In the Multiverse of Infinite Possibilities, How Different My Life must be in the Universe Without Impro Theatre

By Laurie L. Baggao

Hi! My name is Laurie and I serve on Impro Theatre’s Board of Directors and DEIA Committee. Because of my many joyous experiences over the years with this group, I have forever changed the way I spell “theatre” (Spelling it with “T-E-R”? No).

I am shy. People who meet me now tell me that I am not, but they have no idea that it has taken decades of me pushing myself past my comfort zone to attain this level of functional shyness. Impro Theatre continues to help me with that. More on this later.

I have been a nurse for 40 years. In the beginning, as a new nurse, it was difficult for me to even introduce myself to my new patients to let them know that I would be taking care of them that day. For me, that cold introduction to a stranger was harder than performing the skills I had practiced in nursing school, e.g. suctioning a trach, hanging blood, or starting an IV. I quickly realized that the sooner I established a good rapport with my patients, the sooner they would be more at ease, trusting me to help them get through whatever needed to be done while hospitalized, to get them better, and to get them home. In the workplace, shyness did not serve. In my personal life, I was very different.

1st day at work (1982) / Me in PAPR (Powered Air Purifying Respirator) — Photos courtesy of Laurie L. Baggao.

I was/am a nerd. Back in the 70’s and 80’s, there were not a lot of girls that collected comic books (mostly Marvel, Image, or Dark Horse), or read Asimov, Heinlein, Herbert, LeGuin, Card, or Tolkien. When The Lord of the Rings movies came out, I was ecstatic to see the books adapted to film.

In 2004, my brother showed me this article:

From that day forward, my timeline branched. (I still have this clipping from 18 years ago)

Fellowship! The Musical Parody of Lord of the Rings at the Lyceum Theatre, SDCC 2005 — Photo courtesy of Laurie L. Baggao

This amazing musical — this clever, catchy love letter to the movie — was created by the uncanny Joel McCrary and future Impro Theatre’s own Kelly Holden Bashar with immeasurable contributions by the cast that included future Im-provisational-pro’s Edi Patterson, Lisa Fredrickson, Ryan Smith, and Cory Rouse. Fellowship! with this talented cast was my gateway drug into musical theatre, and theatre in general.

Laurie with Impro Ensemble member Kelly Holden Bashar — Photos courtesy of Laurie L. Baggao

Laurie with Impro Ensemble member Edi Patterson — Photos courtesy of Laurie L. Baggao

Laurie with current Impro co-Artistic Director Lisa Fredrickson — Photos courtesy of Laurie L. Baggao

Laurie with Impro Ensemble member Ryan Smith — Photo courtesy of Laurie L. Baggao

Because the cast was so skilled at improvisation, seeing it multiple times over the years, was like seeing variant versions of the play. Always surprising, funny, entertaining, and really, quite addictive.

Realizing that the cast would also work on other projects, I wanted to support them in whatever they were in. One day, I saw that Kelly, Cory, Edi, Lisa, and Ryan were involved in shows at Impro Theatre.

Laurie with Impro Ensemble members, Cory Rouse, Ryan Smith, Edi Patterson, Lisa Fredrickson, Kelly Holden Bashar and guests — Photos courtesy of Laurie L. Baggao

As I became more familiar with Impro, and saw more and more shows, I was witness to the incredible craft and talent that goes into making the magic of live theatre. I learned how dedicated Impro was, both in the main company and the school, to continue to learn and grow in diversity — to tell inclusive stories representative of the community. And then, COVID. I have seen how the company continues to navigate the ever-changing landscape of a 2-year-old pandemic that has ebbed and flowed like a creature breathing and biding its time. Shows and classes went online.

I took that opportunity to take an improv class online. I had always wanted to take a class but the thought of taking an in-person improv class with people who act for a living? When you’re a nurse? Too nerve-wracking. But an online class? OK! I thought I might handle that a bit better. I took Lisa’s class: Intro to Narrative Improv. I thought I would know one person, Lisa, and I knew she was nice. Well, her class was beyond welcoming, and everyone was so supportive of each other! It was that experience that prompted me to take Paul Rogan’s class: ABCD: Accents, Big Characters, and Dialects, and that was so much fun and a blast as well! When you’re having fun, it’s tough to be scared. When you conquer a fear, you build confidence. You “fear, less.” I can see how taking these classes have helped me be more comfortable in speaking up at work in Zoom meetings. Co-workers have commented that I articulate team concerns well to Leadership and appear non-plussed in bringing up points for Administration to consider. I KNOW this change came about because of the encouragement and support I received in Lisa’s and Paul’s classes. Once this pandemic thing settles into something more predictable, I am planning to take in-person classes.

I don’t know anything about quantum physics or if there is a multiverse. But I do know that my timeline started to branch 18 years ago and put me on a path where “theatre” is spelled with T-R-E and I am planning to take improv classes in person. And maybe somewhere in the verse, there is a me that is wondering if I exist.

Photo of the Jane Austen Unscripted cast by Ginger Sole Photography

P.S. THIS me is excited to see Jane Austen Unscripted at the Garry Marshall Theatre. It marks Impro’s return to live performances!