Viola Spolin News

WITNESS: A Smashing Times Season of Plays, Performance and Readings

Director E. M. Edwards, who was an original Company Member when PIE first premiered in New York City's Central Park in the summer of 1991, will helm both programs. Cast in the core company are: Molly Mermelstein, Maiya Reaves, Michael Sheehan, Margen Soliman, and Jake Winn. The swings are David Delaney and Jennifer Polansky. Margen Soliman will also serve as Company Manager.

Jersey City Children's Theater and Nimbus Dance Works collaborate on a new summer performing arts program, JC Summer Arts, geared toward providing high quality instruction in dance, theater, and music, in a fun, creative and educationally enriching environment. The program draws on the expertise of Jersey City Children's Theater and Nimbus Dance Works in their respective fields in designing a program that immerses students in the performing arts. JC Summer Arts consists of a morning program, Bard Party: Shakespeare, Dance and Song (9:30-12:30am) for younger students ages 4-9 years, and for older youth (ages 10-17), Summer Dance and Acting Intensive. Where school year programs are often limited to one class per week, JC Summer Arts will lead to significant growth and development of skills only possible through this kind of immersive experience.

Jersey City Children's Theater and Nimbus Dance Works collaborate on a new summer performing arts program, JC Summer Arts, geared toward providing high quality instruction in dance, theater, and music, in a fun, creative and educationally enriching environment. The program draws on the expertise of Jersey City Children's Theater and Nimbus Dance Works in their respective fields in designing a program that immerses students in the performing arts. JC Summer Arts consists of a morning program, Bard Party: Shakespeare, Dance and Song (9:30-12:30am) for younger students ages 4-9 years, and for older youth (ages 10-17), Summer Dance and Acting Intensive. Where school year programs are often limited to one class per week, JC Summer Arts will lead to significant growth and development of skills only possible through this kind of immersive experience.

The Spolin Players Improvisational troupe is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Viola Spolin (known as 'The High Priestess of Improv') by performing her theatre games at The Hollywood Fringe Festival. Each hour-long completely improvised show will be completely different and original. Bring your imagination and suggestions, and get ready to laugh a lot!

After a long hiatus, the highly successful and acclaimed PIE (Projects In Education) Story Theatre will make a comeback this fall after a successful IndieGoGo campaign.

Sesame Street veteran and Advisory Board Member Bob McGrath said this about All Seasons Theatre Company and PIE Story Theatre when he was the recipient of the ASTC Children and Art Award several years ago: "'Considering what this organization has done, and what you intend to do, especially with the lives of children, I am very, very pleased and honored to receive this award. Certainly the arts are important in all of our lives but for children they're really vital.'

If you see only one Comedy Improv show during The Hollywood Fringe Festival, go to the source, The Spolin Players, touted by the LA Times as presenting 'Improv as pure and unpredictable as you will find it.'

The Second City will host a free event celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Playwrights Theatre Club on Sunday, June 23, 2013 in UP Comedy Club (230 W. North Ave, 2nd Floor of Piper's Alley) at 3:00 p.m. This special event will reunite the original members of The Playwrights Theatre Club, which was the precursor to The Compass and The Second City.

The Spolin Players Improvisational troupe is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Viola Spolin (known as 'The High Priestess of Improv') by performing her theatre games at The Hollywood Fringe Festival. Each hour-long completely improvised show will be completely different and original. Bring your imagination and suggestions, and get ready to laugh a lot!

PIE (Projects In Education) had its premiere in New York City's Central Park in the summer of 1991. The programming, created by Patrick Riviere (then Artistic Director of The Emerging Artists Project, Inc.) would go on to critical acclaim and much success in the New York Tri-State area and also Chicago, Illinois. Since that time, PIE has reached thousands of children and families in schools, parks, libraries, women's shelters, children's hospitals and other venues, often sponsored by the community, Riviere's own non-profits or through grants and donations.

An audio tour narrated by Valerie Harper - the actress best known for her role as Rhoda Morgenstern in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and its spinoff, "Rhoda" -- has been added to an exhibit about legendary theater and improv teacher Viola Spolin now at Northwestern University Library.

The largest international improv festival in the world, the 16th annual Chicago Improv Festival, April 1-7, 2013, celebrates the art of improv, showcasing more than 150 acts consisting of 765 improvisers from eight countries with live performances at 20 venues located throughout the city.

With economic uncertainty, political gridlock, and a dearth of Khardashians clogging up our televisions, laughing has never mattered more, and Chicago's legendary sketch comedy theatre, The Second City, returns to Columbus to bring some well-needed silliness and hilarious spontaneity to a world in need of some comic relief. The Second City: Laughing Matters puts comedy first in a wickedly funny revue that skewers and celebrates in equal doses.

Dixon Place will present the music of Greencard Wedding and La Lucha Art Group's production of PORNING THE PLANET - THE DE-SENSITIZATION OF A NATION, A Works in Progress Solo Showing, Written/Performed by Raquel Almazan, Directed by Penny Arcade. It will take place tonight, December 8th at 7:30 pm at Dixon Place at 161A Chyrstie Street. Lounge bar is open before and after the show.

Dixon Place presents the music of GREENCARD WEDDING, featuring special guest David Anzuelo and la Lucha Arts Group production of PORNING THE PLANET The De-Sensitization of a Nation, A Works in Progress Solo Showing, written/performed by Raquel Almazan and directed by Penny Arcade on Saturday, December 8th at 7:30 PM. Dixon Place is located at 161A Chyrstie Street. Lounge bar is open before and after the show.

Dixon Place will present the music of Greencard Wedding and La Lucha Art Group's production of PORNING THE PLANET - THE DE-SENSITIZATION OF A NATION, A Works in Progress Solo Showing, Written/Performed by Raquel Almazan, Directed by Penny Arcade. It will take place on Saturday December 8th at 7:30 pm at Dixon Place at 161A Chyrstie Street. Lounge bar is open before and after the show.

A star is born - porn star that is. Based on the life of porn star Brittany Andrews, this dark comedic solo play follows the metamorphosis of Sensora on a surreal journey from glam porn star to snuff assassinated President to a refugee launched into the galaxy.

'Band of Brooders' and 'Abstinence Only,' two short plays by Jim Pangrazio, directed by Jason Hale, depict Americans fighting to free themselves-from Americans and are set to play The First Floor Theater (74A East Fourth Street) for Summer Shares at La Mama, tonight, August 29 to September 2, 2012. Presented by Nucleo Eclecttico Theatre, a Denis Diderot Production.

'Band of Brooders' and 'Abstinence Only,' two short plays by Jim Pangrazio, directed by Jason Hale, depict Americans fighting to free themselves-from Americans and are set to play The First Floor Theater (74A East Fourth Street) for Summer Shares at La Mama, August 29 to September 2, 2012. Presented by Nucleo Eclecttico Theatre, a Denis Diderot Production.