Every day on Art&Seek, we’re talking to people who have tips for socially distant art experiences. Share yours with us on Facebook, Instagram or @artandseek on Twitter. Click above to hear Lindsay Goldapp from Stomping Ground Comedy share her tip with KERA’s Nilufer Arsala. 

Lindsay Goldapp, Artistic Director/Instructor, Stomping Ground Comedy

If there’s one thing everyone can agree on during this pandemic it’s that there hasn’t been much to laugh at.

Stomping Ground Comedy in Dallas is out to change that a little bit.

Like a lot of businesses, the comedy house has been closed since March. They moved their classes to an on-line format, but the group has missed the connection of  face-to-face interactions so they thought of a way to bring back the laughs in person.

“We’ve had our doors closed for the last six months and so we came up with this idea of doing improv–not in our physical building–but outside in our parking lot,” said Lindsay Goldapp, artistic director and instructor at Stomping Ground Comedy Theater.

Photo: Stomping Ground Comedy

The entry-level class is aptly named Improv in the Park(ing) Lot. And being outdoors is just one of the protocols to ensure safety.

“We’ll be maintaining social distance and be wearing masks.  Classes are limited to 10 and we we have everything measured out so that our students don’t get closer than they should,” says Goldapp.

Participants will learn the following in the class:

• Connecting & playing from a distance
• Spontaneity, justifications, characters, emotions
• Creating *new* formats for socially distanced improv
• Using the architecture & environment of outdoor improv
• Incorporating social distancing into rehearsals and performances

Besides learning the ends and outs of improv, Goldapp believes that more than ever people need face-to face contact with other people.

“This is basically recess for adults. People get play and learn about comedy and most importantly they get to connect with other people.”

Got a tip? Email Therese Powell at tpowell@kera.org. You can follow her on Twitter @TheresePowell13

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