Second City alumni to discuss improv in organizations

A former cast member of Chicago’s illustrious comedy theatre “The Second City” will visit Grand Valley State University to share insights about how organizations and individuals can better adapt to unpredictable changes using improvisation.

Mary Jane Pories, Fishladder, Inc. CEO, will present “Improvisation: Wild Brainstorming” Tuesday, October 27, from 6-6:45 p.m. in Loosemore Auditorium located in the DeVos Center on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus. The presentation, sponsored by Grand Valley’s Design Thinking Initiative, will be preceded by a reception from 5-6 p.m. and followed by a Q&A session.

John Berry, Design Thinking Initiative director, said improvisation is a key component to the design thinking process.

“The design thinking process requires a free exchange of ideas,” said Berry. “The tools of improvisation support creative ideation resulting in a wealth of imaginative possibilities. The improvisational approach is a fast, fun approach to identifying new solutions to old problems.”

Pories founded Fishladder, Inc. in 1999, using her more than 30 years of experience in teaching, performing and applying improvisation in the workplace to engage others in the power of “purposeful play” and collaborative problem solving. Fishladder currently serves national and international clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to non-profits. Pories also serves on the Global Applied Improv Network Board and recently wrote the book Yes, And! Harnessing the Power of Improvisation to Transform your Life and Work.

Space is limited for this presentation. Registration is requested at www.gvsu.edu/designthinking/theory. For more information, contact Berry at [email protected].