Healing Improv: A Journey Through Grief to Laughter

In 2009 Bart Sumner's life was shattered when his 10-year-old son, David, suffered a traumatic brain injury at football practice and died in his arms. Finding a way back to the road forward in a world where mourners are told "He's in a better place" or to "Get over it" is a daunting and painful journey. He came to realize that the twenty-five plus years he spent as a performer and teacher of improvisational comedy was not only the key to his own survival, but also a powerful tool to help others mired in grief. Healing Improv: A Journey Through Grief to Laughter is an emotional and honest recounting of his family's trek through grief to the founding of a nonprofit that provides no-cost Comedy Improv Grief Workshops for others suffering with loss. Mr. Sumner's approach is unique in its application of improv comedy exercises to grief treatment. Healing Improv includes many of the improv games used at Healing Improv workshops so that others can also benefit from the curative, life affirming fun. Pairing these techniques with his family's powerful and touching story of survival makes this book a strong ally to those who feel lost and alone after tragedy strikes, providing comfort and hope.

Author: Bart Sumner
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Published: 04/03/2014
Pages: 192
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.55lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.50w x 0.44d
ISBN13: 9781496119711
ISBN10: 1496119711
BISAC Categories:
- Family & Relationships | Death, Grief, Bereavement

About the Author
Bart Sumner is an actor, screenwriter, and improvisational comedy teacher and performer currently living in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with his wife Leslie, daughter Abby, and two dogs. He is originally from New Jersey and is a graduate of Rutgers University. He spent over 20 years chasing the Hollywood dream in California. He is a proud member of The Screen Actors Guild/American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and has performed in films, television, musical theatre and some of the most prestigious comedy clubs in America. He is the founder and CEO of the nonprofit HEALING IMPROV which provides no-cost Comedy Improv Grief Workshops to people struggling with finding the road forward after loss. His son, David, died in 2009 from a severe brain injury suffered while playing football. He writes the blog "My Stories From The Grief Journey" at the Healing Improv website. He enjoys pizza and making people laugh.

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