BY Arthur Smid
“Please make mistakes,” Brad Fortier, comedian and educational director at The Brody Theater explains, “they’re essential to this art, because a lot of those mistakes can become very brilliant comedy if we utilize rather than minimize the mistakes.” Fortier talks casually with students, “Improv training really opens a different way of being – when you eradicate insecurities around mistakes. With improv we’re breaking social norms to get to this comedy.” People come to the show to be entertained and maybe, with a desire to participate. One of the attractions of the theater is a chance to enroll in classes, overcome your fear of speaking in public, and be spontaneously creative with people.
The Brody Theater has been active in Portland for twelve years and just leased a new home at 16 NW Broadway. It’s in the lower part of the Broadway Hotel, between Helen’s Market and Ichiban Sushi. The Housing Authority of Portland welcomed the theater to Old Town in hopes of creating a positive alternative to the dive bars and dance clubs in downtown. Check their website for showtimes: www.brodytheater.com
The players start each show with Read the rest of this entry »
