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Mike Birbiglia’s comedy-drama “Don’t Think Twice” quotes the most well-known of improv teachers, Del Close: “Fall, and then figure out what to do on the way down.” That, like the title of the film, serves both as good advice for improv and an apt description of how professional improvisers attempt to coach themselves and each other through their own uncertain lives.

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CalMatters is a Sacramento-based nonpartisan, nonprofit journalism venture committed to explaining how California's state Capitol works and why it matters. It works with more than 130 media partners throughout the state that have long, deep relationships with their local audiences, including Embarcadero Media.