Jessie Shternshus, Improv Acting Instructor

Photo by Jeanne Ciasullo

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“I like improv because there are no rules. You’re allowed to be as funny and as childlike as you want, and you’re allowed to play,” says 31-year-old Jessie, who teaches improv acting to children and adults at the Orange Park School of Music. After taking theatre classes in junior high, Jessie realized that she loved using her imagination. “I became addicted to it,” she admits. “Children learn that being weird and different is okay, and for adults, it’s stress-relieving.” Teaching improv, Jessie says she meets unique people that she wouldn’t normally have the chance to come in contact with. “I love that I get to meet people that I would never meet unless I was on jury duty,” she says. People tell Jessie on a regular basis that improv helps them think on their feet, come out of their shells and learn to laugh at themselves.