Professional Documents
Culture Documents
career worth addressing including the implementation of her own teaching styles.
that elicits authentic qualities from not only actors but anyone who strives to grow
as person.
The late Viola Spolin (1906 - 1994) has had many years of experience in
the world of theatre and specifically improvisation. At the transitional age of 18,
become a settlement worker. At that very school she learned the importance of
essentially result in Viola’s inspiration for her games. With a continued interest in
a field with these qualities, Spolin eventually became the drama supervisor in the
Chicago branch of the Works Progress Administration. With the experience that
she gained through her job as a drama supervisor and the knowledge that she
had gained from Neva Boyd, Spolin took the initiative to create games based on
qualities that she had learned over the years. Spolin’s theatre games are what
she was truly known for. (Master Acting Teacher Biographies: Viola Spolin) Five years
after Spolin’s job as a drama supervisor in the Chicago branch of the Works
the Young Actors Company. At the “Young Actors Company in Hollywood”, Spolin
would train potential actors over the age of six using her truly innovative games
and some games that she was still in the process of developing. Nine years later,
the “Young Actors Company” came to end in 1995. Although her company had
come to an end, Spolin was not out of work for long. She left her home in
Hollywood to go back to the familiar Chicago to take part in two jobs. One job
was directing for the Playwright’s Theatre Club and the other was to teach
company known by the name of Compass. At the age of 54, Spolin worked as a
workshop director for Second City; a company owned by her son, Paul Sills
(1927 - 2008). Second City’s success has been proven by its existence even
today with locations in Chicago, Toronto, Detroit, and Los Angeles. (The Second
City) Without Paul Sills, no “Saturday Night Live” would even exist says a Chicago
Tribune writer. Perhaps that is true, but I say Viola Spolin should receive most
credit as she was the foundation for American improvisation to begin with. Soon
after, while working with her son Paul at Second City, Spolin wrote a book with
the title, “Improvisation for the Theatre” which consisted of over 200 games.
While it appears that everything was going quite swell for Spolin, there were
moments in her career that were not as bright as others. In 1965, she worked
with her son again and co-founded Game Theatre in Chicago. It wasn’t very
successful as shown by its closing only after a few months. However, that was
hardly a hindrance to Spolin’s success. At the age of 64, Spolin worked as a
consultant for productions for the Sill’s Story Theatre. The Sill’s Story Theatre
launched not only in Los Angeles and New York but also on television. Preceding
her efforts as part of the Sill’s Story Theatre, Spolin held improvisation workshops
reviews. In 1975, Spolin published another work entitled, “Theatre Game File”.
This is hard to find today as prices start from $66.95 on Amazon.com. (Amazon) At
the age of 70, Spolin was still working hard. She created the Spolin Theatre
Game Center in Hollywood, California and had continued working there for a long
while. In 1978, Spolin was awarded with an honorary Doctor of Arts degree from
the Eastern Michigan University. In addition she has also received the Monte
Meacham Award for Life Time Achievement from the Children’s Theatre in 1983.
Spolin even got some praise from President Regan for her work. (Spolin Biography
Page) Unfortunately, not long after, it was the end for Spolin.Viola Spolin was
found dead in her Los Angeles home on November 22nd, 1994. She was 88 years
old. We know Viola Spolin, but something that everyone may not know about her
is her methods or her techniques behind her games. (Master Acting Teacher
Biographies: Viola Spolin)
What makes them special or even worth noticing? The simplest answer is
that they were innovative. These games were created for the actor to get out of
the conventional ways of thinking about things. They were created to think
outside the box. They often focused on thinking about technical things and
leadership, and thinking. They where not just to be played for fun and Spolin took
them very seriously. Spolin was actually once quoted for saying, “I don’t sit home
and dream them up. When I had a problem [directing], I made up a game. When
another problem came up, I just made up a new game.” This shows that she
enjoyable but yet an effective way. Her games were designed to release any
tension that the actor is feeling so that they can become fully engaged in it.
Spolin does not want the actors to respond with answers and solutions that they
have thought of before hand but rather with spontaneity. Another key factor is
you that even you didn’t know you were capable of. Spolin has taught these
games not only to students of theatre; she has spread them to classes in English,
believes that the things gained from these games go beyond the typical
classroom setting and she could not be more right. (Master Acting Teacher
Biographies: Viola Spolin)
improvisation and one of them is Second City that I had mentioned. Like
mentioned, Second City is located in Chicago, Toronto, Detroit, and Los Angeles.
It helped start the careers of comedians such as Bill Murray and the very funny,
Mike Myers. When it started in 1959, people knew that it was going to be a place
to be known. A comedy troupe from Second City still tours today, delivering
laughs and laughs again. (The Second City) Other Improvisation clubs are a little
closer in region. One that comes to mind is, “The Idiot Box” located in
showing and on Saturday, there is as an 8:00 and 10:00 PM showing. The 8:00
less suggestive tones, vulgarity, etc. (The Idiot Box) Another improvisation club in
the region is the Charlotte Comedy Theater, located in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Similar to “The Idiot Box”, the main improvisation shows on Fridays and
Saturdays are available for viewing. However, their space also hosts local
comedians and improv classes. (Charlotte Comedy Theatre) The founder and director
some questions I had on improvisation, including her familiarity with Viola Spolin
does.” Semelsberger continued with, “She’s a hero of mine and I would not be
doing any of this if it were not for her groundbreaking work.” (Semelsberger) On
quite a larger scale improvisation group, “Improv Everywhere” uses long form
improvisation to, “cause scenes of chaos and joy in public places.” (Todd) I would
say that they accomplish that by proof of some of their bizarre stunts. One stunt
in particular that has certainly garnered a lot of attention is the “Grand Central
Station Freeze.” With almost 14,000,000 views on the popular video site, You
Tube, Grand Central Station Freeze took 207 volunteers to hold a pose for five
minutes in Grand Central Station and then when the time was up, they would
continue walking like nothing had happened. (Todd) Does it have a true purpose?
That is questionable, but it was a lot of fun and got a lot of attention. It got
Improv Everywhere’s name out more than it ever was before. The group actually
filmed a pilot for the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) but it didn’t get
picked up. Improv Everywhere started in August of 2001 and is still running
strong. (Todd) A lot of its strength comes from the support of its fans and I think
that it’s safe to say that Semelsberger is one saying, “I think [Improv Everywhere]
is one of the greatest movements and we hope to start something similar here in
Charlotte just for fun. I have not been involved but only recently found out about
it. I think it's awesome and courageous.” In addition to groups and clubs that are
When you put improvisation and television show in the same sentence,
“Whose Line is it Anyway?” usually comes to mind. The show that lasted from
they otherwise were unfamiliar with. Appearing on almost every episode of the
show hosted by Drew Carey, Ryan Stiles, Colin Mochrie, and Wayne Brady were
Whose Line is it Anyway?, but would like to see more female improvisers on the
show as she says that there are, “some brilliant ones out there.” (Semelsberger) On
the Internet Movie Database, Whose Line is it Anyway? has an average rating of
9.2 out of ten from over 3,400 IMDB users which not only exemplifies its
popularity but also its level of enjoyment. Its popularity did not hold up forever
Another improvisation show hit prime time in 2007 with the show, Thank God
You’re Here. The short lived U.S. version of the popular Australian show had a
simple concept. There are four performers who walk into a live sketch with a
unique setting with the absence of a script. When one of the performers walks in
the door, the others say, “Thank God You’re Here!” and the improvised sketch
continues. ("Thank God You're Here") However, “continue” is something that the
show did not due for long. Due to poor ratings, the show ended after only seven
episodes. (2007 Cancelled Shows: Several NBC Cancellations) It’s popularity was a weak
point and so much so that my interviewee, Keli Semelsberger who has performed
improv for over 13 years had never heard of it despite it airing on NBC.
(Semelsberger) Improvisation can appear in the national media without being the
focal point of a particular show such as the ones I have discussed. In fact, the
“Amazing Race” on CBS has little to do with improv but it did capture a team
using the art of improv in order to get closer to winning the $1 million dollar prize.
During an episode of season 12 entitled, Let’s Name Our Chicken Phil, dating
goths Kynt Cothran and Vyxsin Fiala had to impress a panel of local celebrities in
Burkina Faso with a performance a local dance they had learned in order to be
granted a clue so that they could proceed with the race. Before the dance began,
Cothran told Fiala that he would improv a little bit and it certainly paid off. The
panel as well as other locals responded with claps, laughter, and smiles. The
judge who gave them the clue to proceed said, “Congratulations, you were
wonderful.” If the dance had been unsuccessful, they would have had to learn the
moves again and perform until the panel was satisfied. Kynt’s improvisation
certainly contributed in putting his team ahead of some of the others. (The Amazing
Race: Let's Name Our Chicken Phil (Episode 12.04)) I had the opportunity to talk with
Kynt via Facebook chat and regarding the race, Kynt said, “We live to race. The
show is over but we are still racing… constantly traveling and having adventures
and meeting as many people as possible. It’s not a TV show for us, it’s our actual
lifestyle.” When I talked with Cothran, I could tell that moments through out the
race such as the improvised dance were highlights that he and Vyxsin Fiala will
never forget. “Sure, [the prize] is a nice thing, but we never compromised our
values or friendship over it.” (Cothran) This quote from my conversation with Kynt
Cothran exemplifies exactly what Spolin believed improvisation could elicit from a
person.
As already mentioned, Spolin believed that things learned from her games
and improvisation in general could go beyond the class room setting. Spolin also
believed that improvisation is not all fun and games. I agree with her. My
problems with stage freight, though around my friends I was the life of the party.
So I started improv classes in Chicago, and fell in love with the art form and the
onstage without fear and she believes that this art can do even more than that.
When I asked why is good to be a part of improvisation, Semelsberger said,
“Because it is a community of people that all play by the same rules. The main
rules being to embrace and build on other people's ideas. Everyone is important,
and needed and validated in improv. When you belong to a group where the
social contract is about acceptance and making each other look good, and
expanding on the ideas of others, you grow in ways that reach far beyond the art
itself.” When Semelsberger said that “you can grow in ways that reach far
beyond the art itself”, it was almost as if Spolin had asked her to say that due to
how closely related their own philosophies are. Semelsberger continues with,
“Improv is a living - breathing art form, you can learn the skills, but it will always
be different, always be new and you never know what will happen. You will never
have your worst show or your best. It will always be a challenge, and it will
always bring you and others joy. You can't ever master it; there is no destination,
Spolin and Semelsberger, we know that improvisation can help with anything
from stage fright to self confidence. Hence the reason that Spolin took her games
and why Semelsberger decided to become involved with improvisation in the first
have “the ability to be real, to surrender to the process, to other players, to the
form.” (Semelsberger)
Improvisation is an art form that goes beyond the classroom. It has a
used strictly for entertainment such as in small comedy clubs and primetime
and discover aspects of themselves that had not before. With the importance that
improvisation serves, its modern founder, Viola Spolin and her groundbreaking
principles deserve more credit than the average person would ever think to give.
“All improv techniques have some root in Spolin philosophy or practice, like all
music has its roots in the blues.” (Semelsberger) Keli Semelsberger could not have
said it better.
Research Citations
Book Source
Spolin, Viola. Theater Games For The Classroom: A Teacher’s Handbook. Illinois: Northwest
University Press, 1986.
Internet Sources
Schwartz, Gary. “Improv Training of Viola Spolin the Mother of Improvisation.” The Spolin Center.
14 June 2008. Intuitive Learning Systems. 5 Oct 2008 <http://www.spolin.com/about.html>.
Anonymous. ""Thank God You're Here" (2007) - Plot Summary." The Internet Movie Database.
2008. 30 Nov 2008 <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0983782/plotsummary>.
Anonymous, "2007 Cancelled Shows: Several NBC Cancellations." TV Series Finale. 14 May
2007. 30 Nov 2008 <http://tvseriesfinale.com/articles/2007-cancelled-shows-several-nbc-
cancellations/>.
Todd, Charlie. “FAQ at Improv Everywhere” 20 Oct 2008. Improv Everwhere. 10 Nov 2008.
<http://improveverywhere.com/faq/>
Moffit, D.E.. "Master Acting Teacher Biographies: Viola Spolin." The Jason Bennett Actor's
Workshop: Acting Classes in New York City. 2008. Jason Bennet Actor's Workshop. 16 Nov 2008
<http://www.jbactors.com/actingreading/actingteacherbiographies/violaspolin.html>.
Anonymous, ""Whose Line Is It Anyway (1998) - Trivia." Internet Movie Database. 2008. Internet
Movie Database. 30 Nov 2008 <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0163507/trivia>.
Anonymous, "The Second City." The Second City. 2008. The Second City. 16 Nov 2008
<http://www.secondcity.com/>.
Interview Sources