The Official Website for Ed Reggi

Ed Reggi instructs improvisation to students of all ages. The thrust of Reggi's work is based and shaped by his mentors over the last 15 years.

Viola Spolin
Although, Reggi only met and worked with Viola a few times in his early days, he was most impressed with her skills from the moment he saw her work. Viola is considered the mother of Improvisational Theatre and Improv Theatre Games. She created the concepts used in many schools throughout the United States, Canada, England and Europe. Viola used a fusion of parlor, athletic and puzzle games; combined with the idea of "just play" to come up with her thesis of improvisational theatre.

Martin De Maat
The Artistic Director of the training center at the Historic The Second City in Chicago was a huge force in Ed Reggi's life. Reggi met and worked with Martin during his short time and study at The Second City. Martin fused a knowledge of contemporary improv techniques with a solid foundation of Spolin's original work. Martin was on a quest to re-introduce Spolin's work and Reggi was there to receive it at the right time. Although Martin died in 2001 - less than two years after Reggi first met him - Reggi still quotes his work and teachings to students around the World. Mr. De Maat was working on a book before his death; a book that was going to really capture his process and synthesis of Spolin's games. Reggi was lucky to obtain some of the notes and writings before De Maat's death and is currently working on getting this work into print.

Paul Sills
Paul is the son of Viola Spolin and founder of The Second City. Paul is considered the direct line of Viola's work. Reggi began working with Paul based on the suggestion from his then teacher Martin De Maat. When Martin become ill, he urged Reggi to continue the Spolin trianing by finding and studying with Paul Sills. Martin worked with both Spolin and Sills back when the Second City was started. With Martin's recommendation, Reggi tracked down Paul Sills at his Wisconsin Game Theatre. Sills is a legend in American Theatre; a Broadway director; Televsion producer and powerful expert on the art of "play." Paul forced Reggi to understand that there is no seperation between improvisation and theatre. That unscripted works are no different than scripted. "Play is play - it's that simple." Paul invited Reggi to play and study with his Alumni Sills session at his Door County Theatre and Reggi continues to work with Paul every year.
In the Fall of 2005, Reggi invited Paul Sills to St. Louis as a American Theater Master. Paul and Carol Sills attended the dedication of COCA's (Center of Creative Arts) new addition to their arts complex in St. Louis.

date 3/29/2005