retreat and get in my head over the events of the year. There have been a lot of incredible moments. I’ve done things artistically that I only ever thought about. It’s been really cool. And I realize that I may have not gone down this path if I had never met a quirky group of silly people eight years ago. There was a time when my entire improv world revolved around a team called The Hinges. I auditioned and joined the group a year after a divorce. They were…

Improv The Places ‘Yes And’ Will Take You

May 20, 2018 admin

When I first started doing improv I had no idea what kind of journey it would take me on. All I knew in those early days was that the laughter was wonderful. I had been going through a rough time and the levity helped so much. As the months and years went on I kept exploring all the different ways I could keep learning and growing through improv. Little did I know I’d end up on a trip in Europe doing improv with friends and meeting new people. I wrote the post below for my facebook page while riding from…