Messing Lessons

“Just know you are right. You were right until you told me you were wrong.” –Susan Messing

Today Annoyance improv theater is celebrating it’s 25th anniversary. Annoyance is one of the best places you have never heard of. It is basically the improv equivalent of that older cousin you like to hang out with because he swears a lot and then one day you realize you learned a bunch of amazing life lessons from him, in addition to the colorful phrases.

The Annoyance taught me how to give and not give a shit in equal measure. It taught me what you do matters a lot and at the same time it doesn’t matter as much as you think it does. Also I learned a million things about cock rings.(Not everything I have learned from Annoyance has been put into practice.)

Annoyance was where I encountered Susan Messing, the kindest, filthiest improviser I have ever had the pleasure to learn from. Susan is full of greeting card-ready phrases like “Relax your crack bitches.” and “If you’re not having fun, you’re the asshole.” She is the improv world’s favorite older cousin.

The first time I studied with Messing it was part of a five day improv intensive. On the final day she was giving us some last pieces of advice and said, while getting choked up, “Just know you are right. You were right until you told me you were wrong.” And like all the best stuff from Annoyance it was just that simple. And just that complicated.

Watching Susan onstage is a lesson in fearlessness,skill, and strength.

Talking with Susan offstage is a lesson in how to treat others and make everyone feel valued and loved.

While waiting for ECT one day I messaged Susan to thank her for just being out there in the world. The kind, empathetic way she corresponded back with me has influenced the way I now interact with others

As I was trying to keep myself alive, I would often see a few tiny threads I was barely holding on to. One of those threads was the improv experiences I’ve had in Chicago and more specifically at The Annoyance, and ever more specifically with Susan Messing.

So happy 25th Annoyance. I am smarter, braver, and more cock ring knowledgeable* because of you.

*all cock ring knowledge provided by Mick Napier