The Nick Wieme Improv Scholarship

The Nick Wieme Improv Scholarship is named for a great improviser and a wonderful friend who landed in Chicago in January 2011 and made a huge impression on our community over the following two years.  His drive and excitement was infectious.  His love of laughter and supportive nature made him an important part of any team.  He left a Nick Wieme sized hole in all of our hearts, and it is for that reason that we hope his memory will forever be a part of the Chicago Improv Community.  Nick grew up in the small town of Pipestone, Minnesota with two older brothers, loving parents, and a network of wonderful family and friends that instilled in him love and support perfect for the art of improvised theatre.  As a kid he developed a love for comedy and making short films that he took to Minnesota State University Moorhead.  There he honed his skills in stand-up comedy and directing his shorts.  When he graduated he made the move to Chicago to study at iO and the Annoyance.  His Midwestern kindness made him an easy friend and an integral member of every class.  He was constantly working on his next video, writing ideas, and running full steam ahead.  He rarely filmed a scene more than once, believing that the scene was as right as it was going to get from that first take.  His brain moved fast, faster than the rest of us could keep up—and that was all part of the magic of our friend Nick Wieme.  We treasure his time in our lives and in the Chicago Improv Community—a community that will never be the same as it was when he was part of it.

Mission

The Mission of the Nick Wieme Improv Scholarship is to award improvisers the opportunity to study improvisational theater in Chicago who exhibits financial need and a desire to learn an art form that prides itself on taking care of others, making your scene partner look good, being supportive on and off stage, never judging yourself or those around you, and thinking fast on your feet.

Vision

The Vision of the Nick Wieme Improv Scholarship is to be a self-sustaining scholarship program for the benefit of students of improv in Chicago.  Through fundraising and personal donations the Nick Wieme Improv Scholarship will only benefit the recipients of the scholarships and the memory of its namesake.

Values

The Values of the Nick Wieme Improv Scholarship are caring for those around you, a dedication to comedy, a love of “Good Choices” and finding joy in everything a performer can do on an improv stage.

Goals

The Goals of the Nick Wieme Improv Scholarship are to:

• Provide scholarships to improvisers in financial need.
• Fundraise to provide those scholarships.
• Further strengthen the Chicago Improv Community by remembering a great friend and reminding everyone that the rules that help us create great scenes on stage are the same guidelines that can provide for fantastic friendships.
• Grow the scholarship to an endowment to allow the scholarship to continue for many years.