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The Viewpoints is a technique of improvisation that grew out of the postmodern dance world. It was first articulated by choreographer Mary Overlie, who broke down the two dominant issues performers deal with—space and time—into six categories. Since that time, directors Anne Bogart and Tina Landau have expanded her notions and adapted them for actors to function together spontaneously and intuitively and to generate bold, theatrical work.

The Viewpoints are a set of names given to certain principles of movement through time and space—they constitute a language for talking about what happens on stage. Coupling this with Composition, which is the practice of selecting and arranging the separate components of theatrical language into a cohesive work of art, provides theatre artists with an important new tool for creating and understanding their art form. [editor summary]

In An Acrobat of the Heart, teacher-director-playwright Stephen Wangh reveals how Jerzy Grotowski's physical exercises can open a pathway to the actor's inner creativity. Drawing on Grotowski's insights and on the work of Stanislavski, Yoshi Oida, and others, Wangh bridges the gap between rigorous physical training and practical scene and character technique. Wangh's own students give candid descriptions of the struggles and breakthroughs they encounter, and through their examples Wangh reveals how each of us can transform these remarkable lessons into a personal journey of artistic growth. Courageous, compelling, and lucid, An Acrobat of the Heart is an invaluable resource for actors, directors, and teachers alike. [editor summary]