Improvisation for the Theater: A Handbook of Teaching and Directing Techniques

by Viola Spolin

Overview

2017 Reprint of 1963 Edition. Full facsimile of the original edition, not reproduced with Optical Recognition software. "An iconoclastic handbook of theater by the high priestess of improvisational theater in this country... The exercises are artifices against artificiality, structures designed to almost fool spontaneity into being--or perhaps a frame, carefully built to keep out interferences, in which the student-actor waits... Genius, unguarded, "happens" and stage fright, awkward movements, poor enunciation, phoniness, lack of characterization, in fact nearly every ill ever witnessed on stage, disappears... Those in theater, film makers included, will find this an important document in practice and theory; it is a bit like Natural Childbirth to obstetrics"--Film Quarterly.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781684221431
Publisher:	Martino Fine Books
Publication date:	08/24/2017
Pages:	422
Sales rank:	946,002
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.94(d)
Lexile:	1030L (what's this?)

About the Author

VIOLA SPOLIN, the originator of theater games, was introduced to the use of games, storytelling, folk dance, and dramatics as tools for stimulating creative expression in the 1920s while a student of Neva Boyd at Chicago's Hull House. During her years as a teacher and supervisor of creative dramatics there, she began to develop her nonverbal, nonpsychological approach. Her books have been translated into Swedish, German, and Portuguese. She died in 1994.

PAUL SILLS is Viola Spolin's son and the founding director of Chicago's Second City and of Story Theater. He is the coeditor of the third edition of Improvisation for the Theater.

Table of Contents

Editor's Note
Paul Sills' Introduction
Paul Sills' Sayings of Viola Spolin
Alphabetical List of Exercises
Acknowledgments
Viola Spolin's Preface to the First Edition
Viola Spolin's Preface to the Second Edition

THEORY AND FOUNDATION
I. Creative Experience
II. Workshop Procedures

EXERCISES
III. Orientation
IV. Where
V. Acting with the Whole Body
VI. Non-Directional Blocking
VII. Refining Awareness
VIII. Broadcasting, and Technical Effects
IX. Developing Material for Situations
X. Speech and Rounding-Out Exercises
XI. Emotion
XII. Character

CHILDREN AND THE THEATER
XIII. Understanding the Child
XIV. Fundamentals for the Child Actor
XV. Workshop for Six-to-Eight-Year-Olds

FORMAL THEATER AND IMPROVISATIONAL THEATER
XVI. Preparation
XVII. Rehearsal and Performance
XVIII. Post-Mortem and Special Problems

DEFINITIONS
Definition of Terms
Glossary of Side-Coaching Phrases

APPENDIXES
Appendix I. New Exercises
Appendix II. Traditional Games

What People are Saying About This

Valerie Harper

She has genius and shares it.

Alan Alda

It's like basic research...she has changed the theater for generations.

Rob Reiner

Her book is the bible.

Editorial Reviews

This new edition of a highly acclaimed handbook, last published in 1983 and widely used by theater teachers and directors, is sure to be welcomed by members of the theater profession. Spolin, who died in 1994, developed her improvisational techniques of using "game" exercises while teaching with the WPA Recreational Project in Chicago. Editor Sills, her son and founder of the Second City Theater, here updates over 200 classic exercises and adds 30 new ones. The creative group work and games, which can be used with all levels and ages of performers, and workshop techniques that enhance performers' natural abilities and intuition are all clearly explained. Also included are useful definitions of theater terms and a glossary of side-coaching phrases. Libraries with older editions will want this excellent update. Highly recommended for all theater arts collections.--Howard E. Miller, Rosary H.S. Lib., St. Louis Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

"Her book is the bible." --Rob Reiner

"It's like basic research . . . she [has] changed the theater for generations." --Alan Alda

"She has genius and shares it." --Valerie Harper

From the Publisher