Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Needham.
Hi Taylor, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
If you would’ve told me two years ago that I teach improv workshops every week, I would have laughed at you… and then cried of joy.
Improv found me when I was 14, after I made the high school improv team, Comedy Sportz. That’s when I realized I want to do this forever. So after four years of improv training in high school, I moved to Chicago and began Acting & Improv courses at The Second City Training Center.
Fast forward five years later, and in May of 2020 I graduated from The University of Texas at Austin. I moved to Houston a month later with no money, no job, and no plans for the future. Super smart, I know. One luxury I did have in 2020 though, is a lot of friends. When the world closed, we created our own little biome filled with play. We made up our own games, lived by our own rules, and burned effigies out of popsicle sticks- we played endlessly. I thank the Universe daily for my community of flow artists & creators who re-instilled play and curiosity in me. But then the world didn’t fall apart, it just got weird. So I did what any conscious creator does- I used my tools, resources, and knowledge to create what I needed, and what I saw a need for in others:
Real connection without fear.
I began Play & Improv a little over a year ago at The Interchange. At the time, all I really wanted was a safe space to come together in a true and lighthearted way. And now, the class has grown in ways I could have never imagined. Play & Improv is a weekly workshop for all designed for social play and honing improvisational skills for everyday life. Currently, the workshop is offered every Tuesday at The Interchange. We learn fundamentals of improv through group exercises & games that keep us on our toes, in the present, and moving forward with synergy.
This has become more than just a weekly improv class, it is our safe space to feel childlike wonder, free from the harsh, chaotic world. I am so grateful for this blessing, and for the students that keep showing up with hope and joy. Thank you for being such an amazing foundation for this organization. Watching this vision grow and unravel into a life of its own has been humbling, and I’m excited about her future. Follow @playin_improv on Instagram for all updates!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road of Play & Improv has been strangely smooth and organic. My own mind and paradigms have probably held me back the most, keeping me from investing the time & energy that Play & Improv deserves. It took me a while to get out of my own way and take this organization (playfully) seriously. Once I stopped fighting myself on a life and career of conventionality, so many doors opened up. I think at first, I was hesitant to share with the world what I thought would help with healing and growth, thinking of all the reasons why no one wants this. But then other people kept showing up and also believing in my vision. I gained momentum and faith in this call, which has ironically helped me to let go as well. Let go of stress or worry about Play & Improv, and allow it to breathe and take form on its own, trusting that if I keep in step with my True Self, this vision will shine through. I am grateful for the community of lightworkers I have on my side, who see the same vision I do for a community in need of rest, play, and true connection.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Play & Improv?
Play & Improv is a fully immersive experience using just what we have- our bodies, minds, and intuition. Play & Improv is the first of its kind- offering a sort of theatre-yoga group therapy blend that is open to anyone. Traditional theatre and improv workshops require a multiple class course that usually costs hundreds of dollars, and requires everyone to start at a beginner level and pay their way up, regardless of experience. This has frustrated me through the years, feeling like improv classes had so much more to teach folks than the traditional class made and marketed to actors and comedians. Play & Improv is a community first- with authenticity, curiosity, and inclusivity at the center of our values. We are an improv workshop second, using improv games to better hon and honor these values.
The last (and my personal favorite) principle of Play & Improv is failing with joy. We learn how to get back up and brush ourselves off without judgment when we fail. When someone in the group messes up while we’re playing a game, that someone must confidently announce, “I failed!” Then the whole group applauses and cheers “Congrats on Failing!” And we all continue with the game!
No one loses. You can’t lose at the game, because they aren’t winning-losing games. You aren’t competing against anyone except the judge in your head. It’s all just for fun, and that concept really messes with people. I watch new folks come in with shame and blame when messing up, and then I get to see them completely come out of their shell, exclaiming loud and proud, “I failed!” by the end of class. It’s beautiful, and therapeutic, and I am honored that I get to witness so many taking the initiative in their growth.
This workshop is for you if you seek community without judgment. This workshop is for you if you seek growth and inner healing. This workshop is for you if talking to people is hard sometimes (or all the time). This workshop is for you if you miss recess. This workshop is for you if you miss playtime with no phones. Don’t let fear get in the way, come play!
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Play & Improv exists today and continues to grow because of the love and support of my mom and the homies. Thank you for believing in me before I did, I love yall.
Pricing:
- $15 / workshop
- $25 / two workshops
Contact Info:
- Email: tay.needham@gmail.com
- Instagram: @playin_improv
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/playnimprov
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEHZ2nqUyjuqJ8HNyYnwbew
Image Credits
Alex Foxx
Luisa Pineda
