APPEAL FOR INTERNS

Intern needed to shape "Life-Play" format into book
Group Creativity Projects @1029 Federal, Belchertown, MA 01007. (413) 256 3493.
3/3/09. David Shepherd, author of “That Movie in your Head" (2007) is preparing to
launch a second book while managing a new format, “Lifeplay—what’s going on.”
Some content for the proposed book is already streaming in--via memos, essays, records of games played, descriptions of players, memories of best sessions and advice on how to play better. To channel and cut down this stream of material, a volunteer intern is needed.
Shepherd’s non-profit, Group Creativity, has in the past involved interns from Mount Holyoke College, Hampshire, Smith, PVTA and the University of Massachusetts. They assisted at improv workshops, videotaped sessions, edited tape and managed our office. They have used this experience to complete degrees in media and go on to jobs in radio, video and TV.
Lifeplay is a collection of games that bring people close together no matter how far apart they are physically. Players reside between San Francisco and Puerto Rico. Some such as Carman Dewees and Chris Britt, play weekly. One game takes players into the Week that Was, where they explore the many emotions that adhere to one event. Another prompts a player to say passionately what she or he does not believe. Another requires you to imagine who might walk into your life next and what they’d want to do with you. Some games enable players to express a given emotion in sound, talk or song. Some create stories based on a given sentence, then elaborated through commands like “Zoom in” or “Zoom out.” A few games are based on a simple recipe for an “Ideal Meal” or the improvised definition of an imaginary word.
Current interns include Todd Farnsworth, who’s editing 20 journals that Shepherd kept over the past 60 years, Pamela Breitbeil, who manages our office while searching for new games and James Anderson, who’s rebuilding the GCP web site. Our next intern(s)-- charged with the development of a book--may work by Email from homes far away. If they live in Pioneer Valley, they are welcome to use our office at 1029 Federal, Belchertown—just 4 miles from the Amherst college center.
There is no stipend for an intern, but transportation, postage and other expenses will be repaid. A detailed recommendation is assembled and given to the intern at the time or upon leaving Group Creativity. This year all are staying; none have left.

Group Creativity has enjoyed the support of interns from Smith, UMass, Bennington and Mt. Holyoke. They helped organize an archive (1950's through 1970's) about the first professional theatre of improvisation—Chicago COMPASS. Produced by Paul Sills and David Shepherd, who now directs Group Creativity, COMPASS gave dozens of actors their first chance to create their own material in a cabaret: Mike Nichols, Elaine May, Shelley Berman, Alan Alda and Alan Arkin are the best known.

The first half of the COMPASS archive has been installed at the library of the University of Chicago, when undergrads celebrated the 50th birthday of COMPASS by replicating its first show.

Interns can work with us from a distance through phone, email and electronic image: (413) 256-3493

.