10 reasons why our members return to Playback Theatre Open Workshops

While many of you might not be in Pennsylvania, I know you can understand the deep benefits of connecting to your local community and supporting the business owners, artists, shopkeepers, and services that help you daily. Today, I wanted to share a project I'm working on in my local community.

In 2012, I was introduced to improv comedy. I enjoyed the format so much that I started learning about the benefits of improv for building confidence, developing friendships as adults, and even finding a community that can provide support and encouragement in challenging times.

This brought me to take my first Level 1 improv class in 2015, which I loved. I later continued practicing yes... and signed up for Level 1 again in 2019 to participate with two friends who wanted to do it together. I continued with Levels 2 and 3 in 2021 and 2022; one friend introduced me to Playback Theatre last fall.

Playback Theatre is a form of improv in which the audience tells a story, and the troupe "tells the story" through interpretative artistic forms. The "teller" can see their story "come to life" through the actors who are depicting the story and expressing their emotions for them to see. I have heard it described as therapeutic, inspirational, and transformative. It's a community co-created improv that isn't "all about the laughs," which I find meaningful as a former journalist.

So while I am not performing with this troupe, I started practicing with them last fall and recently stepped in as the Communications Coordinator.

The River Crossing Playback Theatre proudly hosted its first public performance of the 2023 season at Elizabethtown College on January 25th. A wonderful evening, despite the earlier mid-day snowstorm. The company partnered with the college to co-create Beloved Community and witness stories, and experiences played back by the ensemble in what will become a dialogue – both with and beyond words.

Recently during our Saturday morning workshop in January, we sat down and talked about how to reignite the Central Pennsylvania Playback Theatre Community.

Since 2007 The River Crossing Playback Theatre has been serving the York, Lancaster, and surrounding communities with training, performances, workshops, and improvisational art.

Several founding members shared why they returned to Playback Theatre time after time, connecting with the troupe members, building relationships, learning about themselves, moving their bodies, and creating new forms. It provides an opportunity for freedom of expression.

Here’s what our members said about what keeps them coming back to Playback Theatre:

“To move my body.”

“Become the combination of creativity, community, and connection.”

“To experience deeper purpose or meaning.”

“A way to break free from personal limiting beliefs.”

“Allows me to tune in with my body.”

“It often feels like a spiritual practice.”

“A place where I feel the MOST MYSELF.”

“I’m better WITH it than WITHOUT it.”

“It is true process work, a pure way to reduce or dissolve social conditioning.”

“It’s a confluence of what I really need and what I really want.”

We are having our next Open Workshop THIS Saturday, February 11th, from 10 AM - 1 PM. You can click here if you'd like to RSVP.