SPOLIN GAMES ON BROADWAY!

Forget the World Cup and Woodstock, the OJ trial and the Flintstone movie! The summer of 94 marks the Broadway debut of THE SPOLIN PLAYERS!

Yep. They're ba-aaaack! The group the LA Times describes as performing "improvisation as pure and unpredictable as you're going to find it," is now appearing at the brand new UPFRONT THEATRE, 123 Broadway in Santa Monica, Fridays at 8 PM. The Cover is $10.00. Following the Spolin Players, alumni of all the Second City companies gather to play the HAROLD, a theme style long form improvisation. Drop ins include Robin Williams, Chris Farely, Jim Belushi, Rick Overton, and George Wendt.

Featuring a well-paced program of unique, unscripted and unrehearsed theater games, based on audience suggestions, THE SPOLIN PLAYERS kick off an evening of ensemble performances at this hot new mecca of improvisational theater a block from the Pacific and the pulsating Promenade.

Inspired by the creative and spiritual influence of the legendary pioneer of improvisation, VIOLA SPOLIN, this 94 company of players is an eclectic mixture of film, tv, stage and radio talents from all over the United States and Canada.

The LA WEEKLY has called the SPOLIN PLAYERS "exhilarating and brilliant." In alphabetical order they are: Eddie Allen, Dan Castellaneta, Donna Dubain, Deb Lacusta, Danny Mann, Derek McGrath, David McCharen, Edie McClurg, and, Gary Schwartz.

While individual company members represent disciplines from all across the artistic spectrum including drama, stand-up, mime, circus, voice-overs, writing and directing, the SPOLIN GAMES transform the players into a cohesive, spontaneous, and intuitive unit focused on the buoyancy and magic of the moment.

"What sets this feisty, quick-witted group apart," according to DRAMALOGUE, "is the exuberance, speed, off-the-cuff brilliance and dazzling interaction of its players. Riding perilously close to the edge of chaos they overcome any skepticism with the hilarity and often amazingly adept interplay they bring to their work. The vicarious thrill for the audience is the excitement of being won over by a trapeze act performed without a net by an outstanding ensemble of players."

It was during the 1930's in Chicago that Viola Spolin began creating her celebrated games while conducting theater workshops for immigrant children. Her early experiments eventually spawned an improvisational theater boom in the 1950's which still thrives today.

Such famous companies as Second City, Story Theater, Compass Players, Sills & Company, War Babies, The Groundlings, The Committee, and, literally hundreds of other groups all across North America all owe their birthrights to Viola Spolin's technique, while the drama departments at universities and high schools everywhere include her books in their curricula.

SPOLIN GAMES ON BROADWAY is the latest chapter in a story that began half a century ago. The 94 Company is proud of its heritage and determined to carry the improvisational torch aloft into the 21st century, so that yet another generation may enjoy spontaneous play, laughter, and a two-drink minimum.

THE SPOLIN PLAYERS: WHO'S WHO?

Dan Castellaneta has given up trying to fit his name on a personalized license plate. However his costarring roles on "The Simpsons" and "The Tracy Ullman Show" ease his frustration greatly. A veteran of commerical voice-overs and Chicago's Second City, Dan's film work includes "War of the Roses" and "Nothing in Common." He and fellow cast member/wife/partner Deb Lacusta live in Topanga Canyon and have co-written numerous TV and stage projects together.

Donna Dubain improvised her way from San Francisco's Pitschel Players to LA's Groundlings, which is a lot cheaper than flying. A founding member of the bay area's Theater of Marvels, and, Interplayers, she ventured south to perform, teach, have two children, and, to really convince herself that the Earth is not flat. She has succeeded on all counts.

Deb Lacusta left her native Detroit for the greener improvisational pastures of Chicago where she wrote, directed and acted in "Lock Up the Grass" and "Comedy of Horrors." Though people often mistook her for the popular resort, she still managed to perform with the Instant Theatre Company, and, meet her husband/partner and fellow improvisor Dan Castellaneta, with whom she has collaborated on theater, TV and gardening projects.

Derek McGrath is a native of Canada and an important part of The Spolin Games Players in Los Angeles. His experience with improvisation began in the Second City where he established a reputation in both Chicago and Toronto companies. He starred in MY SECRET IDENTITY, and created a cult following with his character Andy Andy in CHEERS. His other co-starring roles include DALLAS, AGAINST THE GRAIN, WALKER TEXAS RANGER as well as numerous appearances in feature films. He is currently in development with former NBC president Brandon Tartikoff for a new comedy series that he has written and plans to co-star in.

Danny Mann's voice stars in such cartoon series as "Heathcliff" and "Camp Candy," and countless radio commericials, while the rest of him emcees the studio tapings of "Who's The Boss" "My 2 Dads" and "America's Funniest Home Videos." The suspected leader of an international jaywalking cartel, Danny has also directed specials for HBO, Showtime, and CBC (in his native Canada, eh?) His writing credits include the Disney animated feature "Oliver & Company," thousands of checks, and, these bios.

David McCharen is a one man show, and, has received critical acclaim for it. "Dreams and Visitations" was a splendid showcase for his rich background in mime, acting, and stand-up comedy. He has appeared on TV's "Faerie Tale Theatre" and in Robert Altman's film "Popeye." A premiere looper, his voice has graced the soundtracks of dozens of features including "Lethal Weapon II" and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." Cowabunga! What a guy!

Edie McClurg is definitely not in Kansas anymore. In fact, she never was! She hails from Kansas City, Missouri, and folks around there are pretty touchy about it, too. Her journey from a local radio station to a co-starring role on "The Hogan Family" has included pit stops on such films as "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" and "Planes Trains and Automobiles," and, with such improv groups as the Pitschel Players and The Groundlings. Her countless game show appearances have resulted in one of the world's largest private collections of furniture wax.

Gary Schwartz is a former student, longtime friend and associate of Viola Spolin's, and, is the de facto nucleus of our improvisational cell. As the tallest member of our group, he can not only be seen better by everyone in the audience, but, he has appeared in such films as "Quest For Fire," and looped dialogue for dozens of others. As a co-star of TV's "Zoobilee Zoo," and a guest on "Faerie Tale Theatre" and "You and Me, Kid," children everywhere know his work. But adults are quickly catching on too!

THE SPOLIN GAMES:

ANIMALS

After the audience assigns each player an animal, the players must explore the animal physically, verbally, then interact with each other as animals, and finally bring the animals up into human forms with attitudes and traits intact.

CAMERA

Here the focus is on focus. As two players do a scene of the audience's choosing, a third player calls out "camera" alternating between the two players, "both camera" or "no camera." The players much shift between giving full mental and physical attention, like the lens of a camera, to each other.

CONTACT

Players do a scene in which dialogue can only occur when some form of physical contact is made.

DUBBING

In much the same manner that a foreign film appears on late night TV, two players take a film genre and a relationship and do a scene from a movie, while two other players dub in their voices live.

EMOTIONAL SYMPHONY

is like a shot of adrenalin giving instant energy to the players and connecting them with the audience. Each player is assigned an emotion by the audience. The ensemble is then conducted through an opening "overture."

GIBBERISH/ENGLISH

The audience suggests who and where two players might be, while a third player/sidecoach switches them unexpectedly between English and Gibberish throughout the scene.

GIBBERISH INTERPRETERS

Two players take turns giving a speech on a subject of the audience's choosing. One player orates in gibberish. The other interprets in English.

GIBBERISH RELAY

is another high energy game involving the entire cast immediately as the player in the middle must translate back and forth between players on either side who speak in gibberish.

HOLD IT

Each player is given a "life script" like "the grass is always greener." The group then incorporates that script into their characters as they go through scenes as children, teens, middle-agers, and finally elderlies.

INTENSIFY EMOTIONS

The audience suggests who and where two players are, and, a third player calls out new emotions which they must incorporate.

INTERMISSION

The players retreat to the sidelines for a few moments to towel down, consume beverages and gossip, while the audience does the same thing.

MADRIGAL

A small group of players with musical accompanyment improvise a 90's rendition of the medieval ditty which often communicated on subjects of public concern.

MAGIC MUSIC

The audience selects a physical task for a hidden player to do upon his return to a prop-littered stage. By singing a children's song louder for warmer, and softer for colder, the player is guided into completing the task. This is often repeated with an audience volunteer!

POETRY

There are many styles of poetry. Limericks, haiku, rhyming, non-rhyming, jazz-like free-style, etc. Based on a first line from the audience, each player improvises a poem in his own particular style.

SCENE ON SCENE

The principle of "Give-and-take" is the foundation that Spolin games are built on. In scene on scene two players on one side of the stage reminisce based on a relationship the audience gives them, while two other players on the other side of the stage enact various beats or moments of the reminiscence.

SINGING DIALOGUE

Two players do a scene based on the audience's suggestion of who and where they are. All the dialogue is sung!

SLOW/FAST

Two players, given who and where they are, begin a scene. A sidecoach freezes them at one point and they must go back and repeat the scene in slow motion, and then again in fast motion. Then they are allowed to continue the scene to completion.

STAGE WHISPER

Two players must do a scene entirely in stage whisper after the audience suggests characters and a setting fraught with impending danger or require secretiveness.

STORY/STORY

The entire cast is seated on stage and tells an improvised story, relay-style, based on an audience title.

TRANSFORMATIONS

Two players begin a physical activity of the audience's choosing. Through a series of movements, changes, verbal and non-verbal interactions with each other and other players who join in, they eventually transform their activity into a group involvement, which the audience has also chosen.

WHATS BEYOND?

Usually three players begin a scene. At some point action is frozen and one player is sent out. Audience members help conjure up some secret that the two remaining players have discovered about the third. They then interact with the returning player until he understands the "what's beyond?"

WHO AM I?

A player is sent out of earshot and upon his return must interact with fellow players until he is aware of the famous or occupational identity the audience has chosen for him.