Improvisation for Jewish worship

The validity of teaching Jewish worship as theater is underscored by the words of Viola Spolin, whose improvisation for the theater is a classic text of not only theater proper, but educators and group leaders attempting to foster creativity in their work with others. Spolin writes about the ripple effects of learning how to act:

“Because of the nature of the acting problems, it is imperative to sharpen one’s whole sensory equipment, shake loose and free oneself of all preconceptions, interpretations, and assumptions (if one is to solve the problem) so as to be able to make direct and fresh contact with the created environment and the objects and the people within it. When this is learned inside the theater world, it simultaneously produces recognition, direct and fresh contact with the world outside as well.”

Viola Spolin, Improvisation for the Theater…page 15

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