Street Improv Brings the Laughs at St. Augustine First Friday Art Walk
The Adventure Project, lead by Amy Angelilli, perform Street Improv on Aviles Street every first Friday of the month. At these performances members of Angelilli’s improv class gather just beyond the Aviles Street archway and play improv games, both to entertain passersby and to hone their skills. Angelilli started Street Improv as a learning tool for her students.
“I felt that it wasn’t time yet for them to be on a theater stage, but it was time for them to be out in the world, so Street Improv was born from that desire to have them stick their toes in the performance world, without taking on the stage,” Angelilli recalled.
Friday, March 3rd was a busy day in St. Augustine, with the First Friday Art Walk and the St. Augustine Lions Seafood Festival coinciding. These two events brought swarms of people into the city's historic district. While people gathered on Francis Field and walked along St. George Street, the Adventure Project continued their monthly tradition of performing Street Improv on Aviles Street.
A map of St. Augustine pinpointing Aviles Street. Created on Google Maps. (Created by: Mal Carney)
Improv, short for improvisation, is a form of performing art. The major difference between improv and other forms of acting is that there is no script. In improv, the actors are typically given suggestions by the audience on who or where they are. The actors take those suggestions and make scenes on the spot, playing off of their fellow actors. These comedic games take quick thinking and teamwork to pull off.
“The one thing that I really love about improv that’s different from other performing art forms is the fact that because you don’t have a script you’re so tightly connected to the person or the people that you’re performing with and you really really have to listen so close to what each other is saying to be able to move things forward,” Angelilli said.
John Ryan, one of Angelilli’s students, says that improv can benefit people in ways aside from performing.
“What I’ve found is that through doing the training and not just focusing on performance, but doing the actual training and learning about how all these things that we do in improv actually translate to work and to social situations,” Ryan stated.
Angelilli’s group has been doing First Friday Street Improv since August and have entertained a variety of audience members. They’ve even gotten Mayor Nancy Shaver to jump into one of their scenes.
The Street Improv group's audience is growing thanks to word of mouth around town.
“We have a little bit of a following now. People will know us because of our shirts and we’re always in the same location so now people will ask if we’re coming out. And you know, word of mouth, because this is such a beautiful, small, connected community word is slowly starting to vibrate,” Angelilli said.
John Ryan wearing a bright yellow Street Improv t-shirt at First Friday Art Walk. Mar. 3 2017. (Photo: Mal Carney)
Street Improv with Amy and her students isn’t just a spectator's event. The Street Improv performers encourage passersby to get involved, not just by giving scene suggestions, but by playing the games with the performers.
A group shot of the Street Improv group after their show on Aviles Street. Mar. 3 2017. (Photo: Mal Carney)
To get involved with improv visit Amy’s website for information on classes and be sure to check out Street Improv for yourself on Aviles Street during St. Augustine’s First Friday Art Walk.
Comments