Plot

A local Chicago legend, Joyce Piven has taught thousands of students theater games. Joyce encourages her students to face the chaos of creativity with open hearts and minds; she leaps into the open space where art is made. Among her students are her son, Jeremy Piven, and her friend Nancy Cusack's children (including John and Joan Cusack). During the fortieth year of the Piven Theatre Workshop, co-founded by Joyce and her late husband, Byrne Piven, Ravi Batista, an actress in Joyce's production of Chekhov's Three Sisters, interviewed Joyce, her family and her former students to learn more about Joyce's life. It's an inspiring story of one woman's passion for acting and theater and how she shared it with thousands of kids in Evanston, IL.—Ravi Batista

Joyce Piven has taught theater games for forty plus years. Her students include her son, Jeremy Piven, and John and Joan Cusack. Ravi Batista, an actress, interviewed Joyce and her friends to learn more about Joyce's life. It's an inspiring story of one woman's passion for acting and how she shared it with thousands of people.—Ravi Batista

Full Body Whisper is a feature-length documentary about Joyce Piven. A Chicago legend, Joyce has taught students improvisation and theater games. Joyce encourages her students to face the chaos of creativity with open hearts; she leaps into the chaos and creates art. Among her students are her son, Jeremy Piven, and her friend Nancy's children (including John and Joan Cusack). During the fortieth year of the Piven Theatre Workshop, co-founded by Joyce and her late husband, Byrne Piven, Ravi Batista, an actress in Joyce's production of Chekhov's Three Sisters, interviewed Joyce, her family and her former students to learn more about Joyce. It's an inspiring story of one woman's passion for acting and theater and how she shared it with kids in Evanston, IL.—Anonymous