IMPROV WITH LEIGH SHEIN

Alliance for the Arts in Fort Myers provides inclusive improv and theater classes for children on the autism spectrum.  Alliance for the Arts is partnering with Family Initiative Inc. to provide a variety of activities to, “expand art opportunities and promote mental and emotional growth for young artists with autism.”  Last week, the CDC announced that the Autism spectrum disorder is more prevalent than previously thought.   Alliance’s improv classes are able to channel some of the effects of the disorder in a positive direction, helping the kids to live healthy and productive lives...

Walking into the Alliance for the Arts, you come face to face with two ... and art classes for young artists and actors on the autism spectrum, ...

The improv comedy show Harry's Senior Moment which highlights palliative care returns to the Off Broadway Palm for five performances only May 3 through May 6, 2018! Join Harry and his friends as they lead the audience on an imaginative, made-up-on-the-spot, comedic romp based on audience suggestions. Harry's Senior Moment Improv Troupe is dedicated to entertaining, inspiring and educating those with life challenges to live the best life possible under any circumstances...

“Harry’s Senior Moment” is presented by the improv-troupe led by 84-year-old Harry Lichtcsein, who has been battling colon cancer since 2011. Harry joins Gulf Coast Live to talk about how he discovered improv-comedy while going through continued cancer treatment and early palliative care.   The improv-comedy troupe’s director, Leigh Shein, has been doing improv for nearly 40 years. Leigh also joins Gulf Coast Live along with the executive producer of the production, Bonnie Grossmann, who will talk about the importance of palliative care and how improvisation on stage can help.

Gene Pool Party is 3 dads and their real-life teenage daughters, performing unique, all-form, musical improv based on an audience suggestion. Gene Pool Party offers a fresh new improv style, unlike any you have ever seen before, with a charming family connection.

Studies have shown that the arts — including music, painting and comedy — can help ward off dementia and depression and improve the lives of senior citizens.

“The goal is to show them you can live the best life you can,” Grossmann says. “No matter what your situation is.”

It doesn’t even matter if you think you’re “funny.” Lichtcsien certainly didn’t.

“If I can do it,” he says, “anybody can do it.”

He hopes improv comedy does for others what it did for him. Now he has something to live for, he says, and a reason to get up every morning.

“We’re not just there being funny,” he says. “We’re out there to bring a message to people.  Join me. Live your life. Live it to the fullest. Enjoy it.”

New comedy troupe Harry’s Senior Moment isn’t just trying to make people laugh. It also wants to inspire people to live the best life possible — regardless of their health and other factors....

The very funny Margot Escott and Leigh Shein, who both teach and perform improv wrote and star in this show.

"You will recognize all of your dysfunctional relatives," said Escott, the show's writer/director and one of its actresses. "Just imagine, it's a wedding you can laugh at and you don't have to bring a gift."

Escott and Shein's cast include members of CFABS' notorious Improv Anonymous troupe, CFABS' Community Players and some fresh faces to the comedy scene.

The show reaches its pinnacle with the arrival of Jesus (Keith Gahagan) and Manolo (Leigh Shein), the Costanzuela brothers from upstairs. Shein and Gahagan have created two tipos salvajes y locos (wild and crazy guys.) They do not enter until well into Act II, but they lift the play to a new level of laughter just when it is needed.