Like Ryan Hill, who we posted about yesterday, Cat Drago discovered The 42 Hour Improv Marathon last year almost by accident. It too changed her life, which is one of the reasons why we’re still doing this crazy event.
Roy: How did you find out about the Marathon last year?
Cat: I was eating lunch in the breakroom at work (all by myself because I was too shy to talk to anyone) and read about it in the newspaper. I couldn’t BELIEVE they were performing for that long.
Roy: What did you know about improv before the Marathon?
Cat: Well, I have done scripted theatre practically since birth, but I always HATED improv exercises because I didn’t think I was any good at it. It freaked me out and made me insecure. I needed the safety of that script.
I loved watching “Whose Line Is It Anyway,” and that’s all I knew about improv. Had never seen a live show, or knew anyone who did it. In fact, I had just moved to Austin recently when the Marathon came, and I had never even heard of the Hideout before then.
Roy: How long were you planning on staying?
Cat: Well, I wasn’t sure.
I was really shy, and I didn’t know anyone who would go with me, so I almost didn’t go at all. I never went ANYWHERE by myself, other than the grocery store… but something was just so intriguing about it, I just had to go.
Looked it up online, and in a brief moment of insanity, I decided to buy a 42 hour pass, and just see how it went. After all, I didn’t have anything else to do that weekend.
Roy: How much of the Marathon did you wind up seeing?
Cat: I found the Hideout at 6pm, I and stayed until I literally thought I would vomit from exhaustion! I know that sounds weird but I just couldn’t leave!
I went home, took naps, and came back. And every time I left I almost felt guilty, like I was somehow invested in the lives of the 8 players and I was betraying them by sleeping or something.
All in all, I think I saw 26 hours or something like that.
Roy: How soon afterwards did you sign up for classes?
Cat: That whole weekend, people were so- Nosy- but in a good way… They wanted to know who I was, and why I was there so long… When they heard I had never been to the hideout before, immediately I would hear “You have GOT to take classes here!” And I would smile, and nod, and cringe… I couldn’t take classes…. I would suck!
But that last hour, each of the players was sharing how the marathon had affected them. One by one they were crying, and hugging and thanking…
And then Peter Rogers said that he had been so scared of failing, or not being funny, or getting sick, and then he announced, “But here we are, and it’s hour 42, and I did it! And it was funny! And now I want to go out and do things I’m afraid to do, and take on things I never thought I could!”
And everyone was crying, I was crying, and everything inside me said, “I’M GOING TO TAKE AN IMPROV CLASS!!!!”
Afterward, Andy made a B-Line for me and gave me a huge hug (my first of many improv hugs), and begged me to take a class. I got his email address, and signed up for level one that next day.
Roy: What impact has that chance encounter had on you in the past year?
Cat: Gosh, how can I even sum that up?
One year ago, when I walked into the marathon, I was a lonely, broken individual. I had recently moved to a new city, I got dumped by the guy I loved, I didn’t know where my life was headed, or even who I really was anymore. My life was largely motivated by my fear. Of everything really.
I signed up for class, and on the first day, I thought I was going to pee in my pants, I was so terrified. Andy greeted us with compassion and support, and taught me that I don’t have to be afraid. Afraid of improv, but also- afraid of life. I don’t have to worry about what comes next in this journey, because whatever it is, I will greet it with an unhesitant “Yes, And.”
I found a community of friends who take care of one another, I found the confidence to get a new job, plant roots, I even went out and found a church I love, and it all started with the bravery I found through improv.
Since then, I have gotten to know- and perform- with the very best of individuals, but most importantly, I really have found who I am as an individual. This experience is more valuable than I can possibly express… My life would be so very different if I had not hidden my face in that newspaper on that Friday morning one year ago. I am so incredibly blessed by this art, and community.
A friend and I were recently having a conversation in which she said, “So are you still doing that improv thing?” To which I laughed and said, “That ‘Improv thing?’- it’s not going away.” And it’s not.
The final hour was so touching. I, like Cat, cried tears of joy witnessing the improvisers sharing their feelings and thoughts. It was a moment of beautiful human kindness.
This is a very heartwarming story, so transparent and inspiring. I glad to have finally met Cat as apart of her Hardcore 4 duties for the marathon. Its all rather lovely, this improv thing.