Meet Liz Hutchman | Improvisation Instructor and Performer. Co-founder and managing director of Sonoran All-Valley Improv

We had the good fortune of connecting with Liz Hutchman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Liz, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I am someone who is inherently reserved when it comes to risk taking, so for. a long time I ‘played things safe’ both personally and professionally by keeping risks minimal and moving forward in making choices that were comfortable, where I knew that that in a decision I was making, say in an investment, wasn’t going to create a huge loss if things didn’t work out. Positioning myself in this way was fine, I was taking steps forward in my life, but what I started to realize is that in keeping potential loss minimal, I wasn’t making huge strides and advancing in my life the way I wanted to. I realized that in order to capitalize on opportunities, I was going to need to relinquish my need to control an outcome and be willing to let go of the fear of what could happen that could be negative, and lean into the notion that the outcome could be tremendous, positive, and create opportunities beyond my expectations. It was in this new mindset (that took me a couple of years of really working out in my head) where I decided that it was time for me to make some bold moves and create space for unexpected opportunities. I decided to leave my long standing career – a comfortable salaried position doing work that I loved – to explore the unknown potential of what could come next. I didn’t have a chiseled out plan on what I was going to do, but knew that I needed to lean into that risk and trust that one, things would work out, and two, that the unexpected could make for a great adventure that I didn’t need to be scared of. So many wonderful things came from taking that risk. I got to spend time where my mind wasn’t burdened with the needs of the job and tasks and teams and I was able to focus on myself. I got to dream and hone in on what I was really wanting and needing from the next phase of my professional and personal life, I was able to spend time teaching myself how to bake bread, and grow an herb garden, and read, and lean into my passion for improvisation. It allowed for me to experience the joy of big risk taking and deepened my ability to trust myself. I am still a calculated person who assesses potential outcomes, but I don’t have the same fear attachment to needing to play things safe like I have in the past.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
When I was in college I was looking for an extracurricular activity and came across a six-week introduction to improvisation workshop held on Saturday mornings at a little improv theater in Scottsdale. I was familiar with improvisation from watching the original version of Whose Line Is it Anyway, so I signed up and fell in love with the art form. That was in 1999 and I have the same love and passion for it as I did from when I took that very first class. Improvisation is about flexibility and being present in the moment and what I love about it most is that there are truly no mistakes. Improvisation is about collaboration and working as a team in support of one another – it’s about using your time to make someone else look good. I found that the fundamentals of improvisation improved every facet of my life. It made me a better listener and supporter of my friends, it made me a stronger leader in my profession as I was able to be flexible and adaptable in work situations, and as a general rule, improvisation leads to laughter and fun because the premise is to not over think things and just go with the flow. What has been tremendous about improvisation is where it is heading today. Outside of performing I am able to take improvisation and teach those skills in professional environments to enhance team building, creative problem solving, and connectivity and adaptability in the workplace. I have also had the privilege of working with care takers and those with early onset dementia to provide joyful play and strengthen communication and being present in the moment. I am working with medical students and teaching improvisation skills that will help them not only with communication and bedside manner but how to work in energized ways that don’t lead to burn out. There are so many wonderful ways that improvisation is now being applied and I am thrilled to be part of how the future of improv is taking shape.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am a get out of the city kind of girl who loves to spend time up in the White Mountains camping and fishing and my most favorite place is on the river at Lee’s Ferry. When I am in town, I like to keep things close in North Phoenix and will always take someone to Manuel’s for some delicious Mexican food (they just opened a beautiful new location at Shea and 32nd Street). Out of town guests who enjoy shopping will be taken to Scottsdale Quarter and Kierland Commons because there’s lots of great restaurants and shops so you can’t go wrong and of course, for those who like a bit of libations and that homey pub feel will be taken straight to the Dubliner at 40th St. and Thunderbird.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The last fifteen years of my professional development are really attributed to the work I was able to do under the White Dove Thrift Shoppes and Hospice of the Valley. I was given the opportunity to build and create and lead in the most fantastic ways under the leadership of Debbie Shumway, HOV’s executive director. In tandem with that I was able to work alongside of volunteers and staff who truly care about the work that they are doing and the mission of providing incredible care to patients and families. Getting to lead in an environment that is so rich with heart and the focus of care for others really allowed me to shine and be mentored by some very sharp people who helped me become the leader that I am today.

Website: www.lizhutchman.com

Other: www.savifest.com