Grocery Store Rap Battle ft. Stephanie Rae

Hello friend!

Today we welcome the formidable Stephanie Rae, founder of The Black Improv Alliance. Stephanie has been studying traditional and musical improv for eleven years. She has directed a Boyz II Men themed show for UCB'S Del Close Marathon, guest performed in tons of shows, and taught classes and workshops for improvisors from Louisiana to Liverpool. These days she directs the Black Improv Alliance, performs with International Players Club & Wakanda v Everybody, is an ambassador for Freestyle Love Supreme Academy, and runs the 100 black improvisors program. A program which has created scholarships for black improvisors at more than 60 theaters from around the world. She also has a law degree from Georgetown - but mostly uses it to win arguments online.

On this episode we ran a real life boundary check-in to illustrate how check ins and boundaries can be done before a show or in a classroom. We also chat about how those boundaries can shift depending on what kind of space we are in.

Stephanie shares the Black Improv Alliance’s journey from where it began to becoming the organization it is today- offering scholarships and enrichment to the black improv community.

We chat about social dynamics in the improv community including improvisers dating improvisers as well as navigating the social and interpersonal aspect of being both a performer and a leader.

We also get into finances, and what it’s like to run a nonprofit organization that… well… requires funds! That paper!

Keep up with Stephanie on Facebook and Instagram & support the Black Improv Alliance by following on social media and donating via Cash App, Venmo, PayPal, Zelle, or Patreon @blackimprovalliance.

-------

Make sure to subscribe to our show on your favorite podcast platform and follow us on social and Patreon @eliseandjohnshow!