i was once given the note in a show to “make the improv seem more difficult”—to look less sure of myself because my confidence on stage came off as “cocky” and put off the senior members.

that theater was the groundlings.

what a terrible thing to tell a young woman in comedy.

this was the same theater that told me to “correct my fellow improvisor if they called me ‘sir’ or ‘mr’ in a scene,” because playing the opposite gender would take the audience out of the moment.

it was unbelievable for a woman to play a man.

i think about these notes and others from time to time, and they still make me angry