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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Police Reports Liking Tango helps make hay for abused horses Top five day hikes within reach of Ashland Free class offers home security tips Winter weather could hit Jackson County hillsides today Education Bracing for Common Core Ashland Kiwanis recognize Lillian Huang Chautauqua series brings author Jane Hamilton to Ashland Ashland Runs on Volunteers: OLLI classes pay dividends in joy of teaching, learning New Southern Oregon University board votes to bump tuition nearly 5 percent in the fall Environment Lots to celebrate at SOU Arbor Day rites Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Mt. Ashland hopes coming storm will reopen ski area Wild Side: Selfish and other reasons for saving endangered species Business Ashlander starts up a natural pet food supplement business Should workers be paid at least $15 an hour? Ride & Drive: 2016 Mazda CX-5 Cars We Remember: Car lover knows his 348/409 engines Business profile: Couple opens second Pita Pit in Ashland Politics and elections Arthur I. Cyr: Afghanistan progress is uneven but undeniable Jackson County Commissioners plan no tax on marijuana for first year Grassroots group campaigns for Plaza paver do-over Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Short-term rental restrictions kept in some areas, loosened in others State News Nation - World Obituaries Lawrence R. Hugo III Death Notices Gordon Geeseman William D. Enyart Death Notices Shareable Sports Latest Stories Ashland High events postponed to today Chasing the career grand slam: 3 reasons Rory will win in Augusta, 3 reasons he won’t 3 new baseball books worth a read this season Brook Lopez scores 32, Nets beat short-handed Blazers SOU-OIT softball games moved to Wednesday High school Ashland High events postponed to today Upset-minded Raiders swept by No. 17 Concordia AHS softball team routs Churchill Four-year letterman Fredrickson leads sizzling Grizzlies Grizzlies ace first MWL test Southern Oregon University SOU-OIT softball games moved to Wednesday Upset-minded Raiders swept by No. 17 Concordia Grizz baseball team caps Arizona trip with another win Grizzlies rally past Colorado school for Greenway Festival victory Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Voices Latest Stories Our View: AIFF does Ashland proud Letters to the Editor, April 8 Our View: One tree vs. the Ashland community Council Corner: Why baseball and Guanajuato are important Letters to the Editor, April 7 Editorial Our View: AIFF does Ashland proud Our View: One tree vs. the Ashland community Our View: Ashland climate plan: Small steps add up Our View: More of the same at SOU? Our View: Restoration remorse over Ashland's Plaza Letters Letters to the Editor, April 8 Letters to the Editor, April 7 Letters to the Editor, April 4 Letters to the Editor, April 1 Letters to the Editor, March 30 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Guest Opinion: Ashland is asking for trouble with new room rental rules Guest Opinion: More reasons to oppose Jordan Cove Guest Opinion: It's Groundwater Awareness Week; test your well Columns Council Corner: Why baseball and Guanajuato are important Chris Honoré: The enemy of my enemy is my … frenemy? Herb Rothschild: Stick to the facts Jeffrey Gillespie: Dancing the Pyongyang Polka Editor's Notes: Not falling, flying Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Community blog: Get a poem a day A Country Cajun Revival comes to the Unitarian Community blog: Poets, put on your party shoes Spring exhibitions open at Schneider Museum of Art Community blog: Ashland High grad performs at OSF's Hip Hop Open Mic Theater Ticket Availability Ticket availability in Ashland theaters, April 7 Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Music The Farr Side: No Zayn Malik? One Direction stays the course A Country Cajun Revival comes to the Unitarian Futureshock: Kendrick Lamar release points to road ahead Laurie Lewis and Kathy Kallick pay tribute to Arkansas bluegrass duo Vern Williams and Ray Park Album reviews: Recent and recommended for March Visual Art More films, excitement than ever for AIFF Ashland's First Friday Art Walk Movies Movie review: Suspend all belief in reality — ‘Furious 7’ is just fun Movie review: The action is even more insane in ‘Furious 7’ Movie review: ‘While We’re Young’ is a thought-provoking comedy-drama Alan Alda knows the secrets to acting, marriage Movie Listings: April 3-9 Food and Drink Business profile: Couple opens second Pita Pit in Ashland Tot owners buy Playwright, hire Amuse chef Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Dear Monty: How real estate relocation companies work 5 Things to Do This Weekend (April 10-12) Lost in Suburbia: Timeline of a Man Cold Dave Ramsey: What’s the goal? Top five day hikes within reach of Ashland Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Our View: AIFF does Ashland proud ... Ashland Calendar, Wednesday, April 8 ... Liking Tango helps make hay for abused horses ... Our View: AIFF does Ashland proud ... Ashland Calendar, Wednesday, April 8 ... Liking Tango helps make hay for abused horses ... QUILLS & QUEUES Acting without a net Comment By Angela Decker DailyTidings.com By Angela Decker Posted Dec. 4, 2014 at 6:35 PM By Angela Decker Posted Dec. 4, 2014 at 6:35 PM » RELATED CONTENT • Community blog: Poetry for birders, birds for poets • Community blog: Oregon Poetry Association's fall contest winners... • Community blog: National Readathon Day is coming » Social News Improv acting is terrific fun for audiences and players, but its not for the faint-of-heart performer. Like a trapeze artist without a net, improv (short for improvisational) actors perform without a script. “You never know what's going to happen and that is what makes improv shows so much fun,” said actor and director Mike Wills of Ashland's “On the Fly Improv” troupe. The On the Fly returns Friday with their holiday show at the Havurah Shir Hadash, “A Hair Rolled Experience 2: Un-Permed.” In the one-night-only show, the six performers, Cat Gould, Daniel Jokelson, Kirk McKenzie, Kate Sullivan, Rochelle Webster and Mike Wills, spin ideas from the audience into never-before-seen skits that will never be seen again.  Wills observes that the beauty of improv is in that moment of creativity when the actors work together to turn a simple prompt into a story. “There are times when, without saying much, we are in communication with our partners. It's kind of a dance and when it works, there is no greater feeling,” he said. “When it doesn't work, that's pretty great too,” added Wills. “In improv, mistakes are embraced. Those times when the skit goes a little off are often the funniest and the best,” he said. “It's like Nascar, people kind of want to see something go wrong.”  There are very few rules when it comes to improvisation, but most scenes are anchored by the idea of “yes, and ...” in which the improvisers accept the ideas of their teammates and add on to them. For example, if one actor tells another her shoe is untied, then that actor must accept it and do something related to her untied shoe. “Accepting what is offered is the golden rule of improv,” says Wills. “Without it, scenes just don't work well.”  The “On the Fly Players” is a tight-knit group that has been getting together for the last two years to practice and put on an occasional show. Before a public performance they meet weekly to rehearse. Wills says rehearsing for improv is kind of an oxymoron, but it helps keep the actors on their toes. “We have to be ready for anything the audience throws at us. We play improv games and try out some prompts. Mostly, we just have a good time,” he said.  The scary aspect of improv, being on stage without knowing what is going to happen, is also the best aspect, says Wills. “It's a performance art, a chance to let go and take the world as it comes. The first time you do improv, it is terrifying, but you also get a rush out of it,” said Wills. “It takes a special kind of crazy.”  The audience can expect to get a similar kind of rush. “The audience is part of the show, and there's a relationship that happens between us. The prompts, whether holiday-themed or not, reflect the audience in a way. That's the X-factor. Whatever the audience is feeling comes out in the scene and it can be wild and funny without even trying,” he said. Wills encourages folks unfamiliar with improv to give it a try. “It's a great escape, and a great way to stretch a little out of your comfort zone,” he said. A beginning improv group meets to practice and play at the Ashland Library on Sundays from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Gresham Room. “A Hair-Rolled Experience 2” begins at 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Havurah Shir Hadash at 185 N. Mountain Ave., Ashland. The event benefits the Havurah.  A $5 to $10 donation is suggested. For more information, visit the “On the Fly” Facebook page at facebook.com/ImprovOnTheFly.  Angela Decker is a freelance writer in Ashland and can be reached at [email protected].   By Angela Decker DailyTidings.com By Angela Decker Posted Dec. 4, 2014 at 6:35 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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