Beyond The Stage: Improv at the Middletown Arts Center with Mike O'Keefe
Most people think acting is when a person portrays a character other than themselves based on a written text. However, a different method and one of the most overlooked and forms of acting is improvisation or for short, “improv.”
Improv is a form of theater where most or all of what is performed is created on the spot with no script. It is considered to be one of the most challenging skills to craft as an actor. The Middletown Arts Center’s newest teacher Mike O’Keeffe is educating children about not only how improv is used as an actor’s skill, but how it can be used as a life skill.
As the Creative Director of Improv Jam for twenty years, O’Keeffe has been a leader in the underground movement to cultivate New Jersey comedy for the masses, creating a unique performance environment that includes every aspect of comedy. For the second year in a row, Improv Jam has been voted “Best Comedy Club” by the Asbury Park Press Reader’s Poll. “Learning improv is great preparation for school” he said. “It can help build confidence and increase social skills.”
After attending Manasquan High School and graduating from Villanova University, he worked in Orlando, Florida performing and writing with the Sak Theatre Comedy Lab. His troupe mates included Wayne Brady ( "Whose Line is it Anyway?" ) Jonathan Mangum ( "Drew Carey's Improv-A- Ganza"), and Aaron Shure ( producer / writer: "Everybody Loves Raymond" ). “We all lived together and did improv on the street” he said. When he started doing improv in Red Bank from 1992 to 2007, Mike performed in different theatres. “Every place we were at closed down. We just had to keep moving.” Eventually, the troupe was able to open up their own theater from 1989 to 1992. Unfortunately after the theater closed down, Mike moved back to New Jersey to continue working.
As a part of his teaching, one improv principle O’Keeffe emphasizes is called “Yes And.” For instance, if one character in the scene says “I like ice cream” and the second character responds “Yes and my dad takes me to get an ice cream cone every night,” this is an example of the method in action. “Whether it is physically or verbally, “Yes And” teaches kids how to always accept something.” Mike said. “It is considered a life skill and teaches kids not to say no as a first response when asked to do something by a parent, teacher, or another trusted adult.”
In addition to his upcoming classes at the Middletown Arts Center, Mike works with children at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank performing weekly shows. The kids have the opportunity to perform in a troupe similar to an episode of Drew Carey’s “Who’s Line is it Anyway?”
He has been a presenter at the NJEA Convention, consults corporations such as Merrill Lynch in teambuilding strategies through improvisation, and assists many school districts that are interested in incorporating improvisation into their arts curriculum. Michael performs weekly with the Improv Jam Comedy Lab, and to date has performed over 6000 comedy shows worldwide. Last summer, he performed shows with Wayne Brady when he toured in support of his hit television show, “Whose Line is it Anyway?”. Currently, he has a Master’s Degree in Education, and is a 5th grade teacher with the Wall Township Schools.
Someone was recently quoted as saying, "Every improv performer in the state has either taken classes from or been in Improv Jam at some point in their life. They are essentially the ones who put improv comedy on the map in New Jersey".
Mike O’Keefe’s classes at the Middletown Arts Center will be offered, August 12-16 in the mornings from 9 a.m. - noon 12 p.m. and afternoons from 12:45 p.m.-3 p.m. for kids ages 6-12. To register, contact the MAC at 732-706-4100.
