Let’s face it, the changing world brings challenges that require improvisation.
Work teams require flexibility, innovation, and creativity.
Often in the moment on the fly.
In these interactive training events and keynote addresses,
Pam Victor shares an improviser's guide to improve vital professional and interpersonal skills, like communication, collaboration, innovation, confidence, resilience, team-building, and intentional connection. (Oh, and did we mention it's super fun too?!)
Work teams require flexibility, innovation, and creativity.
Often in the moment on the fly.
In these interactive training events and keynote addresses,
Pam Victor shares an improviser's guide to improve vital professional and interpersonal skills, like communication, collaboration, innovation, confidence, resilience, team-building, and intentional connection. (Oh, and did we mention it's super fun too?!)
"What an awesome experience for my team. The lessons were applicable and still resonate today … I think this has been one of the most positive and influential things we have done as a group. Yes, and I loved it. Yes, and I learned. Yes, and every office should take time for this!”
-Kirsten Modestow, Executive Creative Director, BRIGADE
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Not sure where to start? Pam's casual 15 minute tour of our programs
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See our professional development program in action
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Descriptions of Events
AN IMPROVISER'S GUIDE TO
quieting the inner critic to
amplify your authentic voice
training event or Keynote |
In the signature presentation based on her TEDx Talk, professional improviser Pam Victor shares immediately-applicable techniques to help quiet the inner critic and disable the fear of failure that might be interfering with your ability to bring your best self to work. Ready to loosen the grip of imposter syndrome and perfectionism? With equal parts humor and wisdom, Pam offers simple, effective tools to quiet the internal messages of unhelpful fear and self-judgment to gain more confidence in your authentic voice. Using easy-to-learn, improv-enriched exercises in pairs or small groups, you'll get hands-on experience in how to reframe challenges and disempower failure to progress more joyfully and easefully. If you hear "improv" and think "Eek!", fear not. Pam Victor specializes in making sure all people along the introvert-extrovert spectrum feel comfy, successful, and have a blast learning and growing together. This engaging and fun interactive professional development training is designed to support the resilience, connection, and creativity of members of work and leadership teams, entrepreneurs, and anyone looking to navigate the future with more joy and ease. Skills focused on include:
Note: This is not an improv workshop; it's an opportunity to learn an improviser's approach to workplace skills-building using simple improv-enriched (not scary) exercises designed to put the learning into laughter-filled practice. All exercises take place in a circle, small group, or pairs; participants are never “on stage.”
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Pam Victor's 2019 TEDx Talk "Meet Your Inner Critic
(and Tell It to Pipe Down)"
(and Tell It to Pipe Down)"
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Pam receiving the New England Public Radio Arts & Humanities Award, presented by NPR's Eric Deggans.
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“I would recommend Pam as a presenter to whomever is bringing in trainers, or trying to make their organization more effective in thinking, collaborating, changing their outlook to positive, and on and on."
-Ira Bryck, Family Business Center of Pioneer Valley
Collaborate with positivity
improv to improve team communication (& MOre!)
TRAINING EVENT & KEYNOTE"I feel this presentation should be a prerequisite for everyone in the workplace!" 
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As improvisers collaboratively co-create on the spot, they are trained to cultivate a singular vision and shared purpose called "group mind." It's magical! In this customizable event, Pam Victor, president and founder of Happier Valley Comedy, shares improvisation's masterful tools to support communicating and collaborating with more joy, ease, and group mind in the workplace. You'll gain immediately-applicable techniques to quiet the inner critic and work with more positive cooperation in order to increase team empowerment, beneficial risk-taking, and productive team spirit. The “Yes, and…” mindset of improv provides a powerful blueprint to share space, information, knowledge, and influence to harness the talents of the whole team (even the quiet ones.) You’ll leave this interactive training with a new vocabulary and approach to boost brainstorming, problem-solving, creativity, and respectful, open-minded cooperation.
... And more! In this customized training, Pam will work with you to select one of these additional skills (or two or more skills in the 2.5 and 3-hour versions): Flexibility and Adaptability with Change Connection & Team-Building Innovation & Creative Thinking Challenging, Connecting Conversations Trust & Good Will Pam defines improvisation as "acceptance of the reality of the moment and the agreement to move forward together with joy and ease." Learn how to use the magical tenets and tools of improv to improve your team's work together. (Oh, and did we mention this event is a lot of fun too?!) Skills focused on include:
Note: This is not an improv workshop or show; it's an opportunity to learn an improviser's approach to workplace skills-building using simple improv-enriched (not scary) exercises designed to put the learning into laughter-filled practice. All exercises take place in a circle, small group, or pairs; participants are never “on stage.” Pam Victor specializes in making sure all people along the introvert-extrovert spectrum feel comfy, successful, and have fun learning how to use improv to improve the workplace.
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free & Fully- or Partially-reimbursed
See our professional development program in action
An improviser's guide to
DEEP LISTENING
1.5 - 3 hour event"Pam! Pam! Pam! Cheers to you for making the world a better place, one minute at a time! I enjoyed your presentation and have told all my friends of your comic and inspirational gifts. Thank you for making your way to Neilson Library and filling our hearts with joy and ease."
- Rebecca Weber, Smith College 
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"The single biggest problem in communication
is the illusion that it has taken place." - George Bernard Shaw There's listening and there's deep listening, the intention to hear and understand fully before responding. Improvisers are trained to listen deeply, to pay attention acutely to the words being said (and not said), body language, that look in their eyes. The listener even needs to pay attention to their own thoughts and assumptions. So much deep listening! Quieting the inner critic, staying out of assumptions, slowing down - all these improv skills apply beautifully to workplace communication and connection. Using improv-enriched (and introvert-friendly!) interactive exercises and guided discussion, this workshop shares an improviser’s approach to strengthening deep listening muscles to be more present, open, and available at work. Skills focused on include:
Note: This is not an improv workshop or show; it's an opportunity to learn an improviser's approach to workplace skills-building using simple improv-enriched (not scary) exercises designed to put the learning into laughter-filled practice. All exercises take place in a circle, small group, or pairs; participants are never “on stage.” Pam Victor specializes in making sure all people along the introvert-extrovert spectrum feel comfy, successful, and have fun learning how to use improv to improve the workplace.
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"I've been in a lot of sessions about the importance of deep listening, with similar takeaways, but the grounding of those takeaways in the practice of improv added new depth and perspective. Improv is highly relational, and so is listening, and thinking about how this pretty fundamental skills plays out in the context of improv gave me a new opportunity to reflect on what makes it hard and what makes it important."
- Improv to Improve Deep Listening participant
- Improv to Improve Deep Listening participant
thriving amid uncertainty
the strength of connection
"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style."
- Maya Angelou |
According to Dr. Robert Waldinger, the director of the longest running study on happiness, “The most consistent finding we’ve learned through 85 years of study is: Positive relationships keep us happier, healthier, and help us live longer. Period.” During challenging and uncertain times, the importance of strengthening intentional connection becomes exponentially more crucial for building resilience, refilling our energy and positivity tanks, and reaping the mental and physical health benefits of good relationships.
Pam Victor, founder and president of Happier Valley Comedy, invites you to build stronger workplace relationships through intentional, meaningful, and joyful connection using the tenets and exercises of improvisation. If you just read “improvisation” and thought “Eeek!” this workshop is built for you and everyone on the introvert-extrovert spectrum. Pam’s superpower is creating a space of non-judgment and ease for everyone, even (especially!) the shy or less confident participants. No need to bring anything to this workshop except a willingness to connect together through guided discussions and improv-enriched games completed in pairs or small groups. Join us to put the benefits of connection and the power of play into real practice, so you could leave this workshop with some extra mental and emotional bandwidth to better handle the uncertainties of life. Skills covered include:
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The power of
play at work
Note: No previous experience expected. Improv exercises take place in a whole group circle or pairs; participants are not put “on stage” or required to perform. This event is developed for everyone on the introvert-extrovert spectrum. Activities can be adapted to practice according to one’s physical needs and preferences. |
Did you know that play helps to relieve stress, improves interpersonal connections, builds brain power and creativity, and gives you an energy boost? Let’s harness the power of play together in this low-stress, high-fun interactive event. Professional improviser Pam Victor expertly guides the group in judgment-free and laughter-filled playtime with a strong focus on fun for all (especially those introverts and shy people!) To facilitate more joy and ease, Pam provides foundational techniques to support the team in quieting the inner critic, and reframing failure, so everyone has as much fun as possible during our improv-enriched play. No experience necessary; only a willingness to experience the power of play.
“The ability to play is critical not only to being happy, but also to sustaining social relationships and being a creative, innovative person.”
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you might be able to get this event for free!
Happier Valley Comedy is proud to be a training provider with the Workforce Training Fund Express Grant, where qualifying companies are reimbursed fully or partially for this event!
tame burnout through
mindfulness & Play
Note: No previous experience with meditation, mindfulness, or improv comedy expected. Improv exercises take place in a whole group circle or pairs; participants are not put “on stage” or required to perform. This event is developed for everyone on the introvert-extrovert spectrum. Activities can be adapted to practice according to one’s physical needs and preferences. |
"Research at companies like Google, Aetna and Intel have shown that increasing mindfulness in the workplace can decrease stress levels while improving focus, thoughtfulness, decision-making abilities and overall well-being. Mindfulness gives employees permission and space to think — to be present — leading to mental agility, resilience and self-awareness. In addition, mindfulness can reduce emotional exhaustion, increase openness to new ideas and develop compassion and empathy." - Forbes Magazine Happier Valley Comedy president and founder Pam Victor says, “Yes, AND…" let’s practice mindfulness with laughter while in connection together (rather than alone in our heads)! Pam joyfully guides your work team in communal and private contemplation, practice, and play as we experience mindfulness through easy improv exercises, an accessible guided meditation, and connection-rich discussions. Prioritizing wellbeing leads to better performance, reduced burnout, greater workplace happiness, and better stress management. This interactive training supports self-awareness, focus, presence, emotional regulation, and empathy. Your team is not just a collection of brains. This uniquely fun, profound, and beneficial event recognizes and supports the whole individual. Training Session Includes:
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you might be eligible to get this event for free
Happier Valley Comedy is proud to be a training provider with the Workforce Training Fund Express Grant, where qualifying companies are reimbursed fully or partially for this event!
more professional development events
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improv to improve
Flexibility & Change
TRAINING EVENT OR KEYNOTE
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Life seems to have an endless supply of curveballs up its sleeve, doesn't it? We arrive at work every day with a plan ... and then the unexpected promptly interrupts it. Fortunately, improvisers are trained to eat flexibility for breakfast and adaptability for lunch. (Dinner is usually pizza.) So who better to teach adjusting to change than a professional improviser?
In this interactive event, professional improviser Pam Victor shares immediately-applicable improv techniques to meet changes and challenges with greater agility, ease, optimism, and good-humored equanimity. This fun, interactive event includes an engaging and entertaining mix of lessons, guided discussions, and interactive exercises to deepen learning. Skills focused on include:
Note: This is not an improv workshop or show; it's an opportunity to learn an improviser's approach to workplace skills-building using simple improv-enriched (not scary) exercises designed to put the learning into laughter-filled practice. All exercises take place in a circle, small group, or pairs; participants are never “on stage.” Pam Victor specializes in making sure all people along the introvert-extrovert spectrum feel comfy, successful, and have fun learning how to use improv to improve the workplace.
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an improviser's guide to
building resilience & Connection
training event or keynote
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What would it be like to see challenges as opportunities rather than endings? To navigate bumps in the road with equanimity and team unity rather than unproductive shame or blame? The resiliency necessary to weather mistakes, overcome setbacks, and maintain team cohesion through thick and thin are tricky but essential skills in the workplace. Resilience is associated with greater job satisfaction, work happiness, and employee engagement. The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health recommends building resilience by reframing challenges and boosting social connections, positive thinking, and laughter. Professional improviser Pam Victor brings all those tools to this fun, highly supportive training event that uses improv tenets, entertaining lessons, and easy-to-learn exercises to boost meaningful connections, foster team spirit, decrease stress, and build resilience. “Resilience is based on compassion for ourselves as well as compassion for others.” ― Sharon Salzberg Skills covered include:
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improv to improve
challenging conversations
3 or 5 Hour training event
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Improv trains performers in complex communication. Each improv scene involves simultaneous, spontaneous conversations from character to character, performer to performer, and audience to performers. An improviser's intention is to turn "you-against-me" mindsets into "you-and-me-against-the-world." This interactive training event brings these complex communication abilities to promote more connecting conversations at work. Applying both improv and mindfulness tenets, professional improviser-facilitator Pam Victor shares her easy-to-follow framework to use improv to improve challenging and connecting conversations. Though entertaining lessons and hands-on experience, your team learns tangible techniques to hold more accepting, connection-rich, and productive conversations. Pam guides your team in applying a "Yes, and..." mindset, a spirit of inquiry and curiosity, and deep listening skills to accept the reality that brought us to this conversation in order to move forward together with positivity and ease. Each participant leaves with the "Improv to Improve Challenging & Connecting Conversations" framework in hand to apply what was learned to future conversations. This event brings lightness and playfulness to learning formidable communication skills to produce benefits that extend well beyond our time together.
Would you rather be right about one issue
or maintain an ongoing healthy working relationship? (If the answer is B, this event is for you.) THIS EVENT REQUIRES 3-5 HOURS
Skills covered include:
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AN IMPROVISER'S GUIDE TO
amplifying your authentic voice
TRAINING EVENT OR KEYNOTE
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Life doesn't come with a script. We're all improvisers doing our best to make it up every day as we bravely move into the unknown future. But most of us aren't trained in improv skills ... until now! In this engaging, entertaining event, Happier Valley Comedy president and founder Pam Victor joyfully delivers an improviser's guide to reframing challenges more positively, quieting the inner critic, and building resilience to support you in boosting confidence in your personal authentic voice and interpersonal skills. Through humorous stories and easy-to-learn improv-enriched exercises, Pam presents powerful techniques to support you in speaking up, standing out, and supporting others with more joy, ease, and good will. And don’t worry; it’s not too scary. One of Pam’s personal superpowers is making everyone on the introvert-extrovert spectrum feels engaged, successful, and empowered. Learn how improv can improve your own personal and interpersonal superpowers, whether using them in the living room, the boardroom, or beyond! Skills covered include:
Note: This is not an improv workshop; it's an opportunity to learn an improviser's approach to workplace skills-building using simple improv-enriched (not scary) exercises designed to put the learning into laughter-filled practice. All exercises take place in a circle, small group, or pairs; participants are never “on stage.” Pam Victor specializes in making sure all people along the introvert-extrovert spectrum feel comfy, successful, and have fun learning how to use improv to improve the workplace.
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An improviser's guide to
service leadership
Training event & Keynote
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Leading like an improviser means prioritizing being of service to the team and the moment. In this engaging, entertaining event, Happier Valley Comedy president and founder Pam Victor shares immediately-applicable improv tools to guide the team with service-mindedness, a hallmark of brave and compassionate leadership. More often than not, service leadership requires continual practice letting go of fear of the unknown, fear of losing control, and fear of failure. As Brené Brown says, “The real obstacle to brave leadership is how people respond to their fears.“ In her decades of improvising, Pam Victor has come to equate improv training with fear management training. This interactive event provides leaders with an improviser's guide to disempower fears and reframe unproductive judgmental thinking in order to build more collaborative energy, confident decision-making, smart risk-taking, and the courageous vulnerability necessary for service leadership. Unless you have a script for the future, you're already an improviser. This event shares the training necessary to lead like an improviser with more authenticity, adaptability, and empathy. Note: This is not an improv workshop or show; it's an opportunity to learn an improviser's approach to workplace skills-building using simple improv-enriched (not scary) exercises designed to put the learning into laughter-filled practice. All exercises take place in a circle, small group, or pairs; participants are never “on stage.” Pam Victor specializes in making sure all people along the introvert-extrovert spectrum feel comfy, successful, and have fun learning how to use improv to improve the workplace.
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Mini-workshops
Lunch & Laugh
for positivity, mindfulness, & wellbeing
30- or 60-Minute
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Why Lunch & Learn when you could Lunch & Laugh? In these entertaining and enlightening short interactive presentations, happiness coach Pam Victor guides your team through a customized selection of evidence-based wellness practices to boost positivity, mindfulness, and well-being. The benefits of "Lunch & Laugh" workshops extend well beyond our time together to promote greater productivity, optimism, resilience, and physical and mental health. Support your team in refilling their energy and positivity tanks. As the saying goes, "You can't pour from an empty cup." Pam works with you to choose the topics to customize a one-time event or a wellness series tailor fit for your team. We can mix and match individual workshops for a 'variety pack' approach or design a comprehensive series of 3-4 workshops based on a theme. Some options for individual mini-workshops:
Some options for comprehensive 3-4 workshop series on a theme:
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EXAMPLE OF
customized 'variety pack' series
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EXAMPLEs OF
customized comprehensive theme-based SERIES
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the 3- and 4-workshop series are
Fully REimbursed for qualifying companies
Happier Valley Comedy is proud to be a training provider with the Workforce Training Fund Express Grant, where qualifying companies are reimbursed fully or partially for this event!
Check Out One Mini-Workshop in Our Lineup:
"Self-Care & Happiness Habits"
"Self-Care & Happiness Habits"
workplace wellness & wellbeing
refill your tank
Happiness Habits for REsilience & self-care
1 - 2 hour
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As caring professionals, we give our all to our jobs. But how can we keep giving if our energy tanks are empty? Wellbeing, mindfulness, and resilience are not automatically renewable resources. Luckily, we can refill our tanks and re-energize our positivity reserves with simple yet profound daily self-care practices in just minutes each day.
Through entertaining and interactive lessons, Happiness coach and professional improviser Pam Victor invites you to try out evidence-based practices to refill your tanks, such as gratitude, meditation, mindful connection, play, intentional living, positivity and more! Pam helps you find easy daily habits that fit your personal style and schedule. By the end of this event, you’ll have tools to create your long term well-being plan, so you have more energy to support yourself, your work, and your colleagues with ease and joy. Did we mention it’s also fun? This is the rare training that leaves the group energized, laughing, and connecting together. "The perfect reminder that we must take care of ourselves before we can take care of others" This Training Includes:
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The productivity of
rest management
a Workplace WEllness event
1-2 hour interactive presentation |
Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is rest. Did you know that people who regularly take opportunities for productive rest are more effective at work, less stressed, more creative, and have stronger relationships? Join Head of Happiness Pam Victor on an experiential exploration of techniques for beneficial rest. Not all downtime is created equal! Deliberate rest is far more than taking a nap. In this entertaining and engaging event, Pam invites you to explore several evidence-based habits for incorporating productive and restorative rest into your life, so you can determine which rest management practice is a good fit for your personal style and schedule. “There is virtue in work, and there is virtue in rest.
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Pam Takes You on a Romp Through the Whole Happiness Experiment Program in This 15-Minute Video
The 30-Day happiness Experiment
for self-care & Resilience
30-Day programProgram Includes:
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With only a few minutes each day, you can boost morale and create positive connections to get the whole team learning and laughing together with The 30-Day Happiness Experiment.
This customized 30-day program provides simple, game-changing wellness practices and the support to make them a lifelong habit. Yes, you have time for this program. First, you attend a fun, engaging interactive presentation where happiness coach and expert facilitator Pam Victor invites you experience all eleven of the evidence-based "Happiness Habits" to build resilience and self-care. Then each participant picks 1-2 Happiness Habits to do every day for 30 days. We're talking a commitment of about 1-10 minutes each day. For only 30 days. The 30-Day Happiness Experiment is completely customizable, so each person selects the best-fit daily practice, time commitment, schedule, accountability aids, and connection style. Designed to be in-person, online, or hybrid, this program is self-directed, introvert- and extrovert-friendly. And FUN! The investment in employee wellness and wellbeing could be invaluable. In a 2010 study, Harvard researchers concluded that, on average, for every dollar spent on employee wellness, medical costs fall $3.27 and absenteeism costs drops $2.73. This is a 6-to-1 return on investment! Furthermore, happiness at work is tied to greater productivity, positive collaborations, innovation and creativity, better health, more effective conflict resolution, and so much more! Ready to find out more how you can build team resilience, self-care, and happiness? |
"I'm so grateful to Pam and this program for bringing more happiness to LCM. It was really wonderful to watch my coworkers reap the benefits of their experiments, and I greatly enjoyed my own as well." |
"This program was extremely helpful for improving gratitude, mindfulness, and increasing trust and strength of bond between myself and my co-workers. Bringing play into our remote, professional workspace was more valuable than I could have anticipated." |
Want to See the Program in Action?
Check Out This Overview of The Happiness Experiment with Pam Victor!
Check Out This Overview of The Happiness Experiment with Pam Victor!
Head of Happiness Pam Victor
about Your facilitator & happiness coach
Pam Victor wears a lot of hats: professional improviser, facilitator, happiness coach, author, teacher, and the Head of Happiness (aka founder and president) of Happier Valley Comedy, the heart of improv comedy in Western Massachusetts. In service to their mission to bring more laughter, joy, and ease to the world, Pam directs the three branches of the company: the comedy training center, regular shows, and the professional development programs, which use improv training exercises to build foundational training skills, such as communication, collaboration, creativity, wellness, and wellbeing.
Pam is a recipient of the 2019 New England Public Radio Arts & Humanities Award and a TEDx speaker. She is the author of “Baj and the Word Launcher: A Space-Aged Asperger Adventure in Communication” a children’s book that uses sci-fi to teach social and communication skills. Along with legendary improvisers TJ Jagodowski and Dave Pasquesi, Pam is the co-author of “Improvisation at the Speed of Life: The TJ & Dave Book.” A graduate of Smith College with a Master’s in Education from Iona College, Pam has received improv training from iO Theater (Chicago), Annoyance Theatre (Chicago), ImprovBoston, and from Second City teachers. Pam is a nice person. She likes you already.
Pam is a recipient of the 2019 New England Public Radio Arts & Humanities Award and a TEDx speaker. She is the author of “Baj and the Word Launcher: A Space-Aged Asperger Adventure in Communication” a children’s book that uses sci-fi to teach social and communication skills. Along with legendary improvisers TJ Jagodowski and Dave Pasquesi, Pam is the co-author of “Improvisation at the Speed of Life: The TJ & Dave Book.” A graduate of Smith College with a Master’s in Education from Iona College, Pam has received improv training from iO Theater (Chicago), Annoyance Theatre (Chicago), ImprovBoston, and from Second City teachers. Pam is a nice person. She likes you already.
