Spolin Center Newsletters

Volume 1 Issue 2 Summer 1996

Inside This Issue:

• Interactive Game File on CD-ROM
  
• Mob Rule: A Non-Profit improvisational community program
  
• A Gentle Reminder
  
• ILS at Disney
  
• Up-Coming Workshops
  

ILS plans Interactive Game File on CD-ROM

Plans are under way for Intuitive Learning Systems to develop an interactive Theater Game File.
The Theater Game File, re-published by Northwestern University Press, is a favorite tool for teachers and directors. It is a box containing all of Viola Spolin's games and exercises along with a handbook explaining how to set up and run workshops, develop formats and contains some of her latest games not available in the earlier version of the Game File published in 1975 by Cemrel. The Interactive Game file, a hypertext version of all of the game cards that can be selected by a click of a mouse and transferred to a 'Format' area where lesson plans can be compiled by the user and then printed out. Spolin's glossary of terms and unique definitions found in the Theater Game Handbook included with the card file, will be accessible by mouse click from anywhere in the program.Video clips will illustrate some of the games in action and there will be audio commentary by Viola Spolin, Paul Sills, Avery Schreiber, Valerie Harper and others.
The design of the Interactive Theater Game file is being developed by Gary Schwartz and Max Shafer, creator of the Young Author's Program; software to teach writing skills to the primary grades.

Lee Costello, head of Mob Rule Inc., a non-profit organization in Santa Monica, CA is an outreach program dedicated to advancing social awareness by encouraging the exchange of ideas, values, and communication between the community, professionals and educators through interactive improvisational workshops and classes. The organization wants to promote community interaction, strengthen values, improve literacy and offer service to the disenfranchised individual. It will target senior citizens, young people at risk, minorities, the differently abled and the immune deficient.
The board of directors includes, actors Paul Sand, Deb Lacusta, of the Spolin Players, Mary Gross, psychologist Alan Stern, Phd., Intuitive Learning Systems, director Gary Schwartz and a spectrum of other professions including nursing, education, mental health and business leaders.
Mob Rule's first project will be working with seniors in an improvisational workshop. To fund the project, Mob Rule has set up an Adopt-A-Grandparent sponsoring program. $250 sponsors a senior. For more information: Contact Lee Costello at 213 893-2851.

May 1995: Burbank CA. Intuitive Learning Systems introduced Spolin Games to Walt Disney Consumer Products division to great reviews.
Joanne Webb, a creative director at Walt Disney's consumer products arm was looking for a variety of programs to help the various teams of artists working on the many Disney licenses become more creative and cohesive. She asked Intuitive Learning Systems to run a test workshop with a team of artists working on the upcoming Hercules license. The three hour workshop was a huge success and bridged the communications gap between artists, directors, stylists and support personnel using games like gibberish, space walk, mirror and story building. The response prompted Disney to order eight more workshops.For Intuitive Learning Systems this represents a goal reached. To bring Spolin Games outside the bounds of theater and into the business world.

The Spolin Center and Intuitive Learning Systems promotes the work of Viola Spolin. One of our goals is to make Viola Spolin's name synonymous with improvisation. She is known to too small a segment of the theatrical and teaching community and it is disappointing to see blank stares come from many improvisers whose work springs from the theories she devised.
Theater Games is a term that covers much ground, and many who use Viola's methods simply call what they do theater games, or improvisation, or improv.
To those using Viola's methods either in practice or teaching: When you refer to what you do, start using the words "Spolin Games" in order to make a clear distinction between other forms of improvisation. Viola was the source and although many have built upon her ideas and expanded them (which is what she wanted) we should all give her credit for pioneering the artform.

Up-Coming Workshops

Introduction to Spolin Games:

Gary Schwartz will offer an eight week workshop Tuesday evenings in the Spring of 1997 from 7PM to 10PM. The location is 647 Mariposa Ave. Hollywood. One block east of Normandie off of Melrose. This workshop is open to all levels. The workshop gives you a background in the fun and philosophy of Spolin Games.
The cost is $250.00

There will be two free open house workshops for those who wish to sample the kind of work it is and to sign up. The workshop will be limited to sixteen.
Call (818) 989-GAME to be notified of the dates.

Gary offers an ongoing workshop to those who've already taken the previous workshop or who have studied Spolin Games elsewhere. This workshop meets Mondy nights from 7 to 10 at the same location, 647 Mariposa, Hollywood. The cost is $120.00 per month with an initial two month commitment. Call for an interview.

Legendary director, teacher Paul Sills teaches Spolin Games week long intensives at his farm in Wisconsin.
The dates are July 7-12 and 21-26 and August 8-16.
The cost is $300.00 and they'll help you find lodging in Door County, a popular Wisconsin vacation destination.
Contact Carol Sills, (414) 854-5072 in Bailey's Harbor, WI.