There’s nothing funny about domestic violence or mass incarceration. But two improv comedy students intent on making a difference get a break from their more serious work by learning to make people laugh at the Improv Shop in The Grove neighborhood.
“Let’s give Kylee and Emily a suggestion,” said improv instructor John Langen.
“Sandals!” someone yelled. Improv comedy student Kylee Mattoon suddenly becomes a child afraid of putting her feet into water where fish are swimming.
Mattoon is a first semester law student at Washington University. Pretty stressful, right? “After a few years of working as a domestic violence advocate, this is actually a lot less stress than that,” said Mattoon.
Mattoon appears to have mastered the art of time management, making time for rigorous law studies and her passion for comedy.
“I’m doing a show every Saturday at 10:15, a sketch show. We have practice for that twice a week,” said Mattoon. “I’m on an independent all woman team called Jane Doe. I have practice for that once a week. It helps me decompress. I have always used comedy as a way of processing and a coping mechanism. It’s been really helpful for that.”
Kennard Williams is a community activist with MORE, Missouri Organizing for Reform and Empowerment. “We’re a social justice organization. The program that I do focuses on ending mass incarceration.”
Why improv comedy?
“It was a good switch up from every day work,” said Williams. “You become a team. You work as one unit and learn how to put on shows, make people laugh.”
Langen has been an improv instructor for six years. He says improving communication is a common reason students turn to comedy.
“There’s a skill they want to develop for their career, whether it’s public speaking or just speaking at all, and being comfortable with themselves.”
After a year of improv classes, Mattoon and Williams plan to continue learning the craft of comedy, two people serious about being funny.