In its two years in existence, the Detroit Creativity Project has quickly become one of Y-Arts’ signature programs. The program teaches youth from five Detroit schools about improvisational comedy and is meant to help fill the gap created by arts funding cuts in Detroit Public Schools.
Youth from three of the schools — Bates Academy, Brenda Scott Middle School, and Western International High School — will be showcasing their new skills at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14 at the Marlene Boll Theater at the Boll Family YMCA. The event is free, open to the public and suitable for all ages — it’s a great way to introduce younger children to the format of improv.
Not only is improv frequently incredibly hilarious, it’s also a fantastic way to teach teamwork and creativity. The whole idea behind improvising is that it doesn’t work if one person is trying to hog the spotlight or dominate the flow, and the best work comes from making your partners in a scene look good. That’s an important lesson for young people. Students who have gone through the program say their confidence, empathy and even their investment in school is much higher.
If you want to support the DCP and get a chance to see some amazing improvisers, both local and national, there’s a fundraiser planned on Monday, Dec. 23 at Go! Comedy in Ferndale, with two shows at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. The event will feature some talented actors, both those who remain in Detroit and people who are currently making an impact on the national scene in New York or LA. Past performers have included Tim Robinson, currently of Saturday Night Live, and Y-Arts Director Margaret Edwartowski. The show usually sells out, and you never quite know who might be gracing Go!Comedy’s tiny stage because expat members of the local improv community home for the holidays have been known to show up. Tickets are $25 and available at www.gocomedy.net.
And lastly, Detroit Creativity Project alumnus Malcolm Harris Jr.’s play about fathers and sons, called Jr. will be shown at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 28 at the Marlene Boll Theater. Its earlier performance in November got rave reviews.