Confessions of a Palooza skeptic-turned-fanatic
By WIT teaching artist and long-time improviser Elizabeth Cutler
As many improvisers know, a confession can truly energize a scene. So, here’s mine: I am a former Improvapalooza grinch.
I didn’t dislike Palooza, per se… I just didn’t “get” it. I would participate in a few shows that my teammates submitted and stick around for an hour here or there to see others, but in general, I found it overwhelming. I didn’t feel connected to its core spirit of wacky creativity. And that was fine! I still loved improv and the WIT community, even if friends’ statements like, “I f—ing love Palooza” did not resonate with me at all.
Fast forward to Palooza 2022 — the first in-person edition since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and the last one at Source — WIT’s former homebase. Two main memories stand out for me from Palooza 2022 as bookends of that year’s marathon of shows: first, my beloved Lava Kids teammates and I hit the stage on the first night for our “millennial meet cute” show that we’d started talking about pre-pandemic (so basically 99 years in the making). The joy I felt during that performance was lighter and almost fizzier than any show I’d experienced before.
And then, for the first time, I joined the traditional post-Palooza wrap party at a nearby outdoor watering hole — as someone who barely functions in humidity and is middling on bar scenes, this was BIG — and found myself starting an entry on my phone’s notes app titled “2023 Palooza ideas.” I never looked back. I did indeed execute some of those ideas at the 2023 Palooza, including a jumpsuit show where every performer wore their favorite jumpsuit. The show brought together a variety of performers from different backgrounds and levels, some of whom had never performed together before. The sense of camaraderie and connection in that performance felt more rewarding than I ever could have anticipated. I also felt energized by saying “yes, and” to joining a range of shows like an improvised episode of Antiques Roadshow and a short form-style “A to A” game.
Some things haven’t changed since the Before Times. If your show starts after 11:45 PM, don’t look for me. I won’t be there. Sleep beckons. (Same as it ever was.) However, you will find me embracing my relatively new love for Palooza. After performing in 14 shows last year, watching countless more, and chatting with new and old improv friends along the way, I felt incredibly creatively inspired (and also, tired.) This year, I’m continuing to build on all the lessons I’ve learned. Can Palooza still be overwhelming? Absolutely. Knowing myself and my limits allowed me to have a fantastic experience in 2023 because I: a) took breaks, b) stayed hydrated, and c) wrote out my Personal Palooza Plan in advance.
Pro tip: it was organized by shows I was responsible for, performing in, and prioritizing watching. There will be more than 225 performances this year. Writing down which ones you’re willing to skip and which ones are “must-see” will help you keep pace. In fact, this approach felt like a gift to myself so, I’m doing it again this year, which is fitting since my birthday falls on Palooza Saturday and there is no better way I’d want to celebrate because, after all… I f—ing love Palooza!
Editor’s note: Create your own Personal Palooza Plan by going to the main show page on witdc.org. In the second column, under SCHEDULE, click on the individual days to find out who’s performing when (or scroll down to Upcoming Performances and click on the More Info tabs). WIT’s Pro Tip: Get an All-Palooza Pass for $70 so you can come and go as you please. Nightly passes are also for sale on the WIT website for $22 (plus processing fee).
Last but not least, Happy Birthday Elizabeth! We f—ing love that you love Palooza, too!