Paul Sills, R.I.P.
On my shelf sits a book, a black book with a picture of a curly-haired smiling lady on the back. It’s called “Improvisation for the Theater” and is written by drama pioneer Viola Spolin.
Her son, Paul Sills, died of pneumonia today at age 80, having continued his mother’s work and shaped theatre as we know it today.
Paul Sills, the “Orson Welles of Improv”
Maybe you’ve heard of some of the places Paul Sills’ influence was felt. Second City? The Kids in the Hall? OK, how about Saturday Night Live? 30 Rock? Broadway’s Ragtime? Or how about one of his students, a fellow by the name of David Mamet who achieved a thing or two on Broadway and in Hollywood? Maybe you’ve been to a Comedy Sportz workshop or performance in your town?
Really, looking at the list of people and places influenced by and trained through Sills’ techniques is like looking at the entire shape of our cultural milieu. And yet, hardly anyone has heard of him. Jeffrey Sweet, theater historian, says “Paul was never given his due. Nobody did more for the American theater.”
So, in the interest of giving him his due…
1 Comment
Paul Sills was a zenmaster. He counterbalanced whatever you did. I met him and his family and his metaphorical family at “Sills & Company” on Heliotrope and ended up being “House critic and recording secretary” (an outgrowth of my friendship with Avery S. & S. Darden).
I’d welcome the chance to attend any L.A. area memorial service.
Dana (Snow)