The Applied Improvisation Network

Spreading the Transforming Power of Improvisation

Gary Schwartz

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The Trouble with Yes, and...

During my stay in Norway, I was finally able to articulate my thoughts on the difficulty I have with Yes and... What I am about to discuss, comes not from any condescension or blind loyalty to Spolin’s work, but a considered opinion based on all my experiences in the world of Improvisation as teacher and student. I welcome opinions and comments as I am thinking of publishing this as an article. The trouble with Yes, and… “Information is a very weak form of communication” - Spolin… Continue

Added by Gary Schwartz on June 16, 2008 at 9:30am — 14 Comments

Paul Sills's passing

The mother of Improv's son, Paul Sills, who did much to make improv a force in the theater as its own artform, died June 1st. He was 80. I'm here in Norway at a confence that would not even be possible were it not for this man. He shaped the first group of professional improvisers and the careers of many important figures in modern entertainment. Mike Nichols, Alan Arkin, Elaine May, Richard Libertini, Melinda Dillon, and Second City in general. I knew Paul to be like his mother in one importa… Continue

Added by Gary Schwartz on June 2, 2008 at 11:43pm — 2 Comments

Impro Oslo weekend workshop

I just spent a wonderful weekend with four improvisers from Oslo. It was my great pleasure to lead two full day workshops with them. Two men and two women, Karre,Gunnar, Annethe and Ingunn. They are professional actors, working in Oslo and comprise 3/4 of an imrprov troupe that perform reglularly. Although they knew the book 'Improvisation for the Theater' by Viola Spolin, they had not played many of the games. Because there were only four, I was able to introduce them to over 28 games, many th… Continue

Added by Gary Schwartz on June 1, 2008 at 8:39pm — 2 Comments

In Trondheim with Sven - a great discussion

I have arrived in Trondheim to conduct several workshops with Sven Veine with Impro Oslo and others. the converstation in the first hours are stimulating. Talking about many teachers and their styles. Keith Johnstone, Michael Gellman, and of course, Paul Sills and Viola Spolin. I will endeavor to enter any new thoughts as they come up in conversation. Sven is a passionate student of all forms of improv. Bravo to him. Gary Norway may 30 Continue

Added by Gary Schwartz on May 30, 2008 at 8:00am — 2 Comments

The Peak Experience is an apt title.

I just came across an Abraham Maslow page. I found this:

Peak experiences

"Feelings of limitless horizons opening up to the vision, the feeling of being simultaneously more powerful and also more helpless than one ever was before, the feeling of ecstacy and wonder and awe, the loss of placement in time and space with, finally, the conviction that something extremely important and valuable had happened, so that the subject was to some extent transformed and strengthened
… Continue

Added by Gary Schwartz on November 19, 2007 at 6:54am — No Comments

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