(WBBM NEWSRADIO) - If Kim Greene Hiller knows anything, it's how to make fun of herself and to bring the best out in people.
"One of my favorite mottos (is) ‘if you stumble, make it part of the dance.’ That's a major lesson. Humility is everything. When we laugh at the things that scare us, we diffuse the power," Hiller said.
As a young performing arts major from San Francisco, she visited The Second City in Chicago and never left.
"When I graduated from college, I immediately moved to New York City. I studied theater. After a year, I came to Chicago. I found myself at the $5 Monday night show at The Second City, and it changed my life in one show," she laughed.
She spent five years there and made the rounds in Chicago comedy.
"This was 1992, on stage were Steve Carell, Steve Colbert, Amy Sedaris. Steve Carell was actually my first instructor. I took a class called ‘Improv for Actors.’ I remember thinking so hard it was, and they made it look so easy." she said. "I got such a sense of community from that experience. I also went on to train at The i-O, Improv Olympic, and The Annoyance (Theater). It was fantastic," she recalled.
Hiller soon realized she wanted to teach others how to perform, to be confident and to laugh. She has a master's degree in education and took her improv classes on the road.
In 2011, she launched the Laughing Academy in Glenview as an after-school program for kids.
"I was trying to advertise my existing classes, and I reached out to schools and several said, ‘no, but we offer after school programming, would you do that?’ Within three years, I had 450 students a week in the North Shore Schools year. A staff of nine and I would go up to three schools a day and teach them, and it was everything to me, " Hiller said.
In 2019, she opened a studio in Glenview, complete with two stages, a music center, training and classroom space for kids and adults of all ages.
"(I) always wanted to be an actress, and I always wanted to be a teacher. When I discovered improv, I thought what a faster delivery system for all these things I want to teach to children. I can get them up there sooner. I don't have to cast them. We cast ourselves in improv. I teach people ages 5 to 105," she said.
Hiller said working with young children is most rewarding, specifically middle school students. She said she can see a difference almost immediately.
"My after-school program had immigrant children, I had children for whom English is a second language, children who wouldn't have normally been drawn to a theater program. Through this work, they were overcoming shyness, they were getting to know each other. I joke with their parents, ‘I'm not trying to turn them into actors.’ We can see their growth and their confidence in speaking," she smiled.
"A mom told me that this was the one hour a week that her daughter is truly herself. That brought tears to my eyes." she recalled.
Hiller said laughing is the best therapy, laughing at yourself can lead to lessons that can be used for the rest of your life.
"You're going to make a mistake. It's improv, it's made up. Life is full of uncertainties and the genius is not in the planning but in the grace to handle the unexpected," Hiller said.
The Laughing Academy offers after-school classes for high school, middle school and adult classes.
"A typical weekday, we might have a standup class in one room, an improv class in the other, storytelling in one room, a monologue workshop, someone learning how to sing in another room," she smiled.
There are retirees who take classes as well.
"They do this for the love of it, but they've created friendships too.
On the back wall of her studio, reads a motto that reminds her students to take a risk, step out of your comfort zone, and build a community.
"On the back wall, it said, 'The fun is always on the other side of YES.’ I hope my students walk away with an increased confidence and increased desire for communication and connectivity. In improvisation, there is no right or wrong, there's your commitment to your creativity and your trust in your partner. Every lesson I teach in improv can be applied in life," Hiller said.
The Laughing Academy hosts workshops for kids and adults and professional stand-up comedy shows. In addition, they have spring and summer camps happening for kids during school breaks.
There are 10-week classes for kids, 6-8 week classes for adults. There are also after hours comedy shows every Friday and Saturday nights.
For more information about The Laughing Academy, log onto thelaughingacademy.com.
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