Becoming Wilkinson Jonathan Goldman discusses his improv classes and workshops and he talks about the type of person who attends, and what they get out of it.
Jonathan Goldman
Jonathan has been involved in teaching improv classes and workshops in Palm Springs for a number of years.
After attending public schools in Brooklyn, NY, Jonathan then trained to be an optometrist in Boston. Upon realizing that there should be more to a career than forever saying, "Which is clearer? One or Two?", he became the first O.D. to get an M.B.A. in Health Administration (from Temple University in Philadelphia). His career took me to Chicago where he taught; and also took Toastmasters classes. In 1983 Jonathan moved to San Francisco and worked for the Department of Public Health for much of the end of our last century. His last two positions were as a Workers Comp Coordinator and a Hospital Trainer. He also presented "Critical Thinking" workshops for various Kaiser Permanente North hospitals' staff and was manager for Project Inform's National HIV/AIDS treatment hotline.
Happily discovering the BATS School of Improvisation (then known as Bay Area Theatresports™ in 1998, he soon became the Volunteer Director for their community service program, Laughing Stock, which provides free Improv classes to people living with life-threatening illnesses such as HIV/AIDS, Cancer, Hep C, etc., and their care partners. He continued taking specialty classes, performed occasionally with the Mirth Brokers ensemble under the direction of Gerri Lawlor, and lead Intro to Improv workshops at a variety of HIV/AIDS and men's retreats in northern and southern California and afloat on the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean.
Jonathan credits his improv skills for getting him to be a contestant for Wheel of Fortune in 2005. Although landing on a Bankrupt on his first wheel spin and then did the "Ta Dah - Circus Bow" for all of America; he later went on to the Bonus round. According to Slate.Com, he solved one of the 15 toughest WOF puzzles in the past 25 years. Improv also landed him a featured role for the Frameline32 Film Festival trailers as a game show contestant with perpetual wrong answers.
Jonathan moved to Palm Springs in February 2014 with his mixed rescue terrier, Roopert, to re-invent himself. Improv has helped keep his spirits youthful (well, that and a good moisturizer) and energized. He performed with Andy Harmon's Acting Improv class at the 2014 Improv/Comedy Festival in Indio. He's always looking forward to making new friends as he offers locals the opportunity to sample the fun and joy that is Improvisational Theater. Improv builds community!
Flexible thinking skills gained from Improv:
* Increased self-confidence.
* Enthused spirit.
* Better coping with stressful situations.
* Greater freedom of expression.
* More spontaneity.
* Thinking outside the box.
* Creative solutions to challenges.
* Letting go of control.
* Getting out of your head and into the present.
* Improved collaborative efforts = better teamwork.
* Making new friends, both real and imaginary.
To contact Jonathan or to join in the fun:
Web: http://www.theimprovoasis.com
Phone: 760-656-8338
Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022
Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.
To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com