Today we’d like to introduce you to Diane Michelle.
Diane, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Back in the summer of 2018, I was asked by a Stomping Ground student to play the role of “Abuela” in the first sketch revue show that the theater did, and everything snowballed from there! After that, I started taking improv, sketch and stand up classes, as well as interning. During all of this, I took on the role of the Intern and Volunteer Coordinator, as well as being a Manager on Duty. I’m also the Basic Stand Up instructor now, as well as a producer and host of our late night talk/variety show, The D-Word, and our Local Access Stand Up show. I was recently asked to be a diversity advocate, which is something that means a lot to me! I wear a lot of hats at Stomping Ground, but making sure that we are inclusive and making everyone feel welcomed and safe and celebrated is a top priority for me.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Are there any smooth roads left here in Dallas?? In all seriousness, it’s been a big, fun, beautiful challenge filled with ups and downs. Being a part of a new non-profit theater is so rewarding though. Figuring out a way to break down barriers in the communities that we serve, get quality content on stage, making sure each show is staffed while maintaining a solid Training Center for our students is a lot of hard work, and it takes a whole village to make it happen and have a positive impact. From my personal standpoint, the time commitment is what tends to throw most folks off about being involved in this type of venue, especially when you are taking on many roles like being a performer, instructor, manager, producer, etc. while also keeping up with your day job. So, it’s about getting the job(s) done while not burning out, and maintaining healthy boundaries for yourself. That’s been the biggest learning curve for me. Live and learn, right?
Please tell us about Stomping Ground Comedy Theater.
Stomping Ground’s mission statement is: Stomping Ground educates, entertains, and empowers the community – connecting people through comedy. And we won’t stop till everybody’s laughing.
We are the only non-profit comedy theater in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, which means our hearts are in a different place than most other comedy venues. Our goal is not liquor sales; our goal is reaching as many people as possible, and not just giving them a seat at the table, but giving them the whole table. This is why we offer improv classes and workshops for mental health.
Stomping Ground Comedy’s Improv for Life (IFL) program offers therapeutic improv classes for populations with unique needs in the community. IFL Program Director Andrea K. Baum is a psychotherapist and improviser who pulls from her extensive mental health training and experience when developing classes to reach the specific needs of each population. In this program, we have classes for Improv for Autism, Improv for Caregivers, Improv for Anxiety, Improv for Brain Injuries, and Improv for Alzheimer’s and Dementia.
This aspect of Stomping Ground is so unique, and I am so honored to be a part of it.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
At Christmas time, my relatives would always have a party at someone’s house, and I loved being the center of attention. When I was six, I would do this crazy, ridiculously nasal voice and sing Christmas songs for everyone. It was one of the first times that I had the attention of an entire room and got laughs. I was hooked! I didn’t know what it was exactly what I wanted to do or how I would go about doing it, but I knew from that moment on that I wanted to be an entertainer and involved in the comedy world.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1350 Manufacturing #109, Dallas, TX 75207
- Website: stompinggroundcomedy.org
- Phone: (469) 206-0082
- Email: lindsay@stompinggroundcomedy.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stompinggroundcomedy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StompingGComedy/
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/stompcomedy
Image Credit:
Jacie Hood
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