Bay Area Spolin Improvisation Intensive June 2 & 3, 2018
The intensive is open to beginners and experienced players and will introduce players to the the key principles of Spolin’s acting, directing, and teaching methods. We’ll meet: Saturday and Sunday, June 2 & 3, 2018, from 10am to 4pm, with an hour lunch break at 1pm. Location: Shotgun Studios, 1201 University Avenue, Berkeley, CA, 94702 Tuition: $250. A few sliding-scale […]
First Ever 5-Day Summer Intensive in Los Angeles July 23-27, 2018
A complete ten-week introductory class in five days! Actors, educators, directors, and improvisers learn through play how to incorporate Viola Spolin’s transformative techniques into their practice. Workshops are open to beginners and experienced players. The 5-day intensive with sidecoach Aretha Sills will introduce players to the the key principles of Spolin’s revolutionary acting, directing, and teaching methods, and […]
Ten-Week Los Angeles Workshop Open To All Levels Starts May 1, 2018
The 10-week workshop with sidecoach Aretha Sills is open to beginners and experienced players. Actors, educators, directors, and improvisers learn through play how to incorporate Viola Spolin’s transformative techniques into their practice. The workshop will introduce players to the the key principles of Spolin’s revolutionary acting, directing, and teaching methods, and help them be more fully present onstage […]
Chicago Spolin Improvisation Weekend Intensive May 19 & 20, 2018
Chicago Weekend Intensive May 19 & 20 This class is sold out, but you can still be added to the waiting list. The weekend intensive is an accelerated version of a longer introductory workshop. Actors, educators, directors, and improvisers learn through play how to incorporate Viola Spolin’s transformative techniques into their practice. Workshops are open to beginners and experienced players. The intensive will […]
New York City Spolin Improvisation Intensive April 21 & 22, 2018
The NYC Intensive is sold out. For a spot on the waiting list, or to be notified about our upcoming fall NYC intensive, please email. Viola Spolin’s Theater Games launched the American improvisational theater movement and changed the way acting is taught. Her work has influenced generations of actors and educators. In the workshop with sidecoach Aretha […]
Introducing Theater Game Workshops for Young Players!
It is the process of solving a problem that releases intelligence, talent and genius. -Viola Spolin Generations of kids and adults have learned to act through playing Viola Spolin’s improvisational theater games, among them Oscar and Tony-Award winning actors and directors. Sidecoach Aretha Sills invites young players to explore the play-based method that allows each child’s […]
Los Angeles Weekend Intensive January 20 & 21, 2018
Los Angeles Weekend Intensive January 20 & 21 The weekend Spolin improvisation intensive is an accelerated version of a longer introductory workshop. Actors, educators, directors, and improvisers learn (through play) how to incorporate Viola Spolin’s transformative techniques into their practice. Workshops are open to beginners and experienced players. The intensive will introduce players to the the key principles of Spolin’s acting, directing, and teaching methods, and help you be […]
Alumni Workshop in Los Angeles Starts in January 2018
Two Spolin improvisation workshops coming January 2018: a ten-week alumni workshop and a weekend intensive open to all experience levels.
Seattle Improvisation Intensive November 18 & 19, 2017
I’m excited to side-coach a Spolin Improvisation Intensive in Seattle the weekend of Nov 18 & 19th, presented by Unexpected Productions. The workshop is now full but you can learn about the waitlist here.
Workshop for Filmmakers at the Jameson First Shot Weekender in LA!
I’ll be co-teaching a free workshop for filmmakers at the Jameson First Shot Weekender Film Festival in Los Angeles! Learn more and register here. UNSCRIPTED: THE POWER OF PLAY, NOV 4, 2017 A high energy and playful workshop to find ways into writing without the need for a pen, keyboard or dozens of cups of […]
Bay Area Weekend Theater Game Intensive Nov. 11 & 12, 2017
Bay Area Spolin Theater Game Intensive Nov. 11 & 12 Explore the improvisational acting method of Viola Spolin to enhance your training as an actor, improviser, educator, writer, director, or to experience more play in your daily life. Viola Spolin’s Theater Games launched the American improvisational theater movement and changed the way acting is taught. Her work […]
Spolin Theater Game Workshop Open To All Levels Starts This Fall
“Through spontaneity we are re-formed into ourselves.” -Viola Spolin Explore the improvisational acting method of Viola Spolin to enhance your training as an actor, improviser, educator, writer, director, or to experience more play in your daily life. 10-Week Theater Game Workshop Open To All Levels This Fall Viola Spolin’s Theater Games launched the American improvisational […]
Workshop at the Stockholm International School In Sweden
This June, I was delighted to visit the Stockholm International School in Sweden, where I side-coached a two-day teacher-training workshop in Viola Spolin’s Theater Games for educators from around the globe. Please see the wonderful photos below by Vega Ebbersten. In the first photo, we’re playing the traditional children’s game, “New York.” Our Swedish host informed us they […]
Talk on the History of Improvisation at the Global Improvisation Initiative Symposium
On May 12th, I gave a talk at the first annual Global Improvisation Initiative Symposium at University of California, Irvine. Titled “A Search for Community: Viola Spolin, Paul Sills, and the Origins of Improvisational Theater in the U.S.”, the talk and Q&A traced the roots of their work to the radical Progressive-era philosophies cultivated at Jane […]
Workshop Just Added in New York! Tuesday, April 25th at IRTE
I’ll be offering a workshop for Improvisational Repertory Theatre Ensemble (IRTE) on Tuesday, April 25th.
Spring 2017: Weekend intensives in Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago!
My vision is a world of accessible intuition. – Viola Spolin Coming spring 2017: Weekend intensives in Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago! Explore the improvisational acting method of Viola Spolin to enhance your training as an actor, improviser, educator, director, or to experience more play in your daily life. […]
Improvisation for Writers Starts January 11th, 2017
“My vision is a world of accessible intuition.” -Viola Spolin “If you haven’t surprised yourself, you haven’t written.” -Eudora Welty Theater games have many far-reaching creative benefits, but improvisation can be intimidating for non-actors. This workshop is designed to jumpstart new written work in a supportive and non-competitive environment. Writers will learn the fundamentals of […]
10-Week Theater Game Workshop Starts January 14th, 2017
“Through spontaneity we are re-formed into ourselves.” -Viola Spolin In this ten-week workshop we’ll explore the groundbreaking exercises and theatrical concepts found in Spolin’s Improvisation for the Theater. Open to beginners and experienced players, the workshop is designed to help players be present onstage and off. We’ll meet Saturday afternoons, January 14 through March 18, 2017, […]
Theater Games for Performance Workshop in Los Angeles Starts Oct 18th, 2016
In this seven-week workshop we’ll focus on playing some of Spolin’s many wonderful theater games for performance, working from a show order created by Paul Sills. For our last session, we’ll put on an improvised show for an invited audience. The workshop is open to returning players. We’ll meet Tuesday nights for 6 weeks, from […]
Fall 2016 Theater Game Intensives in NYC, Oakland, and Denver
Explore the transformational theater games of Viola Spolin to enhance your training as an actor, improviser, educator, director, or to experience more play in your daily life. We’re taking the show on the road! Upcoming workshops include weekend intensives in New York City, Denver, and Oakland.
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