SPRING
1993
The Story
of a Mother by Martha Boesing
A chronicle of the creation of a work by At the
Foot of the Mountain that gathered generations of
women for an evening of healing, ceremony and ritual.
The
Introduction by Jeff Wirth
Take an audience from fear to the familiar through
the art of the introduction.
Spect-actor
Willing to Play Dead by Barbara Fox
When an audience member is "shot" by
surprise, both actor and spect discover the fun of
truly going with the offer.
SUMMER
1993
Dragon
Island by Theresa May
Preview an interactive production by Theatre in the
Wild that moves the audience back in time to quest,
feast, play and learn along a mile of trail through
forests, meadows and marshes.
The
Rehearsal by Jeff Wirth
Jeff Wirth shares an effective technique for getting
the audience into the action.
Story Plays
Back, Looks Forward by Kate Schaefer
A young Playback company helps an elderly spect face
her own death with dignity.
WINTER
1994
Theatre of
Liberation by Marc Weinblatt
Seattle Public Theatre's Artistic Co-Director
discusses the impact of a Forum theatre production of
Antigone.
The Stroke by
Jeff Wirth
Defines and provides examples of the technique of
"stroking" to enhance spect participation.
Spect-actor
Knocks 'em Dead by Mark Sullivan
In a ComedySportz performance, a blind audience
member plays beyond everyone's limitations, and
actors and audience learn "why we do this."
SPRING
1994
Improvising
Real Life by Jo Salas
Jo Salas discusses the impetus and process of writing
her book that breaks down and describes the complex
and subtle interactive form known as Playback
Theatre.
Picking
Spect-actors by Jeff Wirth
Learn how to identify audience members who are likely
to become spects that will play well on stage.
A
Cinderella Story by Joe Nowosielski
One young spect responds with insight, and a show is
changed permanently for the better.
SUMMER
1994
Galumph
Performance Troupe by Chris Griffith
The company co-founder shares the mission and work of
this theatre troupe committed exclusively to the
development of the art of interactive theatre..
FALL
1994
Autumn
Stages by Dr. Rosilyn Wilder
The founder of this elders' interactive troupe
discusses their history and shares their performance
experiences..
Interactive
Theatre: why bother? by Theresa May
Interactive can return us to theatre's most ancient
function - creating a place where actors and audience
forge story as a community.
Audience
Sets Murder Free by Richard Baker
A show is oversold , crowd control becomes
precarious, and an unforgettable ending occurs.
The Value
of Games by Lynda Belt
A compelling argument for the value of games beyond
mere formats for audience amusement.
Interactive
Acting by Jeff Wirth
The author gives an overview of his book containing
field-tested techniques to transform actors and
improvisors into consistently successful interactors.
WINTER
1995
Flanagan's
Wake by Jack Bronis
Come to County Sligo for an evening of laughter, song
and cheer over the body of Flanagan as the director
describes this popular interactive show.
The Fourth
Wall - Who Needs It? by Theresa May
Look past "breaking down" the fourth wall
to preserving its function of providing a safe and
sacred space in the context of interactive theatre.
Shared
Dreams by Shannon Malone
A performer from Theatre of Dreams shares one
experience of presenting a particularly touching and
emotional dream.
Spontaneity
from Ball Games by Lynda Belt
Get the scoop on the precise benefits of spontaneous
play in the form of various "ball" games.
SPRING
1995
Acts of
Service by Jonathan Fox
The author shares his goals and process in writing
this much-needed text that defines the roots of
non-scripted theatre and makes a strong case for its
vital necessity today.
The
Blackberry Question by Theresa May
Preparation for site-specific production leads this
director to reflect on how the site itself becomes an
interactive artistic presence.
The Freedom
to Sing by Jo Ellen Miano
A spect reflects on her experience with Theatrical
Freestyle and how it enriched her work and life.
SUMMER
1995
New
Horizons by Jeff Wirth
Earth meets sky in this call for a new breed of
artist--the interactive playwright--and for the
openness to entertain even the most elusive of
possibilities in our work and lives.
Audience as
Teacher by Theresa May
When a wheelchair-bound patron insists on being
included in a performance that moves up mountain
terrain, the audience performs beyond the actors'
wildest expectations.
You Don't
Need Confidence to Improvise by
Patricia Ryan Madson
Madson discusses common fears for improvisors and
offers five maxims for overcoming them.
FALL
1995
Boal in
Omaha by Leslie Bentley
An overview of the first Pedagogy of the Oppressed
Conference, highlighting the contributions and work
of artist and activist Augusto Boal.
Process vs.
Product in Production by Lisa DiNardo
and Sarah Halley
A Theatrical Freestyle project with Full Circle
Theatre of Philadelphia results in a wonderful
learning opportunity for all involved.
Dropping
the Guard by Debbie Rabbai
A player from Freestyle Rep contemplates the
challenge of building trust and cooperation in a
risky inner-city environment.
Silence is
Golden by Charna Halpern, et al.
A thoughtful look at the role of silence in
improvisation, excerpted from Truth in Comedy.
WINTER
1996
Directions
for Directors by Augusto Boal
Using image work in Theatre of the Oppressed depends
on rich improvisation; four techniques for
encouraging richness are offered in this excerpt from
Rainbow of Desire.
Theatre for
Living by David Diamond
The Director of Headlines Theatre discusses his
adaptation of the work of Boal to encompass affirming
vision for and by First Nation peoples.
Shelving
Offers for Reincorporation by Jeff
Wirth
Techniques for creating effective offers for future
reincorporation with practical examples offered.
SPRING
1996
Talking
with Maripat Donovan
The co-author and performer of Late Nite Catechism
talks about her creative process and anecdotes of the
unexpected from her performances.
Directing
Longform Improvisation by Rafe Chase
A member of True Fiction Magazine presents tips for
successful realization of longform improvisation
through technique, lighting and music.
SUMMER
1996
The
Eye-Hook by Jeff Wirth
An introduction to techniques utilizing eye contact
to draw spects into the physical action of a scene.
Scripts and
Forum Theatre by Doug Paterson
Founding member of the Theatre of the Oppressed
Center, Omaha describes how to use script to launch
Forum Theatre in time-limited situations.
Hold to
Your Purpose by Patricia Ryan
The director of Stanford Improvisors offers practical
points of focus to enhance improvisation.
FALL
1996
The Once
and Future ITN
This article reviews the evolution of
ITN and shares changes to be implemented in the
future.
The
Articles of ITN
An index of the articles appearing in ITN.
WINTER
1997
Enlivening
Solo Performance with Improvisation by
Shirlene Holmes, Ph. D.
An instructor at Georgia State University discusses
her use of interactive performance to bring Sojourner
Truth to life for audiences.
Are We
Willing to Recognize Our Failings? by
Jeff Wirth
Survival is no longer enough, how to begin to achieve
artistic excellence?
Talking
With Del Close by Trish Berrong
Coordinator of the U.S. Improv Festival share
thoughts by and about the man who created the
“Harold.”
SPRING
1997
Improvisational
Performance: the future of a young art by
S. Michael Smith
A graduate student from Long Island University
examines the reasons for lack of respect for improv
and some possible solutions
Risk With
an Audience by Jeff Razz
Former Pickle Family Circus performer shares how he
builds trust with an audience through taking a
tangible risk.
FALL
1997
From
Newsletter to Network
An introduction to the Interactive Improv Theatre
Network
Who Needs
Another Organization? by Jeff Wirth
An exploration for the reasons for the potential
existance or demise of an association to enhance and
promote the growth of spontaneous theatre.
Spontaneous
Combustion by Trish Berrong
The coordinator of the U.S. Improvisation Festival
shares the festival’s mission and objectives.
WINTER 1998
Improv,
USA-Style, an Australian perspective by
Margaret Forster
A teacher from The Australian National University
shares her reflections on a summer intensive of
observation and study of the U.S. improv scene.
Book
Profile: The Art of Play by Gary Izzo
A prolific director of interactive theatre discusses
the reasons behind his theory and techniques found in
his book, The Art of Play.
SPRING 1998
To Jive or
Not To Jive by Shaun Landry
The Artistic Director of Oui Be Negroes explores the
dilemma of Black characters done by Caucasians.
Dickens
Goes Interactive by Julia Pachoud
The challenges and rewards of mounting an interactive
version of A Christmas Carol are related by the
director from Augustana College.
SUMMER
1998
Between You
and Me by Randy Dixon
The validity of various forms of improvised work and
the qualities of the spontaneous moment are explored
by the Artistic Director of Unexpected Productions.
Small Steps
to Change by Marc Weinblatt
The Artistic Director of Seattle Public Theatre
shares some small victories achieved through Theatre
of the Oppressed workshops he conducted in a refugee
camp in Azerbaijan.
Another
Network–the IPTN by Jo Salas
An executive board member shares information about
the International Playback Theatre Network, it’s
mission, benefits, and programs.
FALL
1998
Writing
Murder Mystery Games by Sherry Wilson
Some practical tips for producing and writing
interactive murder mystery shows from the founder of
Whodunnit, Inc.
Musical
Improv by James Bailey
The Artistic Director of the Impromptones discusses
his experiences with teaching and performing
improvised songs.
Boal in
Baltimore by Michael Agnew
The Artistic Director of Gestic Theatre Company
reports on his experience in a five-day workshop with
Theatre of the Oppressed creator, Augusto Boal.
WINTER 1999
True
Fiction Magazine, Behind the Scene by
Diane Barry
A member of this San Francisco troupe gives insight
into experiences of the group and their quest for
excellent story.
How the
Birds Found Their Field by Jeff Wirth
A fable for the improv "field" from the
editor of ITN.
Creating
Your Own Fate in Improv by Susan
Messing
A founding member of the Annoyance Theatre gives
practical advice on character, environment, and
partner work to bring fun into improvised work.
SPRING 1999
A Team
Effort by members of Portland
ComedySportz
True to the title, troupe members share perspectives
and experiences from their time with the Portland
ComdedySportz troupe.
Interactive
Theatre for Social Awareness by Mecca
Burns and Brad Stoller
A drama therapist and a theatre artist share
experiences from their work and explore the risks and
rewards of integrating entertainment, education and
therapy.
Is There
Life After Reflections? by Staci
Block
The director of an interactive improvisational teen
performance troupe that addresses teen issues,
relates her experiences at the ten-year reunion of
its members past and present.
ITN Steps
Out of the Scene by Jeff Wirth
The Executive Editor of ITN reflects on the changes
in the field of spontaneous theatre that have led to
his decision to put the Interactive Improv
Theatre News in hiatus.
Return to top