Jason Miller interviews Staci Block:
“Freeze!” How One County’s Improv Based Program Reaches Teens

Written by Staci Block – This article is from AIM Issue 4 (released June 2026).

Bergen County, New Jersey. The teenager in the back row stood up, voice shaking but sure. “I was that kid last year,” they said after watching a scene about suicide warning signs. “I made my friend promise not to tell anyone, but he did. I was angry then. I’m alive now.”

Moments like this are why Staci Block, LCSW has been saying, “yes, and…” for more than three decades.

Block, a licensed clinical social worker with a theater background runs Reflections, a youth-led, volunteer, interactive improvisational theater program out of the Bergen County Division of Family Guidance, Department of Human Services. Since 1989, Reflections has tackled such issues as bullying, dating abuse, prejudice, addiction and mental health issues. Reflections goes wherever they are needed: schools, community groups, client programs, parent groups, conferences, and youth groups. The program is free, completely funded by Bergen County, and rooted in this one idea: give teens space to explore the various issues in their lives.

“We freeze the scene at the moment of conflict ” Block says, “Then the audience has a discussion with the actors, while they stay in character, and suggest different choices. We replay it with their ideas so they can see another path and feel with the actors what it’s like to take it.”

Saying Yes...And figuring it out

Block joined the county in 1986, doing traditional social work, until a visionary director asked her to build a teen theater program. “I had no idea what she was talking about,” she laughs. “But that’s improv. You say yes and figure it out.”

Early on, Reflections auditioned large cohorts from across Bergen County’s 70 towns. Over time, Block dropped the auditions to make it more inclusive. “Anybody can do this if they want to commit,” she says. “Everybody grows.”

Growth is baked into the program. New members are welcomed with an orientation buddy, a welcome call, and even a handmade prop. Twice a year, the group members formally reflect on their journey using 15 Foundation Stones; skills like leadership, communication, respect, and self-growth.

Theater that solves real problems

A school might request a workshop on cyberbullying. Block works with her actors to assign the relevant roles like bully, victim, bystander, and upstander. After a few warmup exercises, they improvise a scene. When the tension peaks, Block calls, “Freeze!” Students in the audience question the characters on the stage and offer alternatives and interventions. Audience members are even allowed to join as upstanders, modeling positive action. Every show ends with cast members coming out of character, introducing themselves and sharing thoughts about the topic and local resources.

The moments that stick

Some memories make Staci laugh, like the teen who quipped, “When I’m not at Reflections I keep thinking you’ll jump out and yell, “Freeze!” before I make a decision.” Other memories are heavier, like the suicide-prevention performance previously mentioned or a teen moms’ group where a scene about absent fathers brought raw emotions and honest talk.

Reflections reach even spans generations. Two former castmates met in Reflections, stayed friends for many years, fell in love, married, and now their child has joined the program. He told me, “I owe you my existence,” Block says, smiling.

What teens learn on stage and off

High schoolers often arrive anxious about “looking foolish.” Block normalizes vulnerability with partner interviews, small group games, and full group warmups. “When everyone’s a chicken, no one’s the only chicken,” she says.

The benefits ripple outward

• Confidence: Students handle public speaking and interviews with more ease.
• Perspective: Playing parents, teens practice empathy and problem-solving.
• Leadership: Roles rotate weekly so everyone has the chance to facilitate group meetings.
• Upstanding: Having rehearsed and performed interventions, they recognize real ones.

Alumni of Reflections have become actors, educators, and counselors. All of them have become leaders wherever they are.

A rehearsal in motion

Each two-hour rehearsal session blends structure and spontaneity. The rotating facilitator for the day is called the Group Star and opens with a playful vibe check. Warmups follow and flow into creative check-ins. For example, one week, teens described their week as if they were a “fly on the wall.” Then comes scene exploration, working with relevant issues like vaping or peer pressure. Of course, after all that hard work the teens earn a snack break and then they handle group business under headings like Hot Stuff (urgent), Reruns (ongoing), and New Releases (new business).

Adapting to new times

Reflections endures because Bergen County has funded it continuously since 1989. No grants or fundraising. “People can’t believe it when they hear this,” Block says, “The county truly believes in the impact Reflections is having.” 

Today’s challenge is attention. Teens are busier, more anxious, and glued to screens. Outreach happens at community service fairs and through social media. “If a teen is at the table with me, it’s ten times more compelling,” Block notes. We accept new members on an ongoing basis, giving high school students a way to stay engaged all year long. The school-year program and our Summer program RISE (Reflections InterACTive Summer experience) offer exciting activities, personalized support, and meaningful opportunities to connect, learn, and grow.

Parents, meanwhile, learn new boundaries as well. Block communicates through the teen, not the parent. “That’s how they build responsibility,” she says.

Rehearsing for life

Reflections is part theater, part leadership lab, part resilience building. It turns empathy and courage into reflex. Years later, alumni still hear Block’s cues: Freeze. Breathe. Focus. Choose. Act.

All Bergen County Division of Family Guidance services are free to county residents.