With the start of our season three, we are really trying to expand our capacity and range as performers, comedians, and entertainers; we are also teachers. Amongst podcasts & video blogs, the Utility Players are now teaching improv classes and workshops to organizations, businesses, and willing participants throughout the city. The Utility Players utilize improv in order to improve leadership abilities, presentation skills, group chemistry, and more all while in a safe and engaging environment.
This past Sunday, The Utility Players taught a workshop at Circle's Edge - Center for Spiritual Living. Not to generalize an entire center's beliefs or belief system, but Circle's Edge focuses on "Science of Mind", a philosophy developed by Dr. Ernest Holmes, which emphasizes that by changing your thoughts you can change your life. Jessica attends weekly services there, and the center provides a place for us to practice, so we thought we would host a little fundraiser for the center through an improv workshop. Life is a Game is a workshop, developed by Jessica, that synthesizes the principles of improv and New Thought spirituality. The workshop included some warm up exercises to get us all loosened up and to be present in the moment. Often with improv it can be very difficult to let go and surrender to the scene and not over-think. We also played a game Jessica calls "Manifestational Freeze" - a combination of the traditional improv game "Freeze", and manifesting principles which allowed for participants to play out scenes they are hoping to manifest in their real lives; in essence, it allows them to "be the change" they are wanting to see in their world. Host of the Utility Players, Jessica Levity, recalled the first time she debuted this game in her class, a participant wanted to manifest a job, and the following week he was actually hired for a new job, which sadly meant that he had to miss the following week's workshops, but of course the group was happy for him. 
The overall experience was incredible. A group of people of different ages, backgrounds, experiences, and beliefs came together and let go of who they were as individuals and allowed themselves to have laugh and play. At first, people were a little hesitant, or perhaps nervous, to jump into some of the improv games, but by the end of the 90 minute workshop, the personal transformations of the participants were tremendous! Group members were shouting over one another for a chance to jump up on stage. We sometimes forget how many inhibitions we carry around with us all the time; I can't do this, I must act a certain way, I can't act goofy or loose my composure. When I saw grown adults rolling around on the floor acting like they were wrestling a crocodile, I about lost it. The feedback we received about the workshop related that it left people feeling lighter, a little less stressed, and their general mood was better. It was truly a callback to our early childhood days where we had no obligations or concerns other than what games we were going to play that day.
If you are interested in booking the Utility Players for a workshop, training, or a private event please email us at theutilityplayers@gmail.com. We provide fun, interactive, and engaging instruction that is sure to not only educate participants, but do so in a hilarious, light-hearted way.
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Here is our newest episode of the Utility Player podcast. In this episode we finally decided upon a name for the podcast .... the Utility Player Podcast - very creative we know!!! This episode of the podcast features special guest star the fabulous Amanda Alvey. Amanda is an incredible actress who has been in such Reno productions as Romeo & Juliet, Doubt, Almost Maine, and Utility Players: The Musical. Her presence on stage is unquestionable and stands as one of the funniest people that we know.
