What’s Beyond – Michael Brunlieb

Viola Spolin’s approach to improvisational theater is built on games. Whenever she encountered a problem as a teacher or director, she would create a game to give players a framework for solving it. She created a collection of challenging games called ‘What’s Beyond’ that explore what lies beyond the immediate stage environment: what has just happened, what is about to happen, what is unfolding somewhere else right now. In these games the players continue to explore the immediate environment while holding the ‘beyond’ in focus between each other. In this workshop we’ll explore those games together & see where it takes us!

Improv Experience: Open to all levels

About Mike Brunlieb

Mike Brunlieb is a performing and teaching artist in Chicago. He improvises with the ensembles ‘Sand’, ‘Real Angels’, and ‘3 Actors Living in a Cave’, most often performing at the wonderful Logan Square Improv theater (check them out!). Mike has received multiple awards during his fifteen years of performing and teaching improvisation, including being recognized three years in a row as one of Chicago’s top improvisers by the iO theater. He studied at the Paul Sills Theater Game Center (and beyond) with Aretha Sills and Carol Sills, and at iO Chicago with TJ Jagodowski and Dave Pasquesi. He has performed and taught improvisation internationally in Europe, Asia, and Canada. Mike has also performed in a handful of TV and film projects, including “Southside” (HBO), “Joe Pera Talks with You” (Adult Swim), and “Trial of the Chicago Seven” (Netflix). The core of Mike’s teaching and performance is rooted in the work of Viola Spolin. Spolin’s philosophy and methodology has had a huge impact on Mike’s perspective on education & approach to making art.