Viola Spolin was born in Chicago in 1906. She began "theater games" as a way of impacting social behavior of underpriveledged children in the inner-city and reducing social barriers while working for the WPA just before WWII.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times in May of 1974, she said "When another problem came up, I just made up a new game." These games assisted her in achieving success with improving the lives of those around her.

She founded the Young Actors Company in LA in 1946 teaching children theater.

In 1955, she returned to Chicago directing the Playwright's Theater Club and teaching workshops with the Compass Players.

In 1960, she was a workshop director for Second City (working with her son Paul Sills).

Her approach and games has greatly impacted the American theater community and have proven highly successful at both motivating actors in their performances as well as entertaining a wide variety of audiences with their content. The entire improv community owes a great debt to the mother of improvisation...Viola Spolin.

Copyright 2008 - ImprovMiami.com - All Rights Reserved