Back in 2017, the Founders of Happy Valley Improv created the Happy Valley Improv tenets. These ever-evolving tenets inform everything the Company does, both on-stage and off-stage.
With the development of the improv-focused youth training program, the Happy Valley Improv Youth Training Committee has adopted these tenets for the youth training program. These tenets will be present in every Happy Valley Improv youth session and camp.
With the development of the improv-focused youth training program, the Happy Valley Improv Youth Training Committee has adopted these tenets for the youth training program. These tenets will be present in every Happy Valley Improv youth session and camp.
The Youth Improv Tenets
- Doing improv means that we “write” the story as we’re performing, “brick by brick,” in the moment.
- Doing improv means that we do what’s best for the story while making our improv partners look amazing.
- Doing improv means that when we practice or get on stage, we are ready, we are listening, and we “Yes, And…” our improv partners.
- Doing improv means that we believe every part of the story we tell is always true within the world we are creating together.
- Doing improv means that we accept ourselves and our partners as human beings and improvisers without judgment and with joy and grace.
Youth Program Teachers
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Katie DeFiore
When Katie moved back to State College for her job at Penn State, she found herself searching for a community. Stumbling upon Happy Valley Improv's Improv Practice Group, she rediscovered her love for improv and found a tight-knit, fun-loving community. Now, she is flabbergasted that she gets to create cool characters and build unique worlds with such an awesome and innovative crew of people every week. |
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Emma DeLaunay
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Michaela Henry
Michaela is very excited to be a part of the Happy Valley Improv Community! She stepped into the Youth Director role in 2025 and is continually blown away by the talented and hilarious youth program students. Theatre education has been a huge part of Michaela’s life: spending many summers at home in the Philly area at Upper Darby Summer Stage. Michaela graduated from Baldwin Wallace University with degrees in Arts Management & Entrepreneurship and Theatre: Stage Management. She came to Happy Valley in May 2024 working in the Registrar’s Office at Penn State. |
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James Tierney
James knew he wanted to be a teacher ever since he played school with his two younger sisters--making them do homework and learn how to do math when they were in pre-school. Fast forward a few decades and James began teaching economics at the high school and college level. After spending 7 years at Penn State as an Assistant Teaching Professor of Economics, James left the university to focus on building his own businesses here in State College. He is the current Business Manager of Happy Valley Improv and the owner of Tierney Education--a private tutoring, coaching, and consulting business. James believes improv and comedy help in business and everyday communication. |