For Enid Lefton, life isn’t a stage. It’s an improv.
The Cleveland, Ohio, native has been performing with the Eugene-based improvisational comedy troupe WYMPROV! since 1991 and has been studying improvisational theater for more than ten years. During this time, she has found that “the rules for improv are a lot like rules for life … you need to have fun and laugh … you also need to support each other.”
Now, Enid is teaching these rules to others through her Life Is An Improv programs and workshops, as well as expanding her services to include a new family workshop, Playshop For Families.
The workshops focus on using improvisation techniques and games to build an atmosphere where people can come together, create and laugh.
“The workshops are also good for team building and communication skills,” Lefton says.
Along with classes, Lefton has been asked to teach at a number of work retreats and business conferences. That is how Patty Layman first met Enid.
“The first workshop I attended was at Oregon State University as part of a conference,” Layman said.
After attending the conference, Layman started bringing her daughter and her friend to Lefton’s other workshops.
“I had studied a little bit of stand-up comedy at Lane Community College, but I continued to take the workshops because I wanted to learn to work more off the cuff,” Layman said.
Others who take the classes say they find them to be more of an addiction.
“It’s like smoking,” workshop participant Cris Piccioni said. “I just can’t quit.”
Piccioni has been attending workshops on and off for about 15 months.
“If I don’t do it for a while, I find that I really need to go back again and loosen up,” she said.
Participants say that the exercises in class reflect many real life situations.
“The exercises point out how negative daily interactions can be, without us even realizing it,” Piccioni said.
The techniques that Lefton teaches also are meant to create open minds.
“I went because I am kind of shy,” improv participant Debbie Newman said. “I thought that it might help, and it did. It’s absolutely amazing!”
Participants particularly like the environment that the classes offer.
“You get to go there and be a kid; it’s like playing house,” Newman said. “No one is there to judge you. It is a really good learning environment.”
In her current project, Lefton is opening up to a new group. Playshop For Families will take place on Saturday, and will provide a safe environment for families of all shapes, sizes and ages to have some fun and learn some games to play at home.
“It will be interesting to see how it will work combining different ages and families together,” Lefton said.
Past participants encourage people of all ages to experience the workshops.
“Anyone who has lost their ability to play should really look into this,” Layman said.
Newman agreed.
“I recommend it to everyone, it really unblocks your mind.”
For more information, contact Enid Lefton at 345-2067 or email at [email protected]