It's Been Five Months!... And I Experienced iO!

Hello, everybody!

It has been a long while since I've last posted, and I want to explain myself while I have time to do so between my classes!... I am mentally preparing for my Italian class, which does not consider itself my friend so far this year.

ANYwho, it was a hectic, life-changing, mind-altering, and most importantly, eye-openingly grounding summer for me. I participated in the iO Summer Intensive at the famed improvisational comedy training theatre in downtown Chicago. It consisted of five weeks of improv, with each week finding a different focus.  I came to discover that not only was I unknowingly egotistical going into the intensive, but that being down in the dumps can lead to all of your wildest, unimaginable insecurities surfacing for all to see. Even though I was fortunate enough to be in the end-of-the-year musical at Marquette - "Urinetown" as Officer Lockstock for those familiar with the show; and for those not familiar, "Google it!" - I came to discover that these collegiate theatrical accomplishments are miniscule when viewing life as a whole. They were not celebrity-making moments as I had invented in my own mind, and I certainly had not accomplished as much as I had thought. Sure, some short term goals were met as a result - who would have EVER thought I would be involved in a collegiate musical? Certainly not most, methinks! - but I have re-discovered the concept of "more." There is always "more" to be done, and "more" to be learned, and iO pounded that into my intellect. I have re-grounded myself after what was a long summer, and truthfully, one of the toughest periods of my life. But, now, after having gone through all of that, I can honestly say that I am feeling more like the me that I like: goofy and more focused on the fun in life. I can't forgo admitting that, upon returning to school and the campus improv group, there were tensions amongst the group whenever the iO experience was brought to the fore. But these seem to be tension-filled feelings of the past, and I AM MOVING ON, BABYINFANTS! My friend, Spencer, and I are working on a two-man improvisational comedy show, wherein we showcase all that we learned over the summer with regard to the Chicago-style, long-form improvisation. It has been immensely rewarding so far, and I can truthfully say that I now know I do my best work in that setting, which bodes well for the future. I'm perfectly comfortable with the campus group, but have found myself yearning for more than just our short-form-based improvisational games. (think "Whose Line Is It Anyway?")

I digress. It is my goal to re-invest myself in this blog, and hopefully share more film/TV critiques with you all! I have begun watching 'Homeland', for example, so I have officially slipped and tumbled mercilessly down that slippery slope. (It is just as amazing as I had heard, and I definitely recommend it to you all, too!) Thank you all so much for reading, and for listening via writing to me. For my next post, I will be sharing with you guys why SNL is not as "in danger" as some expected coming into this season.

Thanks SO much for reading, guys, and I will be writing again soon! Feel free to leave any comments on this page, or to tweet at me on the twitter handle below! BESURETOTIPYOURWAITRESS!

--Chris

Twitter: @chris_0reilly