Humboldt Improv is a passion project created by JillAnne Aden upon moving to Humboldt County a few years back, and the small and growing community of artists, performers, and those just wanting to try something completely new has filled her cup in so many ways! Humboldt Improv teaches a Chicago style long form improv syllabus with levels starting from Beginner’s through Advanced levels, and workshops and activities open to all community members as we grow. We currently run classes out of the beautiful Historic Eureka Theater in Eureka, CA.
We are a queer owned LGBTQIA+ safe space, inclusionary and experimental, and open to all who share our mission statement of acceptance and representation. Here, Black Lives Matter, we recognize we are living on stolen land and respect and honor indigenous culture, and we stand firm for Trans equality. If you don’t like any of that, you won’t like us. And we are just fine with that.
JillAnne trained and taught for six years at Finest City Improv, a Chicago long form style school in the heart of Hillcrest, San Diego. Starting improv in her high school years, JillAnne turned her energy towards studying theatre and the performing arts in college, later being mentored and starting her career in professional voice acting. She has completed improv comedy, movement, sketch-writing, clown, musical improv and voice and character training with instructors from all over the world, including IO, The Second City, Comedy Sportz Chicago, AnnoyanceTheatre, UprightCitizen'sBrigade, PackTheater and ImprovComedyMumbai.
Some of her favorite former teachers include KIDS IN THE HALL's Kevin McDonald, Craig & Carla Cackowski, Jay Sukow, Shulie Cowen, and Brian James O'Connell. She has also had the great privilege of performing with Rick Hall and pianist Laura Hall, of "Whose Line Is It, Anyways?" fame, in musical improv shows.
JillAnne has taught beginning and advanced musical improv classes, all level improv classes and a variety of forms, facilitated workshops with students of all ages, cultures and backgrounds, hosted events, has key skills in character development and vocal diction and performance, and has focused heavily on the benefits improv can have for mental health and wellness, in addition to its socialization, artistic and creative benefits.
*photos provided courtesy of Humboldt Improv, Cornerstone Improv, Finest City Improv, Ocean Beach Improv & Camp Improv Utopia
A personal note from JillAnne:
My improv teaching focuses on the many ways improv can benefit people in their everyday lives, something commonly known as Applied Improv.
Applied Improv is the ability to transfer the skills one learns in an improv class to their everyday lives in positive ways. Some of the many ways improv can improv a local culture include mental health and wellness with a focus on more positive interactions, more intentional speech, respect and patience for others. Teamwork and collaboration, fun and laughter, improved creativity and mental health and wellness are just a few of improv’s benefits!
I am currently accepting bookings for private workshops, team building events and activity planning, private classes and workshops for community members, and are currently working with weekly improv classes in a multi-level adult improv comedy program that covers the wide range of beginning to advanced improvisational comedy skills in a fun classroom environment. Programs may be developed for youth and after-school services, as well as specialized services geared towards a variety of industry and hospitality and tourism services. Contact us today to create your custom program made for you!
Got your back!
JA