Southington Library Will Host Improv Lessons, Performance This Summer

SOUTHINGTON, CT — The Southington Public Library has been awarded grant money to host improv comedy workshops for adults, teens and children this summer.

The workshop series is called "The Literacy of Laughter: A Community Gets Schooled in the Art of Comedy," officials said, and the library is contracting with Sea Tea Improv to present it.

In the sessions, participants will practice unscripted comedy — a skill library officials said can be used in everyday life, as it encourages listening and cooperation and fosters a sense of trust and community.

Through the workshops, participants will also learn how to use comedy to process what officials called the "collective trauma of contemporary times," citing the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, academic anxiety and friendship issues.

From June through August, three public events — one each for adults, teens and children — will be held, as will workshops for the John E. DeMello Sr. Veteran's Coffee Hour, the ARC of Southington, and Bread for Life.

The series will close with "Southington Night Live" — an all-ages improv performance and community discussion.

All events are free but registration is required, officials said.

To fund the workshops, the Southington Public Library received $2,900 from Connecticut Humanities and $1,500 from the Calvanese Foundation Green & White Fund and the KAWFY Memorial Fund at the Main Street Community Foundation.

"The Southington Public Library understands how difficult the past two plus years have been on its community and the world at large," Southington Librarian Lynn Pawloski said in a statement. "We are grateful to Connecticut Humanities and the Main Street Community Foundation for funding our summer of smiles providing the welcoming, safe environment inherent in improv culture, where community members can enrich themselves in a joyful medium, is truly special for us.”

For more information and program registration, community members can call 860-628-0947 or visit the library's website.