Improv For Communication Skills at The Naples Players
Anne Gibson
ID-267
School Name:Barron Collier High
Grant Request Grade:9-12
Grant Request Subject:Special Needs Students
Additional Details
The Naples Players (TNP) use theater and improvisation through their TNP Academy and Arts Access Corporate Training to build active listening, quick thinking, and collaborative communication skills for individuals and local Florida businesses.
Core Improv Principles for Communication Active listening: Focus entirely on what your partner says instead of planning your next reply. "Yes, And": Accept incoming ideas ("Yes") and add constructive value to them ("And") to keep dialogue open. Adapting in the moment: Reduce anxiety and respond with calm confidence when unexpected topics or questions come up.
Key Benefits for Students with Communication Needs - Reduces Cognitive Load: Improv removes the pressure of reading long texts or memorizing scripts, allowing students to focus purely on organic interaction. Decodes Social Cues: Games explicitly isolate and practice non-verbal communication, helping students recognize facial expressions, body language, and vocal tones. Builds Spontaneous Speech: The unscripted nature of games encourages natural verbal output and reduces the anxiety of hunting for the "perfect" word. Improves Executive Function: Fast-paced scene shifts train the brain to switch tasks, regulate emotional impulses, and process information in real-time. Normalizes Mistakes: Because there are no mistakes in improv—only "gifts" to build upon—students overcome the fear of speaking incorrectly.
The Improv for Communication Skills Class costs $200.00 per class. We would like to go approximately once per month while in school. That would be 8 classes. 200x8=1600 for the total of $1600.
Eight Improv Classes for the 2026-2027 School Year
Location: The Naples Players; 701 5th Ave S. Naples FL 34102
Cost: $200 per class; $1600 total - This includes prep time and a uniquely tailored curriculum design, plus teaching time of 1 hour for (1) TNP instructor
