Improvisation for the Theatre

By: viola spolin

ISBN: 978-0810140080

QUESTIONS EXPLORED:

• What does play look like?
• How might we play our way past fixed attitudes?
• In what ways might we engage more in the sensory world around us, and find a more present, rich sense of meaning and creative expression?

WHAT I LOVE:

I don’t find it a bit surprising (or overstated) that the publisher describes this book as one that changed not only theatre, but many other disciplines as well. When I encountered Viola Spolin’s thinking, and then put those principles into practice while training at Piven Theatre Workshop, my trajectory as an artist transformed. Spolin taught me to stop trying and to start experiencing. She taught me the value of opening my hands and letting go, rather than insisting on controlling the creative process. Through her instruction, I learned that developing a player’s mindset takes practice, and that the time invested is entirely worthwhile. Improvisation for the Theatre contains a wealth of wisdom on the craft of creativity and the art of wholehearted living. No matter your art form, this book is a must-read (and re-read!)

PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION:

Here is the thoroughly revised third edition of the bible of improvisational theater.

Viola Spolin’s improvisational techniques changed the very nature and practice of modern theater. The first two editions of Improvisation for the Theater sold more than 100,000 copies and inspired actors, directors, teachers, and writers in theater, television, film. These techniques have also influenced the fields of education, mental health, social work, and psychology.

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 pippi in the south seas

By: ASTRID LINDGREN

ISBN:978-0140309584

QUESTIONS EXPLORED:

• What does it look like to say yes to life’s surprises?
• How might we find play in the day-to-day?

WHAT I LOVE:

Pippi in the South Seas is a vibrant book, and an excellent example of what it might look life to live a life filled with “yes, and …” thinking. When I find myself in need of a reminder to lighten up and be a little more adventurous, I tap into my inner Pippi Longstocking and dive exuberantly into my day.

PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION:

When Pippi’s father, the king, sends for her, she decides to take her best friends Tommy and Annika with her to Kurrekurredutt Island. The island is fantastic and Pippi has one crazy adventure after another! Pippi is even made a princess—Princess Pippilotta. But will Pippi and her friends really want to live on the island forever, never to return to Villa Villekulla? 

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 The creative habit: Learn it and use it for life

By: twyla tharp

ISBN: 978-0743235273

QUESTIONS EXPLORED:

• How might you make creativity a habit?
• What is the spine of your work?
• How might you get out of any creative rut and find momentum?

WHAT I LOVE:

It’s easy to put ourselves in creative silos. Writers can guide and inspire other writers, musicians can guide and inspire other musicians, and so forth. The Creative Habit tosses this assumption out the window on page one, inviting all creatives to explore creative thinking in a way that goes beyond medium. I love the practical exercises throughout the book, simple and effective tools that often put my body in motion and that tap into a sense of play. When I think of improvisation, my thoughts first go to acting games or quick-drafting exercises. Twyla Tharp offers an entirely different vantage point as she describes improvisation from a choreographer’s point of view. So much is the same, and yet, the slightly different perspective helps me see my own work in new light.

PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION:

One of the world’s leading creative artists, choreographers, and creator of the smash-hit Broadway show, Movin’ Out, shares her secrets for developing and honing your creative talents—at once prescriptive and inspirational, a book to stand alongside The Artist’s Way and Bird by Bird.

All it takes to make creativity a part of your life is the willingness to make it a habit. It is the product of preparation and effort, and is within reach of everyone. Whether you are a painter, musician, businessperson, or simply an individual yearning to put your creativity to use, The Creative Habit provides you with thirty-two practical exercises based on the lessons Twyla Tharp has learned in her remarkable thirty-five-year career. 

In “Where’s Your Pencil?” Tharp reminds you to observe the world — and get it down on paper. In “Coins and Chaos,” she gives you an easy way to restore order and peace. In “Do a Verb,” she turns your mind and body into coworkers. In “Build a Bridge to the Next Day,” she shows you how to clean the clutter from your mind overnight. 

Tharp leads you through the painful first steps of scratching for ideas, finding the spine of your work, and getting out of ruts and into productive grooves. The wide-open realm of possibilities can be energizing, and Twyla Tharp explains how to take a deep breath and begin…

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