ZIONNA REDMON BECOMES IMPROVANEER METHOD DIRECTOR

BY KATIE GRIFFIN & DREW BOWERMAN

Zionna Redmon, a junior at Wadsworth High School, is expanding her passion for acting by assisting children and adults with developmental disabilities in the field of improvisation. Known as the Improvaneer Method, Redmon actively teaches people how to improve their improvisation skills through different games and activities.

Although Redmon was not originally aware of this outlet for those with developmental disabilities, she decided to partake in the Improvaneer Method after her vocal coach made mention of it.

“[My vocal coach] recommended me for the job, and I met with one of the main directors and talked about what it was and what I would need to do and train for,” Redmon said.

After the interview process, Redmon had to go through an extensive training program to ensure she was ready to become a director.

“I started training a few months ago,” Redmon said. “I would meet with the director a few times and we would go through all of the lessons. Each lesson or agenda would have a few games, so I would have to learn all the games and learn the rules and tips for each game and I’d have to learn how to speak properly and have the time management for class.”

While some groups perform the classes in person, there is not an in-person facility near Wadsworth, so Redmon’s classes are held over a Zoom call each week. These calls involve Redmon, the director, an assistant director, and somewhere between three and ten students.

“[For a typical class] I would log in to Zoom, and I’d look at the agenda,” Redmon said. “When all the kids come in, there is a certain topic that we will talk about for a little bit while we get settled in, and that’s when I’ll start to play the games with them. The assistant director is the one reading everything and explaining the game.”

Beyond class, Redmon’s students also improve their skills at home.

“At the end of the class, we have what is called “Homeprov”, which is what to do at home until class the next week,” Redmon said.

Within the Improvaneer Method program, there are directors and split up by age, and directors are placed with age groups with which they feel comfortable.

“There is a youth section, which I do, and then there are adults,” Redmon said. “I’m the youngest director [within the Wadsworth division], there are some older and some younger, but I’m the youngest that I know of so far.”

Redmon does not see this as her forever career, as she hopes to pursue a career in acting. However, she believes that it will help her with her acting career, and plans to continue it for a while.

“I would say this will help me with my career, but I don’t think this is what I want to do forever,” Redmon said. “I think [I want to keep doing this for] as long as I can. It’s a great job, and I can do it for as long as I want to, so I want to keep it going.”

Redmon is grateful to have such a unique opportunity.

“I don’t really want to do normal [teenage] jobs like working fast food,

Redmon said. “A lot of the directors have been doing this for years and I want to do that too.”

Redmon continues to work with the Improvaneer Method each Wednesday. While helping others enjoy an activity that she is passionate about, she continues to learn more about acting herself and forming new relationships.