Citizen Workshop in Cabin John, MD

On December 10, 2013, a group of Cabin John residents helped me to pilot a new approach to disaster exercises called Heroic Improvisation. The foundation of Heroic Improvisation is theater improvisation games applied to disasters. Improvisation skills for groups track with actions needed for innovative disaster response. I developed this process in collaboration with DC theater improvisation actor, Topher Bellavia.

In the 2.5 hour workshop at the Cabin John Gardens Community House, the participants experienced improvisation skills of: listening (STEP 1: ALERT), awareness of resources (STEP 2: READY), forming a team (STEP 3: CONNECT), focusing attention, (STEP 4: FOCUS), moving quickly into action together (STEP 5: MOVE). The final workshop activity integrated all the skills and added fun. Each participant paired with Topher Bellavia to create a theater scene with no preparation. Through this activity, participants used their improvisation skills to “make it up as we go along,” despite confusion and chaos. All participants reported this exercise helped to integrate the improvisation skills and it was fun! This pilot workshop helped me prepare for my upcoming trip to the Philippines in February 2013. I have been invited to the Philippines to bring the Heroic Improvisation process to Filipino citizens affected by the earthquake and Typhoon Haiyan in fall 2013. I will collaborate with Gabe Mercado of Silly People's Improv Theater (SPIT) in Manila, Philippines. I will travel for 30 days to different disaster regions to adapt the Heroic Improvisation process with the local Red Cross and Filipino artists (dancers, visual artists, theater artists). The practice of improvisation allows us to prepare for situations we cannot anticipate and explore the ways groups can successfully work together. The creative community of Cabin John is the perfect place to demonstrate for new ways to prepare for disaster.