I was casting about for something to do, because almost all the things I spent my life doing are no longer options. The kids are grown, and I’m retired from reporting, teaching, sports officiating, and lap swimming.

As I was considering new options, a website caught my eye: Learn How To Play Again. I was intrigued so I read on. “Second Beat Improv Theater is rooted in the long-form format of improvisation. Our classes encourage students to trust their own choices both on and off the stage. We promote the idea of working as an ensemble through performance and class exercises to fully support everyone’s ideas. The belief is implemented through listening, saying yes to new ideas and reacting honestly.”

It sounded pretty tame, until I read the definition of improv. “Improv is live theater that is made up in the moment. Nothing is scripted, nothing is rehearsed, there’s no net. And it’s unique: Once you see an improv performance, you’ll never see that show again. Every performance of improv is different.”

Despite my reservations, I instantly forked over my credit card and signed up. Over the next six weeks, I and my fellow students learned the basics of improv, thanks to our director Sam Haldiman, pretty much the nicest teacher I’ve ever had.

“There’s no judgment. People get the chance to play at being kids,” he said. “Working with groups and having the opportunity to build a collaborative atmosphere..(is) something of intrinsic value to make you a better person.”

Sam ushered us through acting drills where we practiced things like performing scenes without words. “Just talk in gibberish,” he explained.

Note that’s harder than you might think. Still, working in teams of two, we somehow managed to make our scenes understandable.

One of the tougher drills for me was when I stood alone on the stage and had to play ten characters for ten seconds each. There was no planning. Every ten seconds Sam said switch, and I had to play whatever character came to mind. It was exhausting but also exhilarating.

As you might expect, we students became pretty tight over the course of our class, despite all of us being very different.

Alicia Williams is 37 and has worked in education most of her life. She decided to take the class to stay in the present and get out of her head. “Improv reconnects you with your inner child through playing games and being silly,” she said.

Angelo Fiore, a 27-year-old process quality engineer in the aerospace and defense industry, agrees. “In work I need to be an adult. Here I can be more childish,” he said. “I’ve learned that it’s okay to be yourself. It’s easy in a group like this to let yourself go.”

Connor Scott is 26 and works as a risk analyst for brokerages. For him, the class was about reconnecting with acting, which he did in high school. “I wanted to act without having to memorize lines,” he said laughing. “Thinking on your feet is more challenging. (Being) in the moment is much more difficult.”

Jowi Estava Ghersi worked as a professional actor before the pandemic. The 31-year-old, who’s also a graphic designer, said that improv has helped to reignite her brain. “Isolation was hard and I don’t feel like theater has fully come back,” she said. “I feel like I’ve reclaimed the part of my brain that lets me get on stage and trust what’s about to happen.”

At 54, Laura Renaud spends her work hours as an executive coach. When I asked why she decided on improv she said, “Why not! I think it’s really about leaning into the aspect of being comfortable with the uncomfortable. I’ve learned that connections and relationships are important. There’s a certain way you have to see your partners to make it work. Improv is a way to feel open and free.”

The class builds to a final show where we will perform a 20 minute program based on a one- word suggestion from the audience. Sam has assured us that we’ll be great. He’s so positive that his deep appreciation for the values of improv is easy to understand. “I wanted to have a creative outlet,” he said. “To have fun, and try new things, be bold.”

I couldn’t agree more.

Anne Montgomery’s novels can be found wherever books are sold.

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