This school year, our Middle School improv troupe, a vibrant part of the performing arts at Moravian Academy for almost 25 years, commemorated its 10th anniversary under my direction.

The troupe was established in 1996 by former seventh-grade English teacher Mr. John Smith Hornung. Under his direction, the group was known as “Mission Improv-able” and ran as a small group that met consistently throughout the fall. After Mr. Hornung’s departure in 2006, the group somewhat struggled to continue until Mr. Hornung’s friend, Mrs. Riker, was invited to direct the troupe. She would become a long-term substitute and then a full-time faculty member. Under her direction, the group has simply been called “Improv” and has grown in size while staying true to the group’s roots established by Mr. Hornung.

Interest in Improv has been robust, and we are grateful to Mr. Rick Dow, retired Middle School faculty member, for donating his assistance since 2016 to help support the participation of a large number of students.

Through participating in Improv, students develop many essential acting skills, such as working as part of an ensemble, listening to and trusting one another, and being playful, creative, and physical on stage. It also develops speaking skills and self-confidence, sharpens thinking, and is simply a lot of fun. The “rules of improv” very much apply to life, and it is our hope that the time students spend participating in the program enriches them as performers, students, and human beings on their life journey.

Read this article and other content in the Spring 2020 Moravian Academy Journal.