What Our Students Say

Many young people in Detroit face challenges at school and home that make it difficult for them to complete high school or attend college. Student improvisers get a chance to play and be heard, and along the way they gain confidence and develop valuable social skills. They also build literacy and critical thinking skills that are needed for many academic courses. 

Our students tell us learning to improvise has changed their lives in big and small ways.

From the high school student who overcame her shyness about public speaking to the middle schooler who is using improv skills to improve his writing, graduates of The Improv Project say their experience provides valuable practice for working in groups, job interviews, and public speaking. They also tell us improv class is a place they can have fun and not worry about making mistakes or being judged.

Here are just a few of their comments:

“Improv has a very important role in life… it’s a way to roll with the punches.”
“I have learned to attack projects head on even when they are difficult.”
“It really helped me to break out of my shell and learn a new talent that I’ll need and use in the future.”
“I opened up and now I don’t feel as scared to be myself.”
“Improv is an important skill to have. You can trust yourself, do better and show others how good you are.”