On the morning of January 8, Windward’s Improv Troupe (W!T) launched the day with an energizing workshop led by former student Charlie Levy, who returned to campus after relocating to New York following the pandemic. Charlie has gone on to join The Viola Question, Yale University’s premier—and oldest—improv comedy group.
The morning session was a homecoming of sorts, bridging the gap between Charlie’s time at Windward and her current work with "The VQ." The workshop offered W!T students an inside look at the techniques behind a top-tier collegiate improv ensemble, while underscoring a core Windward truth: with curiosity, collaboration, and practice, that level of performance is well within reach.
The WAY of Improv
The core of the workshop focused on The Viola Question’s signature teaching framework: The WAY. This structured approach helps performers build scenes that are grounded yet unpredictable. Charlie and her teammates broke the method down into three essential pillars:
- W – Who, What, Where: Establishing the "base reality" of a scene immediately. By clearly defining the characters, their relationship, and the physical space, the actors create a solid foundation for the comedy.
- A – A to C Thinking: This technique challenges improvisers to avoid the "low-hanging fruit." Instead of going with their first, most obvious thought (A to B), students were encouraged to "jump" to their second or third thought (A to C) for more original and surprising comedic choices.
- Y – Yes, and…: The golden rule of improv—accepting the reality presented by a partner and immediately adding new information to keep the momentum moving forward.
Confidence and Connection
For the members of W!T, the workshop was an empowering experience. Rather than feeling like they had to start from scratch, the students found renewed confidence in what they already knew and were doing right. The session demystified the transition to college arts, showing them that improv is an accessible, immediate way to find a supportive group and a sense of belonging on a new campus.
The VQ members were equally impressed by the caliber of performers they found at Windward. In a follow-up with the Performing Arts Department, the Yale group noted how struck they were by the students' natural abilities.
"The Viola Question shared with me how truly impressed they were with the talent, fearlessness, and sharp comedic wit and timing of the W!T team," said Performing Arts Teacher Natasha Arnold. "It was incredible to see our students realize that the skills they are building right now are the exact same ones used at the collegiate level. It gave them a real sense of belonging in the wider improv community."
A huge thank you to Charlie Levy and The Viola Question for sharing their morning and their expertise with the next generation of Windward performers!