Improv Interviews

Improv Interviews - Margot Escott

Bernie De Koven, the master of play, shares his experience in the art and therapy of play! Bernie brings joy and love wherever he goes and is known as the "Shaman of Play," Bernie a leading fun theorist who has shown over the course of his 45 year career how fun and playfulness lead to some of the most important trends in games today, from large scale community games to casual game apps. He is the author of The Well-Played Game (originally published by Doubleday in 1978 and reissued in 2013 by MIT Press), A Playful Path (over 640,000 downloads), and a CD Recess for the Soul. He continues to make his work publicly available through his seminars and websites: http://www.deepfun.com and A Playful Pathhttp://www.aplayfulpath.com/

Assael Romanelli, MSW is an improviser/therapist who recently published his PhD research study on training therapists in improvisation skills. Listen to how Assael’s path in improvisation theatre, psychotherapy and education led him to this groundbreaking research. Hear about the ways in which these disciplines come together to create a new, synergistic training which can help generate healing and growth processes for the individual and relationship. “Theater improvisation skills increase spontaneity, animation and co-creation with the other, as well as enhance immediacy skills. This pilot study examines the effects of theater improvisation skills training on therapists’ perceptions of therapy and their subsequent clinical interventions.” You can reach Assael at: assael@potentialstate.com www.potentialstate.com

Listen to master improvisation coach Gary Schwartz talk about his childhood that inspired him to write his award winning childrens book,"The King of Average" at http://www.gary-schwartz.com. Gary Schwartz is a film actor, director, and a master improvisational acting coach. It was Gary’s 18-year association with world-renowned theater educator and author, Viola Spolin that provides the foundation for his work today. Gary is the only master teacher to have ever earned an endorsement from both Viola Spolin and her son, Paul Sills, the co-founder and director of The Second City. Part 1 of 2.

Improv Interviews Part 2 with the fabulous Bernie De Koven. Bernie explains the "well-played game" and how to put the fun back into our lives.

Improv master teacher Jimmy Carrane shares his history in improv and working with some of the great teachers in this art form. His students come from around the globe as his teaching style allows students to become authentic, in improv and life.

Improv Interviews. Margot Escott speaks with Improv Professional Stacey Smith in Bonita Springs Florida where Stacey was teaching an Improv Workshop and performing with Bonita City Improv. Stacey Smith is a loud Long Islander who can be seen performing regularly in the ensemble at CSz or with The Deltones and The Musical Armando at iO. Stacey has just perfomed two contracts with The Second City aboard the Norwegian Breakaway. In addition to performing, Stacey teaches in both the Youth Program and A-E program at The Second City Training Center as well as at the Playground Theater and CSz Theater Chicago. Stacey is the Creator/Producer of the Chicago Musical Improv Festival. She just recently finished up a successful run of #DateMe in the UP Comedy Club at Second City and got hired as the Training Center Director at CSz Theater Chicago. You can learn more about Stacey Smith at www.staceysmithcomedy.com.

This is episode one of Improv Interviews with Margot Escott