Podcasts about Viola Spolin

Dieses Special bei Carl-Auer Sounds of Science bietet auch in der zweiten Staffel Gespräche, die Mag.a Dr.in Maria Spindler mit Autor:innen eines bedeutenden Buches führt, das sie gemeinsam mit Mag.a Dr.in Ruth E. Lerchster herausgegeben hat: Gruppen:Dynamik – Die Gestaltung dynamischer Prozesse für Leadership, Beratung, Teams und Organisationen im 21. Jahrhundert. Im Gespräch mit Maria Spindler und Susanne Schinko-Fischli gilt der Blick den Themen Rahmensetzung, Kontext und gemeinsame kooperative Kultur. Wie verhalten sich Improvisationstheater und Gruppendynamik zueinander? Was lehrt uns ein Blick in die Anfänge bei Jacob Levy Moreno und Viola Spolin? Was können beim einen und anderen Format Teilnehmende vom jeweils anderen Format lernen? Was ist die Idee der Soziometrie? Was bedeutet das alles für Demokratisierungsprozessse? Susanne Schinko-Fischli studierte Psychologie und absolvierte die Schauspielausbildung in Wien. Sie ist Lehrtrainerin für Gruppendynamik, selbstständige Trainerin mit Schwerpunkt Gruppendynamik und angewandte Improvisation und Buchautorin. Maria Spindler ist internationale Organisationsberaterin, Leadership Developer, ÖGGO-Lehrtrainerin und Hernstein-Gruppendynamiktrainerin, Buchautorin, Universitätslehrende, Vortragende. _____________ Folgen Sie auch den anderen Podcasts von Carl-Auer: autobahnuniversität www.carl-auer.de/magazin/autobahnuniversitat Blackout, Bauchweh und kein` Bock www.carl-auer.de/magazin/blackout…eh-und-kein-bock Cybernetics of Cybernetics www.carl-auer.de/magazin/cybernet…s-of-cybernetics Genau Geschaut: https://www.carl-auer.de/magazin/genau-geschaut Frauen führen besser www.carl-auer.de/magazin/frauen-fuhren-besser Formen (reloaded) Podcast www.carl-auer.de/magazin/formen-reloaded-podcast Heidelberger Systemische Interviews www.carl-auer.de/magazin/heidelbe…ische-interviews Zum Wachstum inspirieren www.carl-auer.de/magazin/zum-wachstum-inspirieren Zusammen entscheiden www.carl-auer.de/magazin/treffpunkt-entscheiden

Dieses Special bei Carl-Auer Sounds of Science bietet auch in der zweiten Staffel Gespräche, die Mag.a Dr.in Maria Spindler mit Autor:innen eines bedeutenden Buches führt, das sie gemeinsam mit Mag.a Dr.in Ruth E. Lerchster herausgegeben hat: Gruppen:Dynamik – Die Gestaltung dynamischer Prozesse für Leadership, Beratung, Teams und Organisationen im 21. Jahrhundert. Im Gespräch mit Mag.a Susanne Schinko-Fischli und Dr. phil. Claudius Fischli werden die Bedeutung von Gruppendynamik für Kooperation und Partizipation im 21. Jahrhundert augenfällig, wie das Buch Gruppen:Dynamik es genau avisiert. Dies besonders mit Rückblick auch auf den Beginn des 20. Jahrhunderts als Zeit der „Erfindung“ von Gruppendynamik und Improvisationstheater, Psychodrama und Soziometrie mit den Pionier:innen Kurt Lewin, Jacob Levy Moreno und Viola Spolin. Eindrückliche Erfahrungen mit Autorität, Selbststeuerung und Selbstbewusstsein, heraustretend aus isoliert betrachteter Individualiät, zeichnen die gruppendynamische Trainingsgruppe aus. Susanne Schinko-Fischli studierte Psychologie und absolvierte die Schauspielausbildung in Wien. Sie ist Lehrtrainerin für Gruppendynamik, selbstständige Trainerin mit Schwerpunkt Gruppendynamik und angewandte Improvisation und Buchautorin. Claudius Fischli studierte Angewandte Psychologie, Psychopathologie und Wirtschaftsgeschichte an der Universität Zürich. Er ist Gruppendynamiktrainer mit den Arbeitsschwerpunkten gruppendynamisch fundierte Trainings und Beratungen für Führungskräfte, Teams und Organisationen Maria Spindler ist internationale Organisationsberaterin, Leadership Developer, ÖGGO-Lehrtrainerin und Hernstein-Gruppendynamiktrainerin, Buchautorin, Universitätslehrende, Vortragende. _____________ Folgen Sie auch den anderen Podcasts von Carl-Auer: autobahnuniversität www.carl-auer.de/magazin/autobahnuniversitat Blackout, Bauchweh und kein` Bock www.carl-auer.de/magazin/blackout…eh-und-kein-bock Cybernetics of Cybernetics www.carl-auer.de/magazin/cybernet…s-of-cybernetics Genau Geschaut: https://www.carl-auer.de/magazin/genau-geschaut Frauen führen besser www.carl-auer.de/magazin/frauen-fuhren-besser Formen (reloaded) Podcast www.carl-auer.de/magazin/formen-reloaded-podcast Heidelberger Systemische Interviews www.carl-auer.de/magazin/heidelbe…ische-interviews Zum Wachstum inspirieren www.carl-auer.de/magazin/zum-wachstum-inspirieren Zusammen entscheiden www.carl-auer.de/magazin/treffpunkt-entscheiden

I am so happy to call Yuehan Liu a friend and improv playmate! We met during the pandemic and I instantly was impressed with her brilliance in improv and our mutual admiration for Viola Spolin. Yuehan is a designer by day and improv nerd by evening. She has been living in Stockholm for several years. She is the founder of English improv community - Fika Improv Group in Stockholm, where she's committed to connecting improvisers and sharing our passion for improv in a welcoming space. Graduated from Second City, she has also been training with teachers from different schools around the world like Jay Sukow, Liz Allen, Susan Messing and Billy Merritt. Yuehan is half of the Scandinavian Asian duo "Herring & Chopsticks", teaches and performs at several international improv festivals as well as locally. By creating a fun and connecting atmosphere, she's committed to spreading the joy and freedom of improvisation in her performances and teaching. You can get in touch with Yuehan at: Facebook: www.facebook.com/yuehan.liu.5 www.facebook.com/FikaImprovGroup/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/_ru_ok/ www.instagram.com/fika_improv

Send us a textIf you haven't made space for a little play in your life, maybe take a little inspiration from this week's author, educator, and improvisor Viola Spolin. Spolin revolutionized play as a tool for community building and connection, using games to help struggling members of her community in Chicago and beyond. Her work combined improvisation with principles of social work, literacy, and more. Her impact can be felt today in classrooms, theater companies, community centers, Hollywood Blockbuster movies and beyond! Join us this week and bring a sense of magic back to your life. 

Alyssa is joined by Hugh Yemon to discuss the history of Improv and Theatre Games. SHOW NOTES:  NYT: Viola Spolin, 88, a Teacher Who Inspired Improv Theater The Difference between Spolin Games and Popular Improv HuffPost: Why Ayn Rand Does Not Matter (and Viola Spolin Does) NPR Illinois: From Hull House to Second City: How Chicago immigrants helped change theater Kitty Wants a Corner Spolin Games Online Chicago Tribune Archive The Second City: Backstage at the World's Greatest Comedy Theater A Theater of Our Own: A History and a Memoir of 1,001 Nights in Chicago Improv Nation: How We Made a Great American Art National Women's History Museum: Jane Adams WTTW: Inventing Improv Viola Spolin Quotes About Improvisation Into the Unknown with Viola Spolin A Profile of Viola Spolin Viola Spolin Bio BACKSTAGE: What Is the Viola Spolin Method? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week I want to share a fabulous resource I recently discovered, a website full of short video models for acting games you can use in class. The first time I taught a play in class, I sure wished I had more theater background to help my students act out the scenes. Luckily, I was able to connect with a creative theater professional to come and visit my classes for a few days. Soon she had them playing acting games, creating scene sculptures, and generally having a great time while relaxing into the idea of playing new roles.  After that week I always incorporated acting games into my theater units, and they never failed as a community-builder and theater-bolsterer. I bought two books to complement what I learned from my theater guest: Acting Games, by Viola Spolin, and Games for Actors and Non-Actors, by Augusto Boal.  Which brings me to my recent discovery, a website showcasing many of Viola Spolin's acting games through video demonstrations. With a few minutes on this website, you can easily gather games to use in class and learn how to use them. Let me suggest a short routine similar to what I've used, and then I'll link the activities in the show notes so you can head straight over to the website for the details.  OK, so before I ever asked students to act Prospero or Willy Loman, we'd spend five or ten minutes at the start of class with games that would help them loosen up and trust each other a little more.  I suggest you start by making space in the center of the room by pushing desks and tables to the side. Then invite students to start walking around, trying to keep a bubble of space around them so they fill the room without ever touching each other. Start slow, then invite them to speed up a little, and a little more, then slow back down, then go into slow motion. Then, perhaps start a game of slow motion tag (linked) or start playing with an invisible ball (linked). After a couple of minutes, you might play a game of lemonade (linked) or invite partners to try mirroring each other (linked).  As your students become more comfortable, you can move into more complex games, or you can just stick with this simple routine to break down everyone's “I'm too cool to pretend to be doing anything I'm not actually doing” facades.  Remember, while acting comes naturally to a few students, many teenagers are just really nervous about embarrassing themselves around their peers. Acting games help everyone get more relaxed before diving into Shakespeare or O'Neill, and this lovely website will help YOU get more relaxed before diving into acting games!  Links:  The Mirror: https://spolingamesonline.org/mirror-follow-the-follower/  Lemonade: https://spolingamesonline.org/lemonade-new-york/  Play Ball: https://spolingamesonline.org/play-ball/  Slow Motion Tag: https://spolingamesonline.org/slow-motion-tag/  Go Further:  Explore alllll the Episodes of The Spark Creativity Teacher Podcast. Snag three free weeks of community-building attendance question slides Join our community, Creative High School English, on Facebook. Come hang out on Instagram.  Enjoying the podcast? Please consider sharing it with a friend, snagging a screenshot to share on the ‘gram, or tapping those ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ to help others discover the show. Thank you!   

Åsa Dahlgren är skådespelare och dramapedagog som jobbar för friteatergruppen Torgteatern och undervisar i impro på Calle Flygare Teaterskola och på Stockholms Improvisationsteater. Under åren har Åsa imprat med frigruppen Hybris och medverkat i bl.a. ”Kära Selma - en improviserad hyllningsföreställning”. Åsa har ett stort intresse för mindfulness och vad som påverkar vår närvaro och kreativitet inom scenkonst och gillar att grotta i Viola Spolins övningar och filosofi. Vi pratar om Viola Spolin, lite improhistoria och sju aspekter av spontanitet. Vi pratar om mindfulness och meditation, om manusteater och om lek. Dessutom pratar vi om balansera mjölk, morotskakor, soggiga korvbröd.

So much fun getting to know the luminous actor, teacher, filmmaker, content creator, script writer, sketch and improv Liz Coin (@lizcoin) on #NoSuggestionPod this week! Co-host Jake Joseph (@f00lish_b0y) and I had great fun hanging with Liz for an hour at Radio Free Brooklyn studios (@radiofreebk) and learning about Greece, Iowa, coming up in the Chicago improv scene, and how it compares to the New York scene, her love of Viola Spolin, the Improvolution (@improvolutionnyc) theater, her one-woman show, and more! It's a wide ranging and fun chat! We also really have some super silly, diverse, and hilarious improv scenes in this episode, including a scene about an extremely bohemian and laid-back heart surgeon. Liz is full of energy, point of view, and passion! This was a really dope episode! We can't wait for you to get to know Liz! And if you enjoy this episode, please subscribe and leave a review! They really help us! You can learn more about Ralf, his comedy, his music (as Precious Gorgeous), his acting, his teaching, this podcast, find full episodes of this podcast, and more at preciousgorgeous.com!

Join us for the first episode in our Founding Mother Series! Viola Spolin developed a complete system of education which she called Theater Games and her methods are the roots of contemporary improv.  While the power of Viola's system is widely recognized in the theater education community, her fundamental contribution to improvisation is just beginning to get full recognition. Spolin's non-authoritarian methods are about direct personal expression and are used in diverse fields to foster creativity, empathy, and self-knowledge.Our Hosts Lauren Torres and Dawn "Sam" Alden talk with Aretha Sills (Viola's grandaughter) about Spolin's fascinating history. We also discuss a powerful second Founding Mother: Neva Boyd.  Aretha was featured on the PBS Documentary about Viola Spolin Inventing Improv, to view visit: https://www.pbs.org/video/inventing-improv-fjrunv/ To learn more about Viola Spolin, find her books, or take workshops in her empowering methods visit: https://www.violaspolin.org/

Episode Notes S5E3 -- Join us as we dive into the mind of That Guy!! Larry Hankin will take us on his journey from being That Guy (His newest novel) then we'll Escape from Alcatraz before Friends. Hankin was born in New York City on December 7, 1937, and grew up in a Jewish family in the Far Rockaway neighborhood of Queens. He graduated from Far Rockaway High School and Syracuse University, where he befriended Carl Gottlieb.(JAWS) He is an American character actor. He has had major film roles as Charley Butts in Escape from Alcatraz (1979), Ace in Running Scared (1986), and Carl Alphonse in Billy Madison (1995). He had smaller roles as Doobie in Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Sergeant Larry Balzak in Home Alone, Mr. Heckles in Friends, and Joe in Breaking Bad and El Camino. NEWS FLASH You can now purchase Toking with the Dead full novel here https://a.co/d/7uypgZo https://www.barnesandnoble.com/.../toking.../1143414656... You can see all your past favorite episodes now streaming on https://redcoraluniverse.com/ OR Show your support by purchasing FB stars. Send stars to the stars fb.com/stars Toking with the Dead: https://www.stilltoking.com/ https://www.facebook.com/TokingwiththeDead?tn=-]C-R https://www.instagram.com/stilltokingwith/?hl=en https://twitter.com/thetoking?lang=en https://pinecast.com/feed/still-toking-with Check out Toking with the Dead Episode 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awhL5FyW_j4 Check out Toking with the Dead Episode 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaUai58ua6o Buy awesome Merchandise! https://www.stilltoking.com/toking-with-the-dead-train https://teespring.com/stores/still-toking-with Sponsorship Opportunities https://www.stilltoking.com/become-a-sponsor or email us at bartlett52108@gmail.com thetokingdead@gmail.com ————————————— Follow our guest https://thereallarryhankin.com/about/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Hankin https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0359969/ Larrys newest Novel: https://www.amazon.com/That-Guy-Cautionary.../dp/B0BW32R6FN ———————— Follow Still Toking With and their friends! https://smartpa.ge/5zv1 https://thedorkeningpodcastnetwork.com/ ————————————— Produced by Leo Pond and The Dorkening Podcast Network https://TheDorkening.com Facebook.com/TheDorkening Youtube.com/TheDorkening Twitter.com/TheDorkening Dead Dork Radio https://live365.com/station/Dead-Dork-Radio-a68071 MORE ABOUT THE GUEST: Hankin was an early member of the Second City, training with improvisational theater teachers Viola Spolin and Paul Sills, and in 1963 moved to San Francisco to co-found the improv troupe, The Committee. His first notable supporting role was as Pt. Romero in Viva Max! in 1969. He had roles in TV shows Breaking Bad, Matlock, and Friends (as Mr. Heckles), as well as major role in Escape from Alcatraz (1979) with Clint Eastwood. He also acted in How Sweet It Is! (1968) with Debbie Reynolds and James Garner and the Adam Sandler movie Billy Madison (1995). He had cameo appearances in three John Hughes films: Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987), She's Having a Baby (1988), and Home Alone (1990), the latter of which coincidentally featured Roberts Blossom (playing Old Man Marley), whom he co-starred with in Escape from Alcatraz. He made a brief appearance in Pretty Woman (1990) as the landlord, and had minor roles in Loose Shoes (1980), as "handicap" in The Sting II (1983), The Sure Thing (1985), and Running Scared (1986). Hankin also appeared in Married... with Children, as well as one of the Halloween specials of Home Improvement. Hankin also appeared in three episodes of Star Trek: Voyager as Gaunt Gary and one episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Hankin and Curtis Armstrong played the hippie entrepreneurs who purchased "Buy the Book" (the bookstore where the titular character works at) on Ellen. On Seinfeld, Hankin portrayed Tom Pepper, the actor cast as Kramer on the pilot-within-a-TV-show Jerry. He portrayed a homeless man in season 5 of Malcolm in the Middle. He then appeared again with Bryan Cranston in seasons three and five of Breaking Bad as junkyard owner Old Joe. He reprised his old role from Breaking Bad in the Netflix sequel film El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie.

Jeffrey Sweet, the author of Something Wonderful Right Away, returns to the podcast to discuss the brand-new second edition of this granddaddy of all improv books. Jeff shares how his book had an impact over and above what he ever imagined; how the second edition features new interviews with Keegan-Michael Key and the founding mother of improv Viola Spolin; how improvisation shares so much with games; his many inspirations (including TJ and Dave and Lanford Wilson); and the similarities between improvisation and playwriting. (Length 18:35)

Special Guests Joe Bill and Mark Meer join Jerome at the table to nerd out over acting, improv, and D & D. SHOW NOTES INFORMATION COMMUNITY INFO Send us pics of you rocking D2C Merch and we will publish them on the Community page of our website. Click HERE to check it out! GUEST BIOS Joe Bill is widely regarded as one of the best teachers of  Improvisation in America today. He is one of the founding members of Annoyance Theater Chicago, was the Director of Corporate Training at iO Chicago for 15 years, and a Teacher & Guest Artist in Residence at The Second City Conservatory & Training Center for another 15 years. Joe first practiced improvisation in 1977 and studied and worked with Del Close from 1985 through the mid 90's. Joe has trained corporate clients in more than 80 Fortune 500 companies. Clients include NBC Universal, Disney, PepsiCo, Abbott Labs, Abbvie, GE, Leo Burnett, American Express, the CIA, and the Children's Miracle Network.  He has taught in the Business Schools of the University of Chicago, Harvard, Yale, Northwestern, Duke, and The University of Virginia. Joe has also been touring internationally as an improvisational performer, teacher, and director for more than 20 years.   Mark Meer is known worldwide as the voice of Commander Shepard in Bioware's Mass Effect Trilogy, and also voices several other characters in the series, including Blasto, the entire Vorcha species, and Niftu Cal. He plays multiple roles throughout Bioware's Dragon Age series, and appears dozens of characters in the original Baldur's Gate games, Beamdog's Baldur's Gate Enhanced Edition, Baldur's Gate 2: Enhanced Edition, and Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear. Mark stars as pilot William MacKenzie in the post-acopalyptic survival game The Long Dark by Hinterland Studio. Other voice work includes Bioware's Jade Empire, Blue Wizard Digital's Slayaway Camp, rom-com visual novel Arcade Spirits, ChaosForge's Jupiter Hell, and Chapterhouse Studio's Captain Canuck: The Prometheus Protocol. Mark is a co-creator, writer, and star of the award-winning TV series Tiny Plastic Men, available on Amazon Prime in Canada, the U.S.A., and the U.K. Links From our Discussion Joe Bill - https://www.integratedimprovisation.com/  Mark Meer - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1035752/  Dad's Garage Theatre Company (Atlanta) https://www.dadsgarage.com/  Viola Spolin https://www.violaspolin.org/  D&D in a Castle: https://dndinacastle.com/home  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bassprov  https://www.freeplay.com/  Black Dice Society: https://dnd.wizards.com/black-dice-society  MUSIC / SOUND EFFECTS LICENSE INFORMATION: Rock Scissor Rock by Louise Goldberg The following music was used for this media project: Music: Ultralounge by Kevin MacLeod Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/5010-ultralounge  License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license    Music: Leopard Print Elevator by Kevin MacLeod Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/3974-leopard-print-elevator  License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license   Music: Backbay Lounge by Kevin MacLeod Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/3408-backbay-lounge License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license   Music: Loopster by Kevin MacLeod Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/4991-loopster License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license   Music: Bossa Antigua by Kevin MacLeod Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/3454-bossa-antigua License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Robert Weitz är improvisatör och musikalartist och flerfaldigt vinnare av den improviserade Melodifestivalen både i Sverige och internationellt, han drev Improvisation & Co i konkurs efter 27år som konstnärlig ledare där han även höll kurser och spelade föreställningar. Han blev även Världsmästare på Improverket efter misstänkt fusk och skrev också manus och musik till musikalen Succén tillsamman med Maria Olofsson. Vi pratar om att utmana sig som improvisatör, om fördelarna och nackdelarna med att vilja mycket, om lek och misstag, om vad som är humor, om vad man gör när inspirationen tar slut, om improns sista utpost, om Viola Spolin, om Kaos, om att ha både köttbullar och Tabolueh på buffén. Och så pratar vi om att levla i World of Warcraft.

This week on Lady History: We LOVE these funny ladies who worked to bring joy to other peoples lives during their lifetimes. Meet imaganitive improver Viola Spolin, jovial jester Jane Foole, funny femme Fanny Brice. Logo by: Alexia Ibarra Editing by: Lexi Simms Music by: Alana Stolnitz A full text transcript of this show, as well as sources, attributions, and further readings, can be found at ladyhistorypod.com Archival audio in this episode is from Baby Snooks. Support us on Patreon for just $1: www.patreon.com/ladyhistorypod Follow us on Twitter, TikTok & Instagram: @ladyhistorypod Have a question? A business inquiry? Contact: ladyhistorypod@gmail.com Leave us an audio message for a chance to be featured in the show: anchor.fm/ladyhistory/messages

Jay Sukow is one of the most respected and beloved improv teachers today. He shares his childhood with a nurturing family and how he became the man he is. His parents gave him a ticket to his first Improv class and he found his passion. He studied at Second City, IO, and Comedy Sports. Jay shares a wonderful story of spending an afternoon with David Shepherd. We chat about our admiration for the "mother of improv" Viola Spolin. Jay shares his ups and downs in the improv world. He is very funny and a truly humble person. #Iknowjaysukow

Gary experienced a childhood without much love. Humor has been important for him on his way to becoming accepted by others and, more importantly, himself. We discussed humor as a coping mechanism, his book, The King of Average, and his journey alongside the great Viola Spolin, one of the greats in the field of improv theater.Follow Gary on Twitter: @improvmaven | Visit his website for info on his work and book!Follow me on Twitter: @Deep_Dive_Pod | @EyalShay2 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eyalshay.substack.com

This week on the Psychedelic Spotlight Podcast, we welcome Arrowyn Ambrose of Lumos Transforms. She is a Certified Teaching Artist and a Certified Race Equity and Healing Justice Facilitator, having studied Viola Spolin's long-form organic improvisation, creative writing, addiction, and group dynamics. With a background in the performing arts, Arrowyn believes in the healing power of story and is passionate about ethical storytelling, trauma-informed and resilience-oriented recovery and social justice.As a facilitator to vulnerable populations, Arrowyn became deeply attuned to the role trauma plays in all our lives. As such, she seeks to help people learn how to self-regulate and resource so their stories and sharing are more healing to their recovery.In this episode, Arrowyn speaks on how psychedelics are integrated into recovery and addiction, how community can profoundly impact those in recovery, and how we can assist those who are in need of psychedelic therapy but may not have access.Learn more about Arrowyn at https://lumostransforms.com/

Aretha Sills is a legendary improv teacher and writer. She is also the daughter of Paul Sills and the granddaughter of Viola Spolin. If you really want to get a sense of the origins of improv and what it was like to grow up in an improv family and the huge contribution that Viola made to improv, then you will want to listen to this episode.

There aren't very many original Beatniks left on planet earth and as of this writing, Wavy Gravy is one of the last original Beatnik poets standing. But Wavy isn't just an original Beatnik poet - he's also a improv comedy trailblazer and international comedic activist who's antics included running a pig for president. This series travels from Wavy's childhood to the Gaslight Café Beatnik years to San Francisco where the convergence of psychedelic and comedy history collided, steering Wavy to Hollywood where his comedy career soared, propelling him to the famed Acid Tests and the birth of his Hog Farm commune, bringing Wavy to the Woodstock Peace and Music Festival's stage enshrining him as a global symbol for peace, love and Rock'n'Roll. Wavy's historic and hilarious adventures include his involvement in countless cultural watershed moments in American history… like the fabrication of snapping for applause, the introduction of granola to hippies and in fact, the actual creation of the ethos of the hippie. American Prankster is a chronological deep dive with Wavy, unfolding never-before-heard stories about his life that even he had forgotten until interviews with Rainbow Valentine from Disorganized Crime: Smuggler's Daughter, retrieved them. Stories about Wavy's psychedelic shenanigans with countless icons like: Lenny Bruce, Groucho Marx, BB King, Janis Joplin, Tiny Tim, Del Close, Ken Kesey, Neal Cassady, Margo St. James, Thelonius Monk, Bob Dylan, Ram Dass, Albert Einstein, Peter, Paul & Mary, Marlene Dietrich, Severin Darden, Joan Baez, Martha Graham, Alice Cooper, David Crosby, Jackson Brown, Abbie Hoffman, Bob Weir, Mama Cass, John Coltrane, Grace Slick, Jerry Garcia, Paul Krassner, Bill Graham, Tim Harden, Robin Williams, Viola Spolin, Pink Floyd and many more. Guests on this series include members of the Hog Farm, the Merry Pranksters, Grateful Dead Family, KMPX, The Committee, the Family Dog, the Medicine Ball Caravan, the Yippies and other counter culture institutions. Produced by Rainbow Valentine Studios, American Prankster is a proud part of Pantheon Podcasts www.rainbowvalentine.com  

Arrowyn Ambrose is an Advanced Certified Facilitator of The Resilience Toolkit, Certified Teaching Artist, and Certified Race Equity and Healing Justice Facilitator. She has studied Viola Spolin's long-form organic improvisation, creative writing, addiction, and group dynamics. With a background in the creative and performing arts, Arrowyn believes in the healing power of story and is passionate about ethical storytelling along with trauma-informed and resilience-oriented recovery, parenting, and social justice. In this conversation we talk about: why we do what we do when we know what we know addiction, recovery and regeneration trauma and the body why we are all in recovery from culture  creating rituals of repair in relationship And so much more. To learn more about Arrowyn and the Resilience Toolkit - https://lumostransforms.com/team/arrowyn-ambrose/   To join our upcoming regenerative business community, Unbound -  www.megberryman.com/journeys/unbound    

We have kept you waiting a whole week, but now the time is finally here to for you to catch up with the second part of the fantastic Viola Spolin special with Max Schafer. We jump right back in where we left off & it is another really inforative and entertaining chat all about the origins of improv as we know it.

Today we are bringing you part one of a two part Viola Spolin special! Max Schafer is a leader of the teachings of 'spolin' and he is a deep well of knowledge in not just her techniques, but also in how she herself was as a teacher. Iain also delves into Max's improv history and we find out why he is so passionate about keeping the name 'Viola Spolin' present in the mind of improvisers all over the world. Part one is a really great listen and we can't wait to share part two with you all next week!

Today's topic is the imagination: what is the imagination, how do you activate it, why is imaginary play so important. Kids have the best imaginations because we haven't, as a world, killed their minds yet with all our imposed ways of thinking, being, and living in this world. So how can we learn from kids, theatre, and from the way we use our own imagination every day to live a richer more exciting and beautiful life? How best can we stop living mediocre, boring lives absolutely free today? We'll kick off our show with The Raise a Glass Series, get on to our questions to explore, and end with A Short Story Before We Go. MFA is the sometimes-musical, dramedy, in 3 acts, 1 intermission, the length of a sitcom designed to give mama's (and any caregiver) a break in the day to breathe and reset along with a much-needed audio hug.  Act I: The Raise a Glass Series·       The Raise a Glass Series is a space for reflection and gratitude centered around the topic of the day and inspired by lyrics from Hamilton the Musical.Today's lyrics – “I imagine death so much it feels more like a memory”Act II: Main Questions·       What is the imagination? How is it activated and why do we use it? Why is imaginary play so important? How does an actor engage their imagination? What are imaginative games to play as a family? If I knew it could be 100% achievable what would my ideal family life of my wildest imagination look like?          Intermission: Angelica InterludeWhy don't you like using the potty?Act III: A Short Story Before We GoThe Scene That Never EndsEpisode transcript: available at https://www.mfaparentingedition.com/045Freebie: Imaginative Play and Theatre Games for the Family hereSources that helped inspire this episode: (full list on website)·       Imagination is an Actor's Best Friend (backstage.com)·       Talking Play and Imagination with Peter Gray - Resilience·       Play Games, Watch Videos Online & More! - Bluey Official Website·       Improvisation for the Theater a book by Viola Spolin (bookshop.org)·       Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life a book by Peter Gray (bookshop.org)·       Podcast - Raising Free People™ NetworkConnect with Me: Best way - taisha@mfparentingedition.comIG - @mfaparentingeditionSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mfaparenting)

A new WTTW documentary explores the life and legacy of Viola Spolin, the social worker-turned theater guru who pioneered the improvisational techniques later used by The Second City and Saturday Night Live. Reset talks to filmmaker Jude Leak about “Inventing Improv: A Chicago Stories Special,” premiering Friday at 8 p.m. GUEST: Jude Leak, writer and producer

Bob Sirott was joined by Jude Leak, writer and director of Inventing Improv. The documentary focuses on Viola Spolin and how she created improv techniques to break down cultural and communication barriers. The documentary includes clips of Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell, Tina Fey, and more in action during their time in Chicago. Inventing Improv: a […]

Jude Leak is the writer and director of a new documentary called Inventing Improv, about the mother of improv, Viola Spolin. We talked to Jude about her documentary and how Spolin created the theater games that have been used to teach improv ever since, how her idea to get suggestions from the audience came about, and her huge influence at The Compass Players and Second City. Improv started with Viola Spolin, this is a great episode to understand the history of improv.

Jason joins Jennifer and David on a bridge to discuss storytelling in improv, the parallels between acting and improv, and how they got started in the world of improv. Dr. Jason Davids Scott (they/them) is an associate professor and currently associate director at the Sidney Poitier New American Film School at Arizona State University, Dr. Scott earned an MA and PhD from UCSB, focusing on the relationship between performance, improvisation, and media.  A one-time stage manager and producer for veterans of the troupe ED, Dr. Scott learned longform technique from director Jim Dennen, and later studied at workshops with Paul Sills, Sparky Johnson, Max Schaefer, Gary Schwartz, and the late Richard Schaal, specializing in the games and play technique of Viola Spolin.  UCSB saw the birth of Dr. Scott's first troupe, Whole Cloth, later known in San Francisco as Revolving Madness.  Dr. Scott has started and advised student improvisation clubs at Arizona State University and Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas, and also created marketing materials for the Fort Worth-based company Four Day Weekend. bridgeimprovtheater.com    

Arrowyn Ambrose is an Advanced Certified Facilitator of The Resilience Toolkit, Certified Teaching Artist, and Certified Race Equity and Healing Justice Facilitator. She has studied Viola Spolin's long-form organic improvisation, creative writing, addiction, and group dynamics. With a background in the creative and performing arts, Arrowyn believes in the healing power of story and is passionate about ethical storytelling along with trauma-informed and resilience-oriented recovery, parenting, and social justice. Brock and Arrowyn take a dive into trauma and recovery. It is difficult to heal if your holding onto your baggage. Arrowyn provides three tools that will help you heal emotionally and spiritually. I enjoy providing you with up to date, real time tips that can and will help you in your own journey. If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction, I invite you to contact us at www.fightlikedaivd/jumpstart. There you will learn tangible tools that will help you overcome addiction and live a happy sober life. Please share this podcast with your loved ones and leave us a review. Keep Chasing The Vase. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/brock-m-bevell/support

This week on Yes But Why Podcast, I talk to improviser and academic, David Escobedo. David Escobedo has been coaching and performing improv since 1995, starting his career in San Diego and Los Angeles. He has his BA and MA in Drama; and, David is currently pursuing his PhD in Drama with a focus on improv at the University of Chester in the UK. His Masters thesis paper was on how an improviser's voice (background/experience) is the most valuable element to an improv team and show. David loves improv so much he wrote a book about it called “This Improv Book.” In our conversation, David teaches me a lot about the beginnings of improv and a few important details and people that the history of improv does not often talk about. David tells me the story of how Neva Boyd and her “theory of play” inspired Viola Spolin to create improv games as a means of building community in Chicago. We talk about how the culture of improv institutions has become more about selling a package and less about building a community. We discuss gatekeeping in both the improv world and in academia as David is experiencing it now. David mentions the book, “Whose Improv Is It Anyway” by Amy Seham as a great resource on that topic. We chat about why we love improv and how we got into it. David talks about the value of connecting with people and the pure joy that one can find in an improv jam with friends. Support David Escobedo by following him on his website, The Improv Boost, through which he spreads the joy of improv teachers across the world. We chat about how he wants us to focus most on the great improv teachers of the world and less about the improv institutions and this is the website where David puts that idea to work. You can also check out his sci-fi themed improv collective, Wretched Hive Comedy streaming regularly on Twitch. And you just have to watch out for the upcoming projects of David's Harry Potter themed troupe, Mischief Managed Improv via Facebook! What else is upcoming for David Escobedo? Well, he is about to be a father in the next few weeks (likely days)!! So that's exciting! Also, David will be continuously working on his doctorate in Performing Arts and will be awarded his punk rock PhD in two years. Yes But Why Podcast is a proud member of the HC Universal Network family of podcasts. Visit us at HCUniversalNetwork.com to join in on the fun. #YesButWhy #Podcast #HCUniversalNetwork This episode of Yes But Why podcast is sponsored by audible - get your FREE audiobook download and your 30 day free trial at http://www.audibletrial.com/YESBUTWHY. Treat Yourself. Get Audible. This episode of Yes But Why is also sponsored by PodcastCadet.com. Go to PodcastCadet.com to connect with us so we can help you with your podcast! Save money by putting in offer code YBY20 to get 20% off the first service for workshop you buy! This episode of Yes But Why is also sponsored by True Hemp Science! True Hemp Science is our Austin-based resource for vegan friendly, whole plant extract CBD oil. Go to TrueHempScience.com to peruse all the therapeutic CBD product options! Use code YesButWhy7 to get 7% off your order of $50 or more and get a free packet of 2 CBD edibles!

This week on Yes But Why Podcast, I talk to improviser and academic, David Escobedo.David Escobedo has been coaching and performing improv since 1995, starting his career in San Diego and Los Angeles. He has his BA and MA in Drama; and, David is currently pursuing his PhD in Drama with a focus on improv at the University of Chester in the UK. His Masters thesis paper was on how an improviser's voice (background/experience) is the most valuable element to an improv team and show. David loves improv so much he wrote a book about it called “This Improv Book.” In our conversation, David teaches me a lot about the beginnings of improv and a few important details and people that the history of improv does not often talk about. David tells me the story of how Neva Boyd and her “theory of play” inspired Viola Spolin to create improv games as a means of building community in Chicago. We talk about how the culture of improv institutions has become more about selling a package and less about building a community. We discuss gatekeeping in both the improv world and in academia as David is experiencing it now. David mentions the book, “Whose Improv Is It Anyway” by Amy Seham as a great resource on that topic. We chat about why we love improv and how we got into it. David talks about the value of connecting with people and the pure joy that one can find in an improv jam with friends. Support David Escobedo by following him on his website, The Improv Boost, through which he spreads the joy of improv teachers across the world. We chat about how he wants us to focus most on the great improv teachers of the world and less about the improv institutions and this is the website where David puts that idea to work. You can also check out his sci-fi themed improv collective, Wretched Hive Comedy streaming regularly on Twitch. And you just have to watch out for the upcoming projects of David's Harry Potter themed troupe, Mischief Managed Improv via Facebook! What else is upcoming for David Escobedo? Well, he is about to be a father in the next few weeks (likely days)!! So that's exciting! Also, David will be continuously working on his doctorate in Performing Arts and will be awarded his punk rock PhD in two years.Yes But Why Podcast is a proud member of the HC Universal Network family of podcasts. Visit us at HCUniversalNetwork.com to join in on the fun. #YesButWhy #Podcast #HCUniversalNetworkThis episode of Yes But Why podcast is sponsored by audible - get your FREE audiobook download and your 30 day free trial at http://www.audibletrial.com/YESBUTWHY. Treat Yourself. Get Audible. This episode of Yes But Why is also sponsored by PodcastCadet.com. Go to PodcastCadet.com to connect with us so we can help you with your podcast! Save money by putting in offer code YBY20 to get 20% off the first service for workshop you buy!This episode of Yes But Why is also sponsored by True Hemp Science! True Hemp Science is our Austin-based resource for vegan friendly, whole plant extract CBD oil. Go to TrueHempScience.com to peruse all the therapeutic CBD product options! Use code YesButWhy7 to get 7% off your order of $50 or more and get a free packet of 2 CBD edibles!

This week on Yes But Why Podcast, I talk to improviser and academic, David Escobedo. David Escobedo has been coaching and performing improv since 1995, starting his career in San Diego and Los Angeles. He has his BA and MA in Drama; and, David is currently pursuing his PhD in Drama with a focus on improv at the University of Chester in the UK. His Masters thesis paper was on how an improviser's voice (background/experience) is the most valuable element to an improv team and show. David loves improv so much he wrote a book about it called “This Improv Book.” In our conversation, David teaches me a lot about the beginnings of improv and a few important details and people that the history of improv does not often talk about. David tells me the story of how Neva Boyd and her “theory of play” inspired Viola Spolin to create improv games as a means of building community in Chicago. We talk about how the culture of improv institutions has become more about selling a package and less about building a community. We discuss gatekeeping in both the improv world and in academia as David is experiencing it now. David mentions the book, “Whose Improv Is It Anyway” by Amy Seham as a great resource on that topic. We chat about why we love improv and how we got into it. David talks about the value of connecting with people and the pure joy that one can find in an improv jam with friends. Support David Escobedo by following him on his website, The Improv Boost, through which he spreads the joy of improv teachers across the world. We chat about how he wants us to focus most on the great improv teachers of the world and less about the improv institutions and this is the website where David puts that idea to work. You can also check out his sci-fi themed improv collective, Wretched Hive Comedy streaming regularly on Twitch. And you just have to watch out for the upcoming projects of David's Harry Potter themed troupe, Mischief Managed Improv via Facebook! What else is upcoming for David Escobedo? Well, he is about to be a father in the next few weeks (likely days)!! So that's exciting! Also, David will be continuously working on his doctorate in Performing Arts and will be awarded his punk rock PhD in two years. Yes But Why Podcast is a proud member of the HC Universal Network family of podcasts. Visit us at HCUniversalNetwork.com to join in on the fun. #YesButWhy #Podcast #HCUniversalNetwork This episode of Yes But Why podcast is sponsored by audible - get your FREE audiobook download and your 30 day free trial at http://www.audibletrial.com/YESBUTWHY. Treat Yourself. Get Audible. This episode of Yes But Why is also sponsored by PodcastCadet.com. Go to PodcastCadet.com to connect with us so we can help you with your podcast! Save money by putting in offer code YBY20 to get 20% off the first service for workshop you buy! This episode of Yes But Why is also sponsored by True Hemp Science! True Hemp Science is our Austin-based resource for vegan friendly, whole plant extract CBD oil. Go to TrueHempScience.com to peruse all the therapeutic CBD product options! Use code YesButWhy7 to get 7% off your order of $50 or more and get a free packet of 2 CBD edibles!

This week on Yes But Why Podcast, I talk to improviser and academic, David Escobedo. David Escobedo has been coaching and performing improv since 1995, starting his career in San Diego and Los Angeles. He has his BA and MA in Drama; and, David is currently pursuing his PhD in Drama with a focus on improv at the University of Chester in the UK. His Masters thesis paper was on how an improviser's voice (background/experience) is the most valuable element to an improv team and show. David loves improv so much he wrote a book about it called “This Improv Book.” In our conversation, David teaches me a lot about the beginnings of improv and a few important details and people that the history of improv does not often talk about. David tells me the story of how Neva Boyd and her “theory of play” inspired Viola Spolin to create improv games as a means of building community in Chicago. We talk about how the culture of improv institutions has become more about selling a package and less about building a community. We discuss gatekeeping in both the improv world and in academia as David is experiencing it now. David mentions the book, “Whose Improv Is It Anyway” by Amy Seham as a great resource on that topic. We chat about why we love improv and how we got into it. David talks about the value of connecting with people and the pure joy that one can find in an improv jam with friends. Support David Escobedo by following him on his website, The Improv Boost, through which he spreads the joy of improv teachers across the world. We chat about how he wants us to focus most on the great improv teachers of the world and less about the improv institutions and this is the website where David puts that idea to work. You can also check out his sci-fi themed improv collective, Wretched Hive Comedy streaming regularly on Twitch. And you just have to watch out for the upcoming projects of David's Harry Potter themed troupe, Mischief Managed Improv via Facebook! What else is upcoming for David Escobedo? Well, he is about to be a father in the next few weeks (likely days)!! So that's exciting! Also, David will be continuously working on his doctorate in Performing Arts and will be awarded his punk rock PhD in two years. Yes But Why Podcast is a proud member of the HC Universal Network family of podcasts. Visit us at HCUniversalNetwork.com to join in on the fun. #YesButWhy #Podcast #HCUniversalNetwork This episode of Yes But Why podcast is sponsored by audible - get your FREE audiobook download and your 30 day free trial at http://www.audibletrial.com/YESBUTWHY. Treat Yourself. Get Audible. This episode of Yes But Why is also sponsored by PodcastCadet.com. Go to PodcastCadet.com to connect with us so we can help you with your podcast! Save money by putting in offer code YBY20 to get 20% off the first service for workshop you buy! This episode of Yes But Why is also sponsored by True Hemp Science! True Hemp Science is our Austin-based resource for vegan friendly, whole plant extract CBD oil. Go to TrueHempScience.com to peruse all the therapeutic CBD product options! Use code YesButWhy7 to get 7% off your order of $50 or more and get a free packet of 2 CBD edibles!

On this episode of ActorSpeak, Austin Basis speaks with actor James Immekus (Lucifer, The Good Doctor, Grey's Anatomy, Mad Men). In Part 1, we discuss James' love of Ladyhawke, Viola Spolin, his mentor Rick Murphy, doing Boxboarders!, and making our way in LA together. Born in Crystal Lake, Illinois, James grew up in Kennesaw, Georgia, and graduated from the DePaul Theatre School in Chicago with a BFA in Acting. His vast theatre experience includes The Goodman Theatre in Chicago, The Contemporary American Theatre Festival in Shepherdstown, WV and the Center Theatre Group's Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, where he appeared in The House of Blue Leaves alongside Jane Kaczmarek, John Pankow, Kate Burton, and Diedrich Bader. But James has really made a name for himself with his extensive TV guest star work. He has over 25 guest stars & recurring roles to his credit in some of the biggest shows on television. He's not only an extremely talented actor & artist who respects his craft, but he's also a great friend & groomsman of mine...! And I couldn't think of better person to share this first episode of ActorSpeak with. WE AUDITION is a video-chat community where actors can audition, self-tape, rehearse, and get expert industry advice. USE promo code: ACTORSPEAK to get 25% off when joining at WeAudition.com

Max Schafer leads Spolin workshops around the world. He is the author of “Viola Spolin's Theater Games for the Classroom” Multimedia CD. He has studied under and was directed by Viola Spolin. He was stage manager for Paul Sills. He also studied with Carol Sills, Aretha Sills, Alan Arkin, Dick Schaal, Avery Schrieber, Bob Moyer, and Gary Schwartz. Max teaches Spolin improvisation around the world. He has been a distinguished certificated classroom teacher for over 40 years. He is a computer programmer and software publisher. He is a toy inventor and president of a toy company. He is originally from Detroit, Michigan. He now lives in Los Angeles. He runs a Music Improv group. His current Spolin workshop in England on Zoom can be found at https://www.eventbrite.com/.../online-improv-elective... Max runs the World Spolin Network, Musical Improv Network, and Dance Improv Network on Facebook. His "Art Rods" can be found at www.funartrods.com.

On this Artist’s Brain episode we had the pleasure to sit down with Kiff VandenHeuvel. Kiff’s an improv and sketch comedy veteran - he’s an alumni of The Second City comedy theatre and at Second City Hollywood, he’s directed sketch comedy and taught voiceover, improv, and directing. Kiff is also consistently working as an actor, and has appeared in hundreds of TV and radio commercials, and is well known in the video game community as the voice of Zachary Hale Comstock in Bioshock: Infinite, Walter in The Walking Dead video game series, and also from his work with Disney Infinity. He’s full of passion and his love of performance, and specifically improv, are inspiring. In our interview, we talk to Kiff about the origins of the modern improv technique as developed by Viola Spolin, we talk about owning the legitimacy of your improv craft as a legitimate performance technique in an industry which doesn’t quite understand or respect the craft of improv, establishing a solo improv practice, how important it is to build confidence as a performer, and how it was working with Al Pacino. Kiff is passionate about improv and performing and this episode will inspire you to get out there with renewed energy. You can connect with Kiff on Instagram @kiffvh on his website kiffvh.com - where you can find his demos, reach out for independent coaching, he coaches improv, voiceover, sketch, and all things performance. He also produces a podcast called All Over Voiceover, which you can check out on its website allovervo.com or on all your favorite podcast platforms. You can see Stormchaser improvise, live on facebook.com/stormchaserimprov. For show times and other fun bits from the podcast connect with us on Instagram @stormchaserimprov. If you want to join us for shows in our zoom meeting and hang out before or after, send us a DM on Instagram and we’ll send you a link the week of the show! We’d love to see you and hear you, hopefully, laughing! Lastly, if you’ve enjoyed the podcast, and you’re feeling generous, please consider leaving us an honest review on Apple Podcasts! Reviews are a great way for us to lure unsuspecting guests into our awesome podcast trap!

Our penultimate episode of Season 3 is with Aretha Sills - the granddaughter of Viola Spolin - widely considered the mother of modern improvisational theater) an daughter of Paul Sills (founder and initial director The Second City in Chicago, as well as Story Theater). Aretha studied for many years with her father and is an outstanding instructor in her own right, having worked with Tony- and Emmy-Award winning actors and having trained faculty from Northwestern, DePaul, Columbia College, The Second City, The Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science, LAUSD, CETA, and many other institutions and schools. Aretha is presently the Associate Director of Sills/Spolin Theater Works and directs The Predicament Players. In our conversation, we look at the whole of improv. In re-considering the genesis and revolutionary utilization of theater games and the experiential learning approach of Viola Spolin against the backdrop of a variety of narratives about what improv is, it becomes apparent that not only are some unaware of the impact and importance of Viola Spolin, but that the Mother of Improv has been written out or ignored to our detriment. Hopefully we help right some of that wrong in this episode. Episode Webpage: wp.me/paJcZS-uE

Listen as Improv coach and director, Aretha Sills, shares her story of teaching improv during the pandemic. Aretha is the granddaughter of Viola Spolin, considered to be the founder of Improvisational Theatre. She is also the daughter of Carol and Paul Sills. Paul Sills started the early improv theatres in Chicago like the Compass and eventually The Second City theatre, home to many well-known actors and casts for SNL.

Rebecca Stuard is the owner and creative director of Improvolution in NYC. She works with actors, executive and people like you and me. We discuss Viola Spolin, the "mother" of improv, Rebecca's work on SNL (15 years and going!), and how the "yes and" philosophy can give you a great life!

Hello GerleMen listeners.She is hilarious. She is irreverent. She is devastating in her academic acumen and her theatrical talent.And, although we may be laughing, her messages are packed with wisdom and insights many listeners will find life-affirming.While we pause our regular episodes and prepare a spectacular Season 2 of the GerleMen Podcast, we’d like you to enjoy some short, bonus episodes, co-hosted by my dear friend and rambunctious orange Nun, Sister Unity of the Los Angeles House of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.So enjoy the show my friends! We’ve packed all this awesomeness into some very short clips.Mentioned in this episode:“Ruminating” in Improvisation for the Theatre (pg. 137 - 168/435 in pdf) by Viola Spolin.Sister Unity: Listen to the 1st Episode of the podcast with the hilarious Sister Unity.Sister Unity on Social Media:YoutubeTwitterFacebookInstagram Get connected:Subscribe to my newsletter and blog on our website.Email me directly at mike@gerlemen.com.Or join the conversation on Facebook.And, for your viewing pleasure, find us on YouTube.

Part 3 of my conversation with Becky Fleckner about Viola Spolin's Improvisation for the Theater

Episode 2 of Viola Spolin's Improvisation for the Theater with guest host Becky Fleckner.

Episode 1 of Viola Spolin's Improvisation for the Theater with guest host Becky Fleckner.

The promo for the newest episodes of Rooms & Reckonings. Becky Fleckner and I talk about Viola Spolin's Improvisation for the Theater!

Project Woo Woo: Real Conversations with Imaginary People Who is Gary Schwartz: Gary Schwartz is an actor, writer, and improv coach. He is the protégé of Viola Spolin, considered to be the Mother of the American Improvisation. He is the founder of Improv Odyssey, an exciting approach to changing the way people work and play, based on Spolin’s techniques. Gary’s Rising Sign: Cancer Gary’s favorite Career Highlight: My first professional job was as a mime at 13 opening for Pete Seeger’s Clearwater Sloop concerts in the 1960s. What did Gary learn from playing Krishnamurti: Krishnamurti’s wisdom and doing him, made me once again realize that the potential for happiness resides in each moment and is available to everyone. I keep forgetting. Where you can find Gary: Gary Schwartz Spolin Games Online Improv Odyssey Where to find Lisa: Lisa Orkin Creative

Facem un pas lateral astăzi și povestim cu Bogdan Dumitrescu, profesor la UNATC și trainer de improvizație, despre starea de flow, Improvizație și despre cum aceasta contribuie la dezvoltarea ascultării active, a colaborării și a adaptabilității. Într-o lume tot mai imprevizibilă și volatilă, improvizația te ajută să îți dezvolți adaptabilitatea și reziliența, ajutându-te să acționezi mai mult din prezent și să te poți replia mai ușor. Sperăm, astfel, să fie un episod care să te ajute să înveți lucruri noi și să lucrezi mai bine în echipă. Printre lucrurile pe care le mai poți descoperi în acest episod, se numără: De ce este important să spui ”Da, și...”, în loc de clasicul ”Da, dar...” Cele mai importante reguli de improvizație Evoluția improvizației de-a lungul timpului și în diverse culturi Dacă vrei să aprofundezi tainele improvizației, îți lăsăm și câteva persoane menționate în podcast, pe care să le urmărești Viola Spolin, Keith Johnstone, Del Close, Jacob Levy Moreno, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Edward de Bono. Relaxează-te, joacă-te și ”lasă-te-n pace”. :-) Te încurajăm să ne lași la learningtalks360@thinkbackwards.ro orice impresie, sugestie sau întrebare. Părerea ta ne ajută foarte mult să oferim informații relevante și de interes. Abonează-te pe Spotify sau orice aplicație de podcast ai sau urmărește-ne pe rețelele de social media pentru a fi la curent cu noile episoade.

Episode 2: Conversation with Marcy Willis - Theatre actress and improvisor integrating both joys into facilitating transformational leadership experiences. In this episode, Marcy shares her theatre training background and how we can find our voices through applying improv and exercises to practice before conversations & public speaking, especially for introverts! In this challenging time amidst the pandemic and Black Lives Matter movement, Marcy shares more about the emotional roller coaster experiences we may feel through the behavioral change curve. ABOUT MARCY A trained theatre actress, improviser and member of the Screen Actors' Guild, Marcy's appeared in plays, independent films, national commercials and training videos. Marcy integrates modalities of theatre training and improv into transformational leadership experiences. ABOUT AT HER BEST Minji Wong is the founder of At Her Best and the host of the At Her Best Podcast. Our podcast features conversations with modern courageous women who pursue their passion amongst adversity and hustles with heart. At Her Best partners with Fortune 500 companies and individuals to help achieve goals to help YOU be at YOUR best. For more episodes, visit: atherbest.co/podcast ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Fear of change? Improv can help: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/277707 Presence, voice and being in “second circle” https://youtu.be/Ub27yeXKUTY Tips for applying improv to business: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/277707 Take an online improv class with Viola Spolin's granddaughter: https://www.violaspolin.org/bio Marcy's note: Viola Spolin is the mother of improv in America, as we know it, because she worked at the Hull House in Chicago under a social worker named Neva Boyd and with Neva's mentorship and her theatre background, got really good at devising games to support non-actors in what we would today call social-emotional learning (emotional intelligence, communications skills, etc.) Viola Spolin was the mother of Paul Sills, one of the founders of Second City. Her granddaughter and Paul Sills daughter, Aretha, teaches pure Spolin work, here in Los Angeles and is now moving to do this online. It's a great time to explore improv games, as you don't need to drive anywhere! Executive Producer: Pauline Ang

In questa puntata, con ospite Simone Bonetti, parliamo della relazione e del dialogo tra il mondo dei giochi di ruolo e quello del teatro di improvvisazione. Scaletta [00:18] Introduzione [01:55] Il rapporto col teatro [05:10] Alcuni principî [12:56] Paralleli coi giochi di ruolo [16:20] Contaminazioni tra i due mondi [18:52] Lasciare spazio agli altri [21:45] Competizione e collaborazione [25:38] Improvvisatori teatrali e giochi di ruolo [30:21] I giocatori-attori si atteggiano? [33:18] Un gioco di ruolo in scena [37:41] Consigli finali e saluti Link Simone Bonetti; “Come la penso su alcuni punti spinosi”; On Stage! (Luca Giuliano, 1995); Keith Johnstone; Teatro dell’oppresso (Augusto Boal); Viola Spolin; [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/106247/Play-Unsafe](Play Unsafe) (Graham Walmsley, 2009); Play to lift; Teoria del flow (Mihály Csíkszentmihályi); Archipelago (Matthijs Holter, 2012³); 7th Sea (John Wick, 2016²); Cani nella vigna (D. Vincent Baker, 2004); Powered by tthe Apocalypse; Apocalypse World (D. Vincent Baker, 2010); Unframed: The Art of Improvisation for Game Masters (Martin Ralya et al., 2014); D. Vincent Baker; Emily Care Boss; Jason Morningstar; American freeform; Fiasco (Jason Morningstar, 2009); La via per il Fiasco (Jason Morningstar e Steve Segedy, 2011); Ruolimpiadi; Blood Red Sands (Ralph Mazza, 2014); Psicologia della Gestalt; Il gusto del delitto (Graham Walmsley, 2010); Improv for Gamers (Karen Twelves, 2018); Il cerchio delle aspettative; Oscar Biffi; Maria Guarneri; Patti Stiles; Pola

This week, Yes But Why Podcast interviews Lisbon, Portugal based improviser, Stephen Thornton!Stephen Thornton has been studying, performing and teaching improvisation since 2001 when he was first introduced to the theater games of Viola Spolin. From 2006 to 2018, he continued his improv education in New York City, taking classes at The Peoples Improv Theater (PIT) and studying with some great improv teachers from around the country. Since 2010, he has been coaching improv teams and teaching Improvisational Theatre workshops in NYC and abroad. In 2019, he founded his own company, Stephen Thornton Improv and shortly thereafter, moved to Lisbon, Portugal. Stephen is currently active in building the Lisbon improv community. He teaches and performs with his short-form English-speaking group, "4Misfits,"which features previous Yes But Why guest, Andre Sobral. Stephen also hosts an improv jam called Jelly Jam alongside co-host/producer, Luana Proença.In our conversation, Stephen and I talk about being improvisers who are extroverted onstage but introverted in private life. We talk about liking the attention but how we need to recuperate after all that energy exchange. Stephen talks about moving from Hawaii to Colorado as a kid. Stephen tells me how he got into performing in high school. Stephen shares some of the issues he had with casting calls after graduating at New York Film Academy and how that inspired him to do improv full time. Stephen talks about how happy he is to have improv in his life. Stephen talks about one of his mentors, Scotty Watson, and the acting training that he folded into his improv classes. Stephen and I discuss his recent move from NYC to Lisbon to be on the front lines of developing the improv scene in Portugal. This was a fun conversation with lots of good advice throughout!Support Stephen by taking an online improv course with him RIGHT NOW! Stephen has been teaching online improv courses during this socially distant time. Next week, there are 4 opportunities to learn from Stephen --. 2 workshops for beginners and 2 workshops for experienced improvisers. Visit his website for workshop descriptions and to register NOW  www.stimprov.comALSO -- Very recently, Stephen was able to perform with his NYC troupemates from “3.14 pronounced PIE” both of whom have been interviewed by this podcast -- Irene Carroll and Scotty Watson! They did it via Zoom! And I am excited to see it! Link to the Zoom recording of their performance coming soon! Yes But Why Podcast is a proud member of the HC Universal Network family of podcasts. Download the FREE HC Universal Network app for Android and iDevices or visit us at HCUniversalNetwork.com and join the fun.This episode of Yes But Why podcast is sponsored by audible - get your FREE audiobook download and your 30 day free trial at http://www.audibletrial.com/YESBUTWHY.

This week, Yes But Why Podcast interviews Lisbon, Portugal based improviser, Stephen Thornton! Stephen Thornton has been studying, performing and teaching improvisation since 2001 when he was first introduced to the theater games of Viola Spolin. From 2006 to 2018, he continued his improv education in New York City, taking classes at The Peoples Improv Theater (PIT) and studying with some great improv teachers from around the country. Since 2010, he has been coaching improv teams and teaching Improvisational Theatre workshops in NYC and abroad. In 2019, he founded his own company, Stephen Thornton Improv and shortly thereafter, moved to Lisbon, Portugal. Stephen is currently active in building the Lisbon improv community. He teaches and performs with his short-form English-speaking group, "4Misfits,"which features previous Yes But Why guest, Andre Sobral. Stephen also hosts an improv jam called Jelly Jam alongside co-host/producer, Luana Proença. In our conversation, Stephen and I talk about being improvisers who are extroverted onstage but introverted in private life. We talk about liking the attention but how we need to recuperate after all that energy exchange. Stephen talks about moving from Hawaii to Colorado as a kid. Stephen tells me how he got into performing in high school. Stephen shares some of the issues he had with casting calls after graduating at New York Film Academy and how that inspired him to do improv full time. Stephen talks about how happy he is to have improv in his life. Stephen talks about one of his mentors, Scotty Watson, and the acting training that he folded into his improv classes. Stephen and I discuss his recent move from NYC to Lisbon to be on the front lines of developing the improv scene in Portugal. This was a fun conversation with lots of good advice throughout! Support Stephen by taking an online improv course with him RIGHT NOW! Stephen has been teaching online improv courses during this socially distant time. Next week, there are 4 opportunities to learn from Stephen --. 2 workshops for beginners and 2 workshops for experienced improvisers. Visit his website for workshop descriptions and to register NOW  www.stimprov.com ALSO -- Very recently, Stephen was able to perform with his NYC troupemates from “3.14 pronounced PIE” both of whom have been interviewed by this podcast -- Irene Carroll and Scotty Watson! They did it via Zoom! And I am excited to see it! Link to the Zoom recording of their performance coming soon! Yes But Why Podcast is a proud member of the HC Universal Network family of podcasts. Download the FREE HC Universal Network app for Android and iDevices or visit us at HCUniversalNetwork.com and join the fun. This episode of Yes But Why podcast is sponsored by audible - get your FREE audiobook download and your 30 day free trial at http://www.audibletrial.com/YESBUTWHY.

This week, Yes But Why Podcast interviews Lisbon, Portugal based improviser, Stephen Thornton! Stephen Thornton has been studying, performing and teaching improvisation since 2001 when he was first introduced to the theater games of Viola Spolin. From 2006 to 2018, he continued his improv education in New York City, taking classes at The Peoples Improv Theater (PIT) and studying with some great improv teachers from around the country. Since 2010, he has been coaching improv teams and teaching Improvisational Theatre workshops in NYC and abroad. In 2019, he founded his own company, Stephen Thornton Improv and shortly thereafter, moved to Lisbon, Portugal. Stephen is currently active in building the Lisbon improv community. He teaches and performs with his short-form English-speaking group, "4Misfits,"which features previous Yes But Why guest, Andre Sobral. Stephen also hosts an improv jam called Jelly Jam alongside co-host/producer, Luana Proença. In our conversation, Stephen and I talk about being improvisers who are extroverted onstage but introverted in private life. We talk about liking the attention but how we need to recuperate after all that energy exchange. Stephen talks about moving from Hawaii to Colorado as a kid. Stephen tells me how he got into performing in high school. Stephen shares some of the issues he had with casting calls after graduating at New York Film Academy and how that inspired him to do improv full time. Stephen talks about how happy he is to have improv in his life. Stephen talks about one of his mentors, Scotty Watson, and the acting training that he folded into his improv classes. Stephen and I discuss his recent move from NYC to Lisbon to be on the front lines of developing the improv scene in Portugal. This was a fun conversation with lots of good advice throughout! Support Stephen by taking an online improv course with him RIGHT NOW! Stephen has been teaching online improv courses during this socially distant time. Next week, there are 4 opportunities to learn from Stephen --. 2 workshops for beginners and 2 workshops for experienced improvisers. Visit his website for workshop descriptions and to register NOW  www.stimprov.com ALSO -- Very recently, Stephen was able to perform with his NYC troupemates from “3.14 pronounced PIE” both of whom have been interviewed by this podcast -- Irene Carroll and Scotty Watson! They did it via Zoom! And I am excited to see it! Link to the Zoom recording of their performance coming soon! Yes But Why Podcast is a proud member of the HC Universal Network family of podcasts. Download the FREE HC Universal Network app for Android and iDevices or visit us at HCUniversalNetwork.com and join the fun. This episode of Yes But Why podcast is sponsored by audible - get your FREE audiobook download and your 30 day free trial at http://www.audibletrial.com/YESBUTWHY.

This week, Yes But Why Podcast interviews Lisbon, Portugal based improviser, Stephen Thornton!Stephen Thornton has been studying, performing and teaching improvisation since 2001 when he was first introduced to the theater games of Viola Spolin. From 2006 to 2018, he continued his improv education in New York City, taking classes at The Peoples Improv Theater (PIT) and studying with some great improv teachers from around the country. Since 2010, he has been coaching improv teams and teaching Improvisational Theatre workshops in NYC and abroad. In 2019, he founded his own company, Stephen Thornton Improv and shortly thereafter, moved to Lisbon, Portugal. Stephen is currently active in building the Lisbon improv community. He teaches and performs with his short-form English-speaking group, "4Misfits,"which features previous Yes But Why guest, Andre Sobral. Stephen also hosts an improv jam called Jelly Jam alongside co-host/producer, Luana Proença.In our conversation, Stephen and I talk about being improvisers who are extroverted onstage but introverted in private life. We talk about liking the attention but how we need to recuperate after all that energy exchange. Stephen talks about moving from Hawaii to Colorado as a kid. Stephen tells me how he got into performing in high school. Stephen shares some of the issues he had with casting calls after graduating at New York Film Academy and how that inspired him to do improv full time. Stephen talks about how happy he is to have improv in his life. Stephen talks about one of his mentors, Scotty Watson, and the acting training that he folded into his improv classes. Stephen and I discuss his recent move from NYC to Lisbon to be on the front lines of developing the improv scene in Portugal. This was a fun conversation with lots of good advice throughout!Support Stephen by taking an online improv course with him RIGHT NOW! Stephen has been teaching online improv courses during this socially distant time. Next week, there are 4 opportunities to learn from Stephen --. 2 workshops for beginners and 2 workshops for experienced improvisers. Visit his website for workshop descriptions and to register NOW  www.stimprov.comALSO -- Very recently, Stephen was able to perform with his NYC troupemates from “3.14 pronounced PIE” both of whom have been interviewed by this podcast -- Irene Carroll and Scotty Watson! They did it via Zoom! And I am excited to see it! Link to the Zoom recording of their performance coming soon! Yes But Why Podcast is a proud member of the HC Universal Network family of podcasts. Download the FREE HC Universal Network app for Android and iDevices or visit us at HCUniversalNetwork.com and join the fun.This episode of Yes But Why podcast is sponsored by audible - get your FREE audiobook download and your 30 day free trial at http://www.audibletrial.com/YESBUTWHY.

Aretha Sills discusses her grandmother, the legendary Viola Spolin, who invented an entire discipline and whose book Improvisation for the Theater is a fundamental text for generations of theatre artists. Viola's son (and Aretha's father) Paul Sills took Viola's teachings "to the world," where they became the foundation for more than sixty years of American acting and comedy. Aretha discusses Viola's early training with Neva Boyd at the Jane Addams Hull-House in Chicago and with the Group Theatre in New York; early exposure to opera from her policeman father; how Viola's work inspired the Playwright's Theatre, the Compass Players, and Second City; the value of Spolin’s theatre games in de-colonizing authoritarian teaching methods; and the importance of understanding and honoring the origins of this work (play). (Length 22:47) (Photo courtesy of the Estate of Viola Spolin, www.violaspolin.org.) The post Appreciating Viola Spolin appeared first on Reduced Shakespeare Company.

An interview with my friend Aretha Sills, about the legacy of her grandmother, Viola Spolin, the founder of improvisational theater and her father, Paul Sills who started Second City in Chicago. We talk about how all of this affected her own career. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dale613/support

Dick Chudnow is the creator of ComedySportz and the co-founder of Kentucky Fried Theater. Join us as Dick shares everything from his secrets to succeeding as a substitute teacher, to his unexpected encounter with improv-goddess Viola Spolin, to the formation of the World Comedy League.***The ComedySportz Podcast is an independent production made by CSz players. The views and opinions expressed by the podcast host and any guests are their own and do not represent the views and opinions of any CSz location or CSz Worldwide. Vocabulary used by the host and guests is not necessarily representative of the CSz brand.

This is a shorter than normal episode, where you are behind the scenes as Dameion Brown and I play games to loosen up before our interview. You can play these games with friends, family and colleagues. Enjoy! :)You Will LearnHow to make your partners look good the game: Mirrors (the classic theatre game as taught Alan Alda, Viola Spolin, etc.) and the lessons of listening and communicating clearly at the pace your audience/partner can understand.the game: Your Name, Three Emotional Waysthe game: ping ponging lines with emotional rangesthe game: Convergence / Mind MeldDolphin Training and the lessons within: the audience is on your side, the audience enjoys your joyful and committed struggle, you are interesting, when you as a performer do things to get a laugh or to be liked and it comes from a fearful place it pushes the audience away as they are no longer free from concern.Links and ResourcesViola SpolinMarin Shakespeare CompanyAndy Crouch, the Hideout TheatreRebecca Stockley, BATS ImprovSupport the show

Live from the Westside Comedy Festival at the Westside Comedy Theater! Educator, writer, and improv thought leader Aretha Sills joins us to talk about her grandmother Viola Spolin and the importance of theater games. BUT WAIT...there's more. Tony award winning actor and original Second City cast member Paul Sand joins to talk about his incredible life in performance. Special thanks to Lauren Flynn in the booth for making this recording possible.    AUDIO NOTE: Paul's audio is quiet throughout so lean in. 

This week on Yes But Why Podcast, Amy talks to actor, director and writer, Larry Hankin. Larry Hankin is an everpresent face in the landscape of comedy for the past 60 years. He is is in everything you love to watch! You know him as Officer Balzak in Home Alone, as Tom Pepper in Seinfeld, as Mr. Heckles in Friends, and as Stovka in Barry. You will even be able to see him reprise his role in the Breaking Bad franchise when “El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie” comes out this Friday, October 11th. Larry Hankin is a lifelong performer – everything he does is in service of the creative projects he has and will work on. Larry talks about how he got started doing standup comedy in New York City and how he ended up doing improv with Second City in New York, St, Louis and Chicago. He tells stories about taking a class taught by Viola Spolin alongside fellow student, Del Close. Larry is also one of the founding members of The Committee in San Francisco. Once Larry got an agent and started doing movies and TV, he was hooked. He loves the experience of performing and directing and he keeps busy with it as much as he can. Larry tells great stories and he is amazingly relatable! Larry tells Amy a story about his experience on Breaking Bad and, in the middle, clarifies that the story is about “how dyslexia interrupts [his] great bliss of performing in front of the camera.” Support Larry by buying his book of stories, "The Loopholes Dossier" available NOW on Amazon! You can also watch him in the upcoming Netflix film, “El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie”! Larry calls our host, Amy “a kindred soul” so we’re feeling pretty good about this episode! Tune in!Yes But Why Podcast is a proud member of the HC Universal Network family of podcasts. Download the FREE HC Universal Network app for Android and iDevices or visit us at HCUniversalNetwork.com and join the fun.This episode of Yes But Why podcast is sponsored by audible - get your FREE audiobook download and your 30 day free trial at http://www.audibletrial.com/YESBUTWHY.

This week on Yes But Why Podcast, Amy talks to actor, director and writer, Larry Hankin. Larry Hankin is an everpresent face in the landscape of comedy for the past 60 years. He is is in everything you love to watch! You know him as Officer Balzak in Home Alone, as Tom Pepper in Seinfeld, as Mr. Heckles in Friends, and as Stovka in Barry. You will even be able to see him reprise his role in the Breaking Bad franchise when “El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie” comes out this Friday, October 11th. Larry Hankin is a lifelong performer – everything he does is in service of the creative projects he has and will work on. Larry talks about how he got started doing standup comedy in New York City and how he ended up doing improv with Second City in New York, St, Louis and Chicago. He tells stories about taking a class taught by Viola Spolin alongside fellow student, Del Close. Larry is also one of the founding members of The Committee in San Francisco. Once Larry got an agent and started doing movies and TV, he was hooked. He loves the experience of performing and directing and he keeps busy with it as much as he can. Larry tells great stories and he is amazingly relatable! Larry tells Amy a story about his experience on Breaking Bad and, in the middle, clarifies that the story is about “how dyslexia interrupts [his] great bliss of performing in front of the camera.” Support Larry by buying his book of stories, "The Loopholes Dossier" available NOW on Amazon! You can also watch him in the upcoming Netflix film, “El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie”! Larry calls our host, Amy “a kindred soul” so we’re feeling pretty good about this episode! Tune in!Yes But Why Podcast is a proud member of the HC Universal Network family of podcasts. Download the FREE HC Universal Network app for Android and iDevices or visit us at HCUniversalNetwork.com and join the fun.This episode of Yes But Why podcast is sponsored by audible - get your FREE audiobook download and your 30 day free trial at http://www.audibletrial.com/YESBUTWHY.

This week on Yes But Why Podcast, Amy talks to actor, director and writer, Larry Hankin. Larry Hankin is an everpresent face in the landscape of comedy for the past 60 years. He is is in everything you love to watch! You know him as Officer Balzak in Home Alone, as Tom Pepper in Seinfeld, as Mr. Heckles in Friends, and as Stovka in Barry. You will even be able to see him reprise his role in the Breaking Bad franchise when “El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie” comes out this Friday, October 11th. Larry Hankin is a lifelong performer – everything he does is in service of the creative projects he has and will work on. Larry talks about how he got started doing standup comedy in New York City and how he ended up doing improv with Second City in New York, St, Louis and Chicago. He tells stories about taking a class taught by Viola Spolin alongside fellow student, Del Close. Larry is also one of the founding members of The Committee in San Francisco. Once Larry got an agent and started doing movies and TV, he was hooked. He loves the experience of performing and directing and he keeps busy with it as much as he can. Larry tells great stories and he is amazingly relatable! Larry tells Amy a story about his experience on Breaking Bad and, in the middle, clarifies that the story is about “how dyslexia interrupts [his] great bliss of performing in front of the camera.” Support Larry by buying his book of stories, "The Loopholes Dossier" available NOW on Amazon! You can also watch him in the upcoming Netflix film, “El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie”! Larry calls our host, Amy “a kindred soul” so we’re feeling pretty good about this episode! Tune in! Yes But Why Podcast is a proud member of the HC Universal Network family of podcasts. Download the FREE HC Universal Network app for Android and iDevices or visit us at HCUniversalNetwork.com and join the fun. This episode of Yes But Why podcast is sponsored by audible - get your FREE audiobook download and your 30 day free trial at http://www.audibletrial.com/YESBUTWHY.

This week on Yes But Why Podcast, Amy talks to actor, director and writer, Larry Hankin. Larry Hankin is an everpresent face in the landscape of comedy for the past 60 years. He is is in everything you love to watch! You know him as Officer Balzak in Home Alone, as Tom Pepper in Seinfeld, as Mr. Heckles in Friends, and as Stovka in Barry. You will even be able to see him reprise his role in the Breaking Bad franchise when “El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie” comes out this Friday, October 11th. Larry Hankin is a lifelong performer – everything he does is in service of the creative projects he has and will work on. Larry talks about how he got started doing standup comedy in New York City and how he ended up doing improv with Second City in New York, St, Louis and Chicago. He tells stories about taking a class taught by Viola Spolin alongside fellow student, Del Close. Larry is also one of the founding members of The Committee in San Francisco. Once Larry got an agent and started doing movies and TV, he was hooked. He loves the experience of performing and directing and he keeps busy with it as much as he can. Larry tells great stories and he is amazingly relatable! Larry tells Amy a story about his experience on Breaking Bad and, in the middle, clarifies that the story is about “how dyslexia interrupts [his] great bliss of performing in front of the camera.” Support Larry by buying his book of stories, "The Loopholes Dossier" available NOW on Amazon! You can also watch him in the upcoming Netflix film, “El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie”! Larry calls our host, Amy “a kindred soul” so we’re feeling pretty good about this episode! Tune in! Yes But Why Podcast is a proud member of the HC Universal Network family of podcasts. Download the FREE HC Universal Network app for Android and iDevices or visit us at HCUniversalNetwork.com and join the fun. This episode of Yes But Why podcast is sponsored by audible - get your FREE audiobook download and your 30 day free trial at http://www.audibletrial.com/YESBUTWHY.

Billy and Annie Continue their discussion of Building a Tradition of Excellence.  References & Websites: www.RedDragonPlayers.com Respect for Acting by Uta Hagen Theatre Games for Rehearsal by Viola Spolin

In this episode, we go deep talking about our community and the value of having a strong one. We talk about why loving the people you play with is so important, even if they are not your favorite folks to begin with. We talk about the place of competition in improv, how you can support your fellow players, and how that affects us all on-stage. We will get into a bit of history, introducing you to Viola Spolin, the fore-mother of improv in the US. We will talk about beats and how to recognize them as well as what it means to be a good player off-stage. Our guest, Chris Thigpen, is an amazing improviser who plays on two house teams at the Reno Improv, Ghost Team and All Things Reconsidered. As a natural creative, Chris uses improv as a place to express his talents as an actor and writer. As a businessman, Chris owns his own successful marketing agency, Ace Studios. He is also a filmmaker, photographer, and screenwriter. Support the show (http://patreon.com/fortheloveofimprov)

Carol Bleackley Sills, director of Sills/Spolin Theater Works has been an influential force behind improvisational theatre since 1960. Carol studied with Viola Spolin, acting as her editor since 1983. In collaboration with her husband Paul Sills, they went on to create innovative theatres that included The Compass, Playwrights Theatre, Second City, The Game Theater, Story Theater, The Body Politic, Century Hall, The Learning Theater and Sills & Co. Carol presents workshops annually at the Wisconsin Theater Game Center and directed The Tao of Chuang Chou at New Actors Workshop in New York. She is also a painter and educator. You can learn more about Carol Sills at: https://www.paulsills.com/sillsspolin-theater-works/

Aretha Sills is the granddaughter of Viola Spolin. She studied theater games for many years with her father, director Paul Sills (creator/director of The Second City and Story Theater), and has conducted workshops for Paul Sills’ Wisconsin Theater Game Center, Bard College, Stella Adler Studio of Acting, Stockholm International School, Sarah Lawrence College, and Northwestern University. She has worked with Tony- and Emmy-Award winning actors and has trained faculty from Northwestern, DePaul, Columbia College, The Second City, The Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science, LAUSD, CETA, and many other institutions and schools. She is the Associate Director of Sills/Spolin Theater Works and she directs The Predicament Players. Learn more about Aretha Sills: Sills/Spolin Theater Works, Associate Director www.ViolaSpolin.org www.PaulSills.com www.facebook.com/sillsspolin www.instagram.com/sillsspolintheater/ aretha.sills@violaspolin.org Spolin Improvisation Sidecoach * Acting & Writing Coach "My vision is a world of accessible intuition." -Viola Spolin

Creating something from nothing. In this episode I talk with Terry Bolo, cult film actress, about the birth of The Groundlings, an improvisational sketch comedy troupe and school that she was a part of, and Paul Reubens creating Pee-wee Herman and Pee-wee's Playhouse. We also talk about how she changed her diet to get off all pharmaceutical drugs, and of course, yoga. Terry Bolo is originally from Detroit, Michigan, spent some formative years in Scottsdale, Arizona, and as a young teen, moved to Hollywood, California. She was a student at the Strasberg Institute in the early 70s and became one of the original founding members of the improv comedy troupe, The Groundlings. After 5 years of performing with the group, she went on to other theater and film projects (including a student in "Carrie", a party girl in "Big Wednesday", a passenger in "Airplane 2", and a biker chick in "Pee Wee's Big Adventure", to name just a few), including a stint as a casting assistant at Warner Brothers. She became a stand-in, first for children, and then worked with actresses Julia Duffy and Roseanne Barr. On "Roseanne", she also worked as a dialogue coach. She has taught improv classes and coached actors. Besides film and TV work, Terry is also a Hollywood tour guide. And she appears in the award-winning documentary "Strictly Background," which centers on Hollywood extras/background artists. The Groundlings are an improvisational and sketch comedy troupe and school based in Los Angeles, California. The troupe was formed by Gary Austin in 1974 and uses an improv format influenced by Viola Spolin, whose improvisational theater techniques were used by Del Close and other members of the Second City, located in Chicago and later St. Louis. They used these techniques to produce sketches and improvised scenes. Its name is taken from Shakespeare's Hamlet, Act III, Scene II: "...to split the ears of the groundlings, who for the most part are capable of nothing but inexplicable dumbshows and noise." In 1975 the troupe purchased and moved into its current location on Melrose Avenue.    

Part 2 of my podcast with Gary Schwartz, an award-winning TV and film actor, director, comedian and a master improvisational acting coach whose 30 years as a performer and improv teacher has helped transform the lives of thousands of people, both on- and off-screen. He studied and worked with Viola Spolin,the mother of modern improv, and is the only master teacher to have ever earned an endorsement from both Viola Spolin and her son, Paul Sills, the co-founder and director of The Second City.

Gary Schwartz is an award-winning, TV and film actor, director, comedian and a master improvisational acting coach whose 30 years as a performer and improv teacher has helped transform the lives of thousands of people, both on- and off-screen. It was Gary’s 18-year association with world-renowned theater educator and author, Viola Spolin – famous for training the very first improvisational theater troupe in the US which led to the creation of today’s well-known Second City improv troupe – that has provided the foundation for his work today. In 1988 Gary co-founded the Spolin Players improv troupe (www.spolinplayers.com), and is the only master teacher to have ever earned an endorsement from both Viola Spolin and her son, the legendary original director of Second City, Paul Sills. Originally from New York State, Gary began his professional career as a mime at age 13, performing up and down the Hudson River with Pete Seegar, Arlo Guthrie and other great folk entertainers of the 60’s. In the 70’s and 80’s he appeared in numerous film and television projects including the Oscar-winning feature film Quest for Fire and 65 episodes of the Emmy-winning TV series Zoobilee Zoo, with Ben Vereen. Since then, as a voice actor, Gary has gone on to work with Robert Redford, Barbra Streisand, Tim Burton, Kenneth Brannagh and many other well-known directors. Details of his extensive acting career are available at IMDB.com. (www.imdb.com/name/nm0777229). Today, Gary is a passionate, dynamic improv coach and facilitator. He is the founder of Improv Odyssey, an exciting approach to changing the way people work and play, entirely based on Spolin’s techniques. He served on the counsel of the newly formed Actors Guild SAG-AFTRA, Seattle branch for 5 years. Currently Gary resides in North Bend WA. He is founder of The Valley Center Stage, North Bend’s Community Theater. He teaches theater games locally and around the world. He also teaches acting for animation and writes on Spolin’s work. His first novel, The King of Average has been selected at a “Best Book of 2016” by Kirkus Reviews and IndieReader. www.gary-schwartz.com

Join us for an interview with Chad Elliot. He grew up a shy, home-schooled kid, but that didn't stop him from becoming Seattle's preeminent improv coach. In this episode, Chad talks about how he adapts improv techniques to help people improve their communication skills—not just on the stage, but in their personal and professional lives as well. We explore how we can adapt those same lessons to improve our interviewing skills, and what it means to be the best listener for our personal history clients. Some of the things we cover: Chad's childhood and the winding path that brought him to where he is today Tony Robbins, hitchhiking, and ballroom dancing Using dance as a way to break through social fears and to experience the physical power of touch Keith Johnstone's influential book, Impro: Improvisation and the Theatre Improv and its opportunity for people to be more expressive and better communicators Viola Spolin and letting go of the ego Leveraging the power of Meetups to attract new students and hone your teaching skills (brilliant idea, Chad!) Brenda Ueland's beautiful treatise on the gift of listening to others The main reasons people go into their own heads and stop listening to others Paying attention to the gap between body language and what someone says Establishing a sense of trust as a personal historian working with a new client Using counterintuitive methods to turn off your own limiting filters Story scavenger hunts Taking a lesson from the great interviewer and journalist Cal Fussman Priming your mind, then letting go To connect with Chad, visit him at seattleimprovclasses.com. And be sure to check out his book, Improv Manifesto: 7 Easy Steps to Confidence, Creativity, and Charisma—Even if You're Shy! If you enjoy the show, help others find us by leaving a review on iTunes here. Thank you!

Today’s guest on “ADD Comedy with Dave Razowsky” is Dick Chudnow. In 1984 Dick created and licensed the ComedySportz improvisational comedy format and the world has never been the same. There are now over 20 cities with licensed ComedySportz franchises in the United States including New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Not bad for someone who thinks they don’t communicate very well. We had a probing, frank, honest, and fascinating chat. We covered everyone from Viola Spolin to Keith Johnstone to Del Close. If you’re a fan of improv, comedy, business, or just being a mensch, this is the interview for you. After all, how do you argue with someone who also thinks that farts are funny. Recorded during the ComedySportz World Championship in San Jose, California. Enjoy  

Listen to master improvisation coach Gary Schwartz talk about his childhood that inspired him to write his award winning childrens book,"The King of Average" at http://www.gary-schwartz.com. Gary Schwartz is a film actor, director, and a master improvisational acting coach. It was Gary’s 18-year association with world-renowned theater educator and author, Viola Spolin that provides the foundation for his work today. Gary is the only master teacher to have ever earned an endorsement from both Viola Spolin and her son, Paul Sills, the co-founder and director of The Second City. Part 1 of 2.

Today’s interview is love at first improv. Allison Estep is a former Creative Services Associate for the Indiana Society of CPAs and a graduate of the conservatory program at Second City in Chicago. Our conversation focuses on the everyday application of improvisation skills to help us combat fear, take risks, work as a team, and become a more well-rounded person. Allison strongly believes that every person should take an improv course at some point in their life – it’s simply a great way to learn valuable life skills, like listening, managing your ego, following fear, and working as a team. As a matter of fact, improv games were originally created by Viola Spolin as a teaching tool. Getting up in front of people (in any situation) can seem like such a scary thing for people that have never been through an improv class, or don't know everything about the practice, but it's a little less scary once you realize everyone is part of the same team and everything doesn’t have to be a joke… and sometimes the most mundane things can be the funniest. Here are a few Improv Games that you can play with your team, friends, or even family. The Human Knot – Five or more people create a circle (the more the merrier!). Everyone puts their arms out and grabs another person's arm to get tangled up. As a group, you try to get untangled without anyone letting go. This game is a great way of learning how to work together as a group to figure out a problem. One Word at a Time – Two or more people try to create a cohesive sentence by speaking one word at a time. Don't think – just react. It’s a great tool for teaching people to listen to understand (and not listen to respond). Dr. Know-It-All – Three people sit in a chair and they know the answer to every question that's ever given… But they answer one word at a time. To be successful, groups they need to really park that agenda, not anticipate / get ahead of themselves, listen to what's being said, and then react to it. If you’re interested in taking the next step, find your nearest Improv school and take a class or get in touch with me about coming to your organization.   Resources: Listen to This American Life 532, Act Two: “Rainy Days and Mondays” - A story about how compassion and improv help a woman with dementia -- Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At AIN Austin 2014 Hal Peller, Gary Schwartz & Sparky Johnson discuss the work of Viola Spolin and her book Improvisation for the Theatre.

Am 24.09.2011 hatten wir (Thomas Jäkel, Stephan Holzapfel, Marco Brüders) die Gelegenheit die Impro-Legende Keith Johnstone bei seinem möglicherweise letzten Besuch in Deutschland zu interviewen. Mit dabei war Alexander Wewerka vom Alexander Verlag, der seine Bücher in Deutschland verlegt. Der heute 80-jährige Johnstone gilt zusammen mit Viola Spolin und Del Close als der Begründer des modernen Improvisationstheaters. Er hat das berühmte Loose Moose Theater in Calgary/Kanada gegründet und das Theatersport-Format (sowie etliche andere bekannte Impro-Formate) erfunden. Keith verdanken wir viele der heute im Training und auf der Bühne ausgeführten Impro-Spiele. Seine Bücher “Improvisation und Theater” sowie “Theaterspiele: Spontanität, Improvisation und Theatersport” (beide erschienen im Alexander-Verlag) gehören zur Grundausstattung jedes Improinteressierten. Wer wissen möchte, warum Keith seit Jahren kein Improvisationstheater mehr anschaut, was er von Publikumsvorgaben hält und warum ihm das Risiko beim Improtheater so wichtig ist, der kann das ganze Interview gleich hier anhören oder es als Podcast herunterladen.