SweetSexySavage: Interview With Erica Gooch, CSz Philadelphia Player

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Improv is not a very diverse activity. Who/what inspired your love for it?

Improv could certainly be more diverse so I do see your point! Those of us that are on the scene are doing what we can do expand our audience and to diversify those in classes and casts. CSz Worldwide, a network of theaters that performs ComedySportz shows, has a global Diversity & Inclusion Committee that I serve on. Beyond ComedySportz,, other theaters like Philadelphia Improv Theater also have diversity programs that provide scholarships and promote content from people of various backgrounds.

Regarding my love of improv comedy, I was inspired to try it for a few reasons. I have always been impressed by the casts from Whose Line is it Anyway, Wild N Out, and comedians featured on @Midnight. However, when I watched these shows, performing improv didn’t seem attainable. I actually started taking improv as an activity to try with my boyfriend. We broke up after the first day, but I kept going! I was hooked right away. I enjoy it so much, and I love using my brain in a different way. It’s a very playful, thoughtful experience that is incredibly fun. I didn’t grow up with the confidence to do theater, so I was surprised that I had a knack for it because I never tried it. I guess it’s true that you never know until you try!

Improv isn’t easy, my biggest challenge was holding a straight face. How do you keep a straight face amongst the silliness and what are some other challenges you face?

I try to inhabit my character and truly feel what it would be like on the other side of my scene partner. That usually helps prevent me from laughing, but sometimes the scene is too hilarious so I’ll laugh anyway! If I really can’t keep it together, I justify why “my character” is laughing, and then I can get the scene back on track.

Another challenge I'm trying to conquer is adapting my tone of voice and learning new dialects. It is a difficult skill, but when executed well it really brings your audience on a journey with you very quickly and helps immerse them in the scene.

Women of Color in comedy are a rare sight. Who are the funny women of color you grew up on and who are the ones you watch/admire today?

My personal golden age for comedy was in the late 90s. I think because they were my formative years where you are starting to form your own opinions and sense of humor. I loved Living Single, In Living Color, and a Different World, which had incredibly strong black female talent. Today I enjoy Aisha Tyler, Tracy Ellis Ross, and Maya Rudolf to name a few.

There’s a saying in the black community, “Don’t smile too often or people will think you’re slow.” As a black woman, what are some adversaries you face being openly carefree and happy?

I’ve never heard that one! I think when it comes to smiling and walking down the street alone, for example, it sometimes invites unwanted conversations that can be intimidating or threatening. In those contexts, I usually focus on my surroundings and wear a straight face. It’s a sad reality that most women probably understand. Outside of situations like that, I smile all the time! I’ve managed chronic depression and PTSD for about 12 years now. When it is under control I consider it a gift and I feel very grateful. I think that is why I feel so fulfilled when I’m able to make people laugh. It means so much to me to bring joy to other people, and to be around others in my cast that do the same thing for me.

As you mentioned earlier you previously volunteered at a sexual crisis center, what was that experience like, and did it leave an effect on you?

I volunteered when I was in my fifth year of pharmacy school. I answered the pager for a crisis line, and taught a sexual health class. Although the pager didn’t go off that often and I only taught a few classes, the part that stuck with me the most was the two-day training. I was also a victim of sexual assault, and I blamed myself for it. The training taught me the sociological and psychological context of what happened, and it also forced me to process what happened and helped me heal.

I saw that you're an alumnus of Hampton University (Hampton Institute as not to upset Howard University affiliates) what was your experience at an HBCU and what inspired you to attend?

Ma’am, it is Hampton University! The real HU!!! My sister went to Hampton when I was 6 years old, and I never wanted to go anywhere else. I absolutely loved it, and still do! We continue to have a very tight community that feels like a family. Hampton offered such a supportive environment and had dedicated faculty who truly allowed me to flourish. It was a place where I was encouraged to lead and come into my own. It was also incredibly fun, I pledged Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc! Serving my sorority also significantly impacted who I am as a woman and professional.

What is your advice to black girls finding/embracing their unapologetic smile?

Life is hard. It really is. I would say really prioritize finding the things that make you happy, no matter how small. Chores, bills, and responsibilities aren’t going anywhere. Try to find a balance!