THEATRE GAMES: IMPROV

Students create stories and loosen up through making sounds to set the scene of the story described.

A warm-up improv game starting with gift-giving, both literally and through strong offers.

Using improvisation to act out particular scenes from the musical or play we are performing. This helps motivate the students to 'let their hair down' and act and have fun.

This exercise helps allow students to learn and use their vocabulary words. Also, it helps them get used to improv.

After selecting an index card notated with a simple sentence, a student will communicate the meaning of the sentence through the use of

nonsensical words, sounds, and/or pantomime- a fun way to learn how to express one’s self and specific thoughts without words.

To interact while working as an ensemble by producing a 3 minute commercial.

A game designed to create a comfortable environment and a creative improvised outlet for participants to bond.

Engage the student actors in a conversation regarding "Status."  What does it mean in life (at school, at home or in the wider community)?  What does it mean on stage (between characters or between actors and the audience).  We discuss how status can effect the body language, the voice, the dialogue...the overall truthful portrayal of a character.

To take on the persona of the last person that gets into the taxi.

A fun and quick character creation/transformation/improv game.  The kids LOVE it and would play it all through rehearsal if I let them!

This is an opening for long form improvisation.  It uses audience suggestion and the imagination and physicality of the players.   Actors become inanimate objects as well as people, physically creating a setting as well as characters.

So, what do people say when they visit the grave?  Do they water the grave?

Today you are not going to portray your character... you are going to become someone elses character. 

Students watch one another and imitate one another's physical actions.  The prompts for movement can be motivated or just fun improvisational.  Students can explore their physical instrument and expand the limits of their creativity.  (Also good for getting students (and directors!) to learn names of their fellow students.)

Translating a scenario by acting it out.

Actors are cast as families with last names that inform how the family is to be played.  A salesperson or neighbor comes to the door and must adjust according to the family type.

Actors quickly assume characters to participate in a "flashback" from an improvised scene already in progress.

Students must answer a question, one word at a time!

Intro pantomime activities to break the ice the first few days of class.

This exercise allows students to create the characters, settings, and plots for their own improvisations. Depending on the age group, it is interesting to see how, inventive, humorous even silly, and/or dramatic the scenes can be.

Assemble cast in a circle.  The first actor mimes an object and uses it.  Then he/she hands the object to the next actor who also uses it in it's first form. The second actor then "stretches", "squishes", or manipulates it into a new object uses it and passes it on to the next actor.  The same process continues around the circle. The goal of the exercise is used to increase cast connection, camaraderie, and creativity.

Excellent for cast building to be used early during the rehearsal process.  Divide cast into two teams.  Students mime that they are playing volleyball. Regular volleyball rules apply.  The student "serves" to the other team and calls out the cast member's name, that student can "set" to a fellow team member by calling his/her name or send it back "over the net" to the other side.  If  a student misses a name or calls the wrong name, a point is awarded.  The teacher acts as the referee.  Feel free to "rotate" in and out, "spike", "bump", "set", and "block"!

Two actors working through a scene or improv will be given a separate motivation or goal to obtain in the scene that is unrelated to the scene itself. Works on a young actor's ability to gain something from the other actor while staying in the moment. 

To complete a scene in three minutes using the standard 3 point storyline.

Helps students become more comfortable with thinking on their feet, having the confidence to be creative and staying in the moment.

Engages two students in an improvisation that contains elements found in a well-written dramatic of comic scene containing conflict.

Two actors (critics) improvise spoken lines while the remaining characters become animated statues in order to practice role playing, verbal improvisation, maintaining freeze position, pantomime, phsycial acting, self-reflection and peer critique.

To physicalize emotion by showing emotions and feelings through use of space objects.

A trial of memory and improvization, this game allows for creativity and on the spot contribution to complete the alphabet.

A variation on the Meisner repetition exercise that allows for scene and character development.

To develop improvisational skills, use creative imagination, nonverbal language and become aware of voice inflections by telling a story in gibberish.

To develop improvisational skills, use creative imagination, analyze behavior and activities of others, and make appropriate dialogue choices by exchanging presents.

Students will understand and apply the concepts of impromptu storytelling and improving their improvisational skills by perfomring a well known fairy tale in one minute flat.

To get students moving, thinking fast and on their feet through improvisation.

Teaches improvisation, pantomime, and clear communication. It also works as an introduction to a skill of giving constructive criticism.