Today we’d like to introduce you to Kim Richardson.
Kim, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
It all started with laughter. I had recently moved to Atlanta from Detroit, Michigan and honestly looking for life, inspiration, hope maybe. I moved for my job to a new city and really saw this transition as a reset and growth opportunity. I work in a rewarding, and a very high paced client centered field. I was looking for something in my free time that supported my other interests, passions, and that helped with relaxation from the work week. I stumbled upon improv, catching my first live show and accidentally volunteering to participate in a game. It was like a spark was ignited. A light I was excited to follow. After that, I became an observer. It took one week to notice one simple thing…how much one night of laughter made the week feel lighter. Laughter expanded my life. I realized I wanted to chase joy and laughter, whether that was through improv, comedy, returning to my love of acting, or any creative hobby. Anything for more joy and laughter. I focused on my new love of improv, a world I knew little about initially. I started by watching, learning and being inspired. Then, I started to play (which was so scary!), I took classes, and joined improv teams. I have been very blessed to build beautiful friendships, connections and teams in improv. My heart is so full of gratitude. I have been lucky enough to do amazing things such as expanding as a person and facing my fears, performing on stages, participating in festivals, traveling with my teams, and performing at Dragon Con (pinch me!). I have seen so much joy shared.
A year after joining improv, I was inspired (with so many incredible artists and improvisors paving the way) to start my own team. An all women rotating cast called The F Word, with the goal of “women on stage, on purpose.” Not only was I inspired by ALL the incredible talent and leaders in the community around me, but especially by so many women. To name a few, Madeline Evans, Ana Bernot-Reilly and Hannah Aslesen of Mom & Dad improv, Whittney Millsap Nowacki (among many others). I saw a lot of shows in my first year, but wanted to see even more women in the casts! One night, the inspiration took. Following a class, I popped over to a local improv jam. They had just finished playing and a group of my peers were recapping with such excitement. They had had the “luck” of being paired with all women. They expressed how much fun it was and the different content they could tap into. And that was it, The F Word was created to purposely cast all women and remove the “luck.” To explore topics and scenes we might not always get to explore, to connect more women together, increase support, and create a stage where the city can celebrate the incredible women improvisors of Atlanta. The F Word has featured more than 50 talented women, and more opportunities to come! It’s been such a highlight of my life to share the stage with the most amazing women and see the community as a whole cheer and uplift one another. It’s not a show just for the girlies, it’s for everyone who loves joy, laughter, and the magic women bring. I’m so grateful. I’m so thankful. It’s just a small show & gesture of my time to organize, but it’s been even more of a gift than I could have ever imagined. More so for me, I love it, I love these women, I love this community, and I love seeing people smile and laugh more than anything.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Honestly, once I got past that voice I am sure we all hear in our heads “why you, you’re not good enough, would anyone care, would anyone want to play on this show?,” it was magic from there. I spent way too much time contemplating and actually was too scared to continue, but then it felt like the universe stepped in. I had been talking about starting The F Word with my friends, seeking advice from fellow improvisers that I deeply admired, and then an opportunity reached out to me. Madeline Evans (creator of Road Trip improv) recommended The F Word for an All Women in Comedy night (hosted by LTT improv). That was it, we had our first show. It was one of the funnest sets I have ever played in. I still remember looking out in the audience to see so many familiar faces, across all identities. Since then, there has been so much support and love. Even though we are an all women cast, the support has consistently come from all humans, universal, and that has meant everything. This show is for everyone. Everyone that wants to laugh and support one another. It’s been a beautiful journey,
I think the biggest obstacle is learning to deeply believe in myself. Remember the why. You are seen when you host. It’s hard to be seen. It’s hard not to pick yourself apart when you care about something so much. What was NOT hard, being excited for someone’s first show, first time playing with another person, first time at a venue, seeing others shine…so I challenged myself and I hope to challenge others to believe in yourself the way you do about those you care about.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I get to work with children with special needs and strengths. I love working with kids! – I also love training in my field.
What am I known for? That’s a hard question, but I would say in the artistic community, The F Word improv & my character Sauria on Edgewood Avenue (a puppet variety show). I’m the pink one!
Most proud of: The F Word. Committing to it. Believing in it. Allowing myself to believe that others believed in me, and trusting that and not taking it lightly. Supporting a fun and safe atmosphere for play. Seeing everyone smile and laugh after a show is truly a great gift, I’m so grateful to have a small part in that.
I’m also grateful for Edgewood Avenue, among my other teams too (Thinking Too Hard, JK, Basement Party)… but Edgewood has really pushed my creativity and facing more fears. We sing on Edgewood, a huge fear of mine! I’m still learning how to sing, understand beats, and all that goes with it. But when I’m along side my team, the intro song feels like a breeze now. Honestly, I was shocked to get the invite to join the team because I was so scared I wouldn’t be good enough. I had never actually been a puppeteer before (I’m still a novice and excited to keep learning), sketch was new to me, there was so much new and exciting. It was all scary…but I wanted to discover something new. I wanted to challenge myself. And I wanted to be apart of this already incredible team. I’m so thankful. We have been blessed with so many cool opportunities. I love Sauria. I love thinking through her lens about how she would improvise. Such a fun challenge!
What sets me apart from others?
Honestly, I’m not sure. I’m just like everyone else trying to make the best of this life, but I hope, kindness. I’m always looking for ways to be a kinder and better person. I drive my life with the theme, kindness is not hard. Even on a bad day, at least striving for nice or even neutral is better than hurtful. I hope that every day, I at least put one smile on someone’s face, help someone feel heard or seen, helped in some way, or just created a moment of calm or peace for someone.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Laugh more! Find something that brings you joy! Never stop searching for it. If it’s something creative, chase the fun. This is a common phrase I hear in the creative community, and it holds so true. It has been gifted to me many times and it took me a long time to let it in. It’s hard to be seen. It’s hard to improvise, act, learn lines, create, support and be supported, be fully present… I could go on. It’s hard. But, what can make it easier is being true to yourself, giving yourself trust and believing in yourself, and follow where the fun takes you. The moment you worry about doing it right – whether you were funny enough or if people liked you, it clouds the reason you are doing it. It’s hard not to get fully distracted by these thoughts, but when you can find your ‘why’ and the fun that ignites it, everything else just takes time and reflection. Why not cheer yourself on? Taking the pressure off can allow magic to happen. You are worth this moment, this opportunity, this chance. EVERYONE is. Everyone. Life is stressful, you deserve some fun and laughter.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Instagram.com/thefwordimprov & instagram.com/krichards248
Image Credits
Jessica Dynelle Alex Toor
