Improv and stand-up are two sides of the comedy coin, the one conjured out of thin air from crowd suggestions and seat-of-the-pants inspiration, the other honed through careful practice and, as often as not, hostile audiences. The Valley’s premier improv troupe, the Ha-Ha’s, have been passing their art along in workshops with guest improv masters preceding the performances of their monthly Happier Valley Comedy Show. And this Saturday the coin flips to include stand-up comedy. Vermont-based comic Josie Leavitt (pictured) leads an introductory class in stand-up theory and technique, and opens the evening’s performance, which includes guest improv’ers Girls Night Out along with the Ha-Ha’s. GNO member Mosie McNally also leads an afternoon workshop in “Improving Your Improv Intuition.”
Workshops, Sept. 13: Stand-up, 12-2 p.m. (facebook.com/events/1532787246941374), improv 3-5 p.m. (facebook.com/events/691189920936032), North Star, 135 Russell St., Hadley.
Happier Valley Comedy Show, Sept. 13, 8 p.m., Arts Block, 289 Main St., Greenfield, theartsblock.com.
