From 1960 to 1965, she worked with Paul Sills (her son) as workshop
director for Second City Company. The alumni of this world famous
improvisational theater include, Mike Nichols, Elaine May, Dan
Aykroyd, John Belushi, Jim Belushi, Gilda Radner, David Steinberg,
Alan Arkin, Valerie Harper, Ed Asner and many others. She continued
to teach and develop Spolin Games theory while working with these
and other notable talents.
As an outgrowth of this work, she published Improvisation for
the Theater (1963), consisting of approximately two hundred and
twenty games/exercises. Translated into eleven languages, it has
become a classic reference text for teachers of acting, as well
as for educators in other fields.
In 1970 - 1971 Spolin served as special consultant for productions
of Sills' Story Theater in Los Angeles, New York, and on television.
On the West Coast, she conducted workshops for the companies of
the Rhoda and Friends and Lovers television series and appeared
as an actress in the Paul Mazursky film Alex in Wonderland (MGM
1970).
Beyond the very tangible pleasures of playing which the games
encompass, they also heighten sensitivity, increase self-awareness,
and effect group and interpersonal communication. As a result,
Spolin's games have developed currency beyond actor training,
that is, in encountering techniques, self-awareness programs,
and nonverbal communication studies.
Viola Spolin's systems are in use throughout the world not only
in university, community and professional theater training programs,
but also in countless curricula concerned with educational interests
not related specifically to theater. She has worked with such
thinkers as Fritz Perls, creator of Gestalt therapy.
Exemplary of the broad recognition her work has received are
a 1966 New England Theater Conference Award citing contributions
to theater, education, mental health, speech therapy, and religion,
and the 1976 award by the Secondary School Theater Association
of its highest honor; the Founders Award. She was also awarded
commendations by President Ronald Reagan, and Gov. George Deukmajian
of California, citing her contribution to American theater and
education.
Since her retirement in 1980, Ms. Spolin authorized Gary Schwartz,
Director of Intuitive Learning Systems and the Spolin Center to
continue her work. She says of Mr. Schwartz , "Gary Schwartz
is a gifted player/coach. He has a thorough understanding of my
work."
