Gary Schwartz(I)
- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Writer
A master improvisational acting coach whose 30 years as a performer and
Improv teacher has helped transform the lives of thousands of people,
both on- and off-screen.
It was Gary's 18-year association with world-renowned theater educator
and author, Viola Spolin - famous for training the very first
improvisational theater troupe in the US which led to the creation of
today's well-known Second City improv troupe - that has provided the
foundation for his work today. In 1988 Gary co-founded the Spolin
Players improv troupe, and is the only master
teacher to have ever earned an endorsement from both Viola Spolin and
her son, the legendary original director of Second City, Paul Sills.
Originally from New York State, Gary began his professional career as a
mime at age 13, performing up and down the Hudson River with Pete
Seegar, Arlo Guthrie and other great folk entertainers of the 60's. In
the 70's and 80's he appeared in numerous film and television projects
including the Oscar-winning feature film Quest for Fire and 65 episodes
of the Emmy-winning TV series Zoobilee Zoo, with Ben Vereen. Since
then, as a voice actor, Gary has gone on to work with Robert Redford,
Barbra Streisand, Tim Burton, Kenneth Brannagh and many other
well-known directors.
Today, Gary is a passionate, dynamic Improv coach and facilitator. He
is the founder of Improv Odyssey, an exciting approach to changing the
way people work and play, entirely based on Spolin's techniques. He
served on the counsel of the newly-formed Actors Guild SAG-AFTRA,
Seattle branch, and is the founder and Artistic Director of the Seattle
area Valley Center Stage Community Theater.
Currently Gary resides in Washington state. He teaches theater games in
the US and around the world. He also teaches acting for animation and
writes on Spolin's work.
Improv teacher has helped transform the lives of thousands of people,
both on- and off-screen.
It was Gary's 18-year association with world-renowned theater educator
and author, Viola Spolin - famous for training the very first
improvisational theater troupe in the US which led to the creation of
today's well-known Second City improv troupe - that has provided the
foundation for his work today. In 1988 Gary co-founded the Spolin
Players improv troupe, and is the only master
teacher to have ever earned an endorsement from both Viola Spolin and
her son, the legendary original director of Second City, Paul Sills.
Originally from New York State, Gary began his professional career as a
mime at age 13, performing up and down the Hudson River with Pete
Seegar, Arlo Guthrie and other great folk entertainers of the 60's. In
the 70's and 80's he appeared in numerous film and television projects
including the Oscar-winning feature film Quest for Fire and 65 episodes
of the Emmy-winning TV series Zoobilee Zoo, with Ben Vereen. Since
then, as a voice actor, Gary has gone on to work with Robert Redford,
Barbra Streisand, Tim Burton, Kenneth Brannagh and many other
well-known directors.
Today, Gary is a passionate, dynamic Improv coach and facilitator. He
is the founder of Improv Odyssey, an exciting approach to changing the
way people work and play, entirely based on Spolin's techniques. He
served on the counsel of the newly-formed Actors Guild SAG-AFTRA,
Seattle branch, and is the founder and Artistic Director of the Seattle
area Valley Center Stage Community Theater.
Currently Gary resides in Washington state. He teaches theater games in
the US and around the world. He also teaches acting for animation and
writes on Spolin's work.