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MPR News with Angela Davis
Angela Davis and Cari Dwyer
Updated:

Using improv to improve communication

people participating together
Aysia Dukes (left) and Maria Ledesma (right) participate in an improv exercise that was part of the Constructive Dialogue Initiative at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School of Public Affairs.
Courtesy Humphrey School of Public Affairs, Bruce Silcox

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Improvisation — or improv — is a type of live theater where the characters, dialogue and plot are made up on the spot. It’s how a lot of comedians get their start. 

But improv is more than entertainment.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with three improv actors who say the skills they use — such as listening, teamwork and flexibility — can help us all have better conversations about divisive topics. 

three people pose for a portrait
Duck Washington (left) an actor, director, playwright and improviser, Tane Danger (center), co-founder of Danger Boat Productions and host of The Theater of Public Policy, and Heather Meyer (right), a playwright, humor writer and performer, pose for a portrait in the Kling Public Media Center in St. Paul Thursday.
Nikhil Kumaran | MPR News

Guests:

  • Tane Danger is a Minneapolis-based speaker, interviewer and educator who uses improv to engage people in conversations about big ideas. As co-founder of Danger Boat Productions and host of The Theater of Public Policy, he interviews newsmakers and policy experts, transforming complex topics into engaging, unscripted performances. 

  • Duck Washington is a member of Danger Boat Productions. He is an actor, director, playwright, improviser, audio designer, arts administrator and educator based in the Twin Cities. 

  • Heather Meyer is a playwright, humor writer and performer. She has been a professional actor and improviser for more than 20 years and is a member of Danger Boat Productions.

Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.