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

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Northwestern University Press, 1999 - Performing Arts - 412 pages
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Here is the thoroughly revised third edition of the bible of improvisational theater.

Viola Spolin's improvisational techniques changed the very nature and practice of modern theater. The first two editions of Improvisation for the Theater sold more than 100,000 copies and inspired actors, directors, teachers, and writers in theater, television, film. These techniques have also influenced the fields of education, mental health, social work, and psychology.

Also available: Spolin's Theater Game File
 

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Improvisation for the theater: a handbook of teaching and directing techniques

User Review  - Not Available - Book Verdict

This new edition of a highly acclaimed handbook, last published in 1983 and widely used by theater teachers and directors, is sure to be welcomed by members of the theater profession. Spolin, who died ... Read full review

Improvisation for the theater: a handbook of teaching and directing techniques

User Review  - Not Available - Book Verdict

This new edition of a highly acclaimed handbook, last published in 1983 and widely used by theater teachers and directors, is sure to be welcomed by members of the theater profession. Spolin, who died ... Read full review

Selected pages

Contents

IX
3
X
4
XI
6
XII
9
XIII
13
XIV
14
XV
15
XVI
16
CLXXXIX
202
CXC
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CXCI
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CXCII
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CXCIII
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CXCIV
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CXCV
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CXCVII
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XVII
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XVIII
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XIX
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XXI
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XXII
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XXIII
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XXIV
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XXV
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XXVI
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XXVII
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XXVIII
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XXIX
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XXX
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XXXI
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XXXII
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XXXIII
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XXXIV
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XXXV
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XXXVIII
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XXXIX
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XL
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XLI
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XLIII
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XLIV
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XLV
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XLVI
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LI
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LII
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LIII
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LIV
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LVI
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LX
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LXI
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LXII
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LXV
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LXVI
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LXVIII
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LXX
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LXXIII
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LXXIV
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LXXVI
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LXXVII
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LXXVIII
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LXXIX
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LXXX
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LXXXI
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LXXXII
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LXXXIII
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LXXXV
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LXXXVI
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LXXXVII
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LXXXVIII
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XC
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XCI
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XCIII
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XCV
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XCVII
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XCVIII
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XCIX
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C
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CI
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CII
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CIII
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CV
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CVI
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CIX
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CX
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CXI
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CXII
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CXIII
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CXV
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CXVI
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CXVII
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CXVIII
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CXX
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CXXI
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CXXII
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CXXIII
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CXXIV
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CXXV
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CXXVI
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CXXVIII
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CXXIX
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CXXX
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CXXXI
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CXXXII
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CXXXIII
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CXXXIV
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CXXXV
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CXXXVI
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CXXXVII
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CXXXIX
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CXL
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CXLII
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CXLV
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CXLIX
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CLI
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CLII
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CLIV
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CLVI
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CLVIII
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CLIX
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CLX
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CLXI
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CLXII
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CLXIV
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CLXV
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CLXVI
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CLXVIII
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CLXIX
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CLXX
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CLXXI
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CLXXIV
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CLXXV
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CLXXVI
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CLXXVII
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CLXXVIII
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CLXXIX
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CLXXX
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CLXXXIII
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CLXXXIV
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CLXXXVII
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CLXXXVIII
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CXCVIII
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CXCIX
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CC
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CCII
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CCIV
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CCVII
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CCXI
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CCXII
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CCXV
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CCXVI
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CCXVII
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CCXIX
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CCXX
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CCXXI
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CCXXII
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CCXXIV
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CCXXVI
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CCXXVII
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CCXXVIII
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CCXXIX
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CCXXXI
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CCXXXII
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CCXXXIV
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CCXXXVI
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CCXXXVII
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CCXXXVIII
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CCXXXIX
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CCXL
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CCXLI
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CCXLII
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CCXLIII
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CCXLIV
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CCXLV
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CCXLVII
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CCL
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CCLI
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CCLXVII
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CCLXX
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CCLXXI
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CCLXXIII
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CCLXXIV
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CCLXXV
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CCLXXVII
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CCLXXVIII
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CCLXXIX
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CCLXXX
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CCLXXXI
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CCLXXXII
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CCLXXXIII
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CCLXXXV
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CCLXXXVI
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CCLXXXVII
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CCLXXXIX
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CCXC
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CCXCI
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CCXCII
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CCXCIV
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CCXCV
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CCXCVI
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CCXCVIII
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CCC
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CCCIII
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CCCIV
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CCCV
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CCCVI
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CCCVII
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CCCVIII
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CCCIX
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CCCXI
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CCCXIII
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CCCXIV
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CCCXVI
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CCCXVII
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CCCXVIII
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CCCXIX
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CCCXX
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CCCXXI
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CCCXXII
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CCCXXIII
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CCCXXV
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CCCXXVI
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CCCXXVII
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CCCXXVIII
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CCCXXX
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CCCXXXI
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CCCXXXIV
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CCCXXXV
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CCCXXXVI
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CCCXXXVII
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CCCXXXVIII
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CCCXXXIX
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CCCXL
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CCCXLI
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CCCXLII
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CCCXLIII
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CCCXLIV
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CCCXLV
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CCCXLVI
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CCCXLVII
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CCCXLIX
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CCCL
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CCCLI
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CCCLII
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CCCLIII
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CCCLIV
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CCCLVI
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CCCLVIII
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CCCLXI
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CCCLXIII
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CCCLXV
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CCCLXVIII
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CCCLXXI
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CCCLXXIV
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CCCLXXVI
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CCCLXXVII
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Copyright

Other editions - View all

Improvisation for the Theater: A Handbook of Teaching and Directing Techniques
Viola Spolin
Snippet view - 2000
Improvisation for the Theater: A Handbook of Teaching and Directing Techniques
Viola Spolin
Snippet view - 1999
Improvisation for the Theater a Handbook of Teaching and Directing Techniques
Viola Spolin
No preview available - 2015
View all »

Common terms and phrases

acting action activity actors agree allow audience avoid become begin body bring called character child coach comes communication complete concentration continues create develop dialogue direct director emotion energy enter environment EVALUATION example exercise experience feel fellow players focus gibberish give given hands head heighten hold improvisational individual integrated intuitive involvement keep lines look MIRROR motion move movement natural necessary object organic performance physical play players POINTS OF OBSERVATION possible present problem props reading reality rehearsal relation relationship repeated response scene Share SIDE-COACHING simple solve sound space speak speech spontaneity stage stop story student-actors sub-team suggest teacher teacher-director tell theater things thought tion trying understand voice walk watch whole workshop young

About the author (1999)

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



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

Bibliographic information

QR code for Improvisation for the Theater
TitleImprovisation for the Theater: A Handbook of Teaching and Directing Techniques
Drama and Performance Studies
AuthorViola Spolin
EditorsCarol Bleackley Sills, Paul Sills
ContributorPaul Sills
PublisherNorthwestern University Press, 1999
ISBN081014008X, 9780810140080
Length412 pages
Subjects ›  › 

Performing Arts / Acting & Auditioning
Performing Arts / Television / Direction & Production
Performing Arts / Theater / Direction & Production
  
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