On the Anniv of “Whose Line’s” U.S. Premiere, Let’s Nod to Power of Improv.

On August 5, the anniversary of “Whose Line Is It Anyway”’ U.S. premiere in 1998, is a reason to observe the influence of improvisation. This, especially among quieter or introverted adults.

As a quieter Black man, a part of me wants to be Wayne Brady when I “grow up”. He’s Black, brilliant, handsome and multi-talented. Given his singing talents, it seems there’s nothing he can’t do! Legions love and are awed by his bounty of talents. To have that boundless talent would be like what Gen Z calls a superpower.

For quieter or introverted adults especially, improv experience helps them to increase their self-confidence including in social situations. Surely it helped Brady, too. And the pivotal “yes, and” in improvisation can help them to reduce their social anxiety. It also reduces the fear of making mistakes (there are no wrong choices in improv), building comfort with uncertainty.

Just as important, in interviews Brady has been open about fighting social anxiety, stuttering and being bullied. I remember a video on YouTube he did in May of 2017 for the Child Mind Institute in which he talks about fighting depression. In it he described the advice, which he’d give to his younger self.

If he can become a master of improv while coping with mental illness, then can’t anyone? In an era when people are more open about mental illness to hear the message from Brady is vital.

The great ones make *it* look easy. So it is with Brady and improv. Granted, according to web research into Mr. Brady’s origins with improv, he’s been doing it since his teen years. Having taken improv classes years ago and more recently, I know that it’s not easy. In fact, I found the learning curve to the “ease” with it tiring. When I was younger, during my 20s and 30s, I overthought a lot of things in life.

Thinking about the 27^th anniversary of “Whose Line’s” premiere in the U.S. and Brady’s mark on it, why not dip your toe in improv? Your introverted toes especially. If you can’t afford improv classes, then maybe join the on-screen cast from your TV room?