THEATRE GAME: ELEVATOR

Instructions

1. Have everyone find a space on the floor and lie down on their backs. Have them close their eyes put their hands on their low belly, (diaphragm), and have them practice breathing in through their nose and out through their mouths, making sure to send the belly towards the ceiling on the inhale and push it in toward the floor on the exhale.

2.      Turn off the lights and have them continue breathing. Ask them to picture a 10 story building. It can be anywhere in time or space that they choose, built out of any materials, but they need to get a clear picture of that building in their mind.

3.      Have them picture the top floor of the building. Again it will look different for every person. Some might see a penthouse, other a roof-top patio, but really make sure they see that top floor.

4.      Next have them picture the elevator door for the building. Ask them to really see some details. Are the doors glass, metal? Is it one of those "loft" elevators?

5.      Explain that in just a moment the door to the elevator will open and the exercise will truly begin. All that they need to do is listen to the sound of your voice and remember to breath; in through the nose, out through the mouth, belly rises on the inhale and pulls in on the exhale.

6.      Here is an example of what I say to the students for the rest of the exercise:

Ø      The elevator doors open and you take a step inside, immediately becoming aware of your feet. You can picture all the little muscles, bones, tendons, all the parts that make up your foot.

Ø      As you are picturing your feet you notice that there is something coming up from the floor of the elevator; a mist, light, heat, color, (someone once said chocolate) and it is completely surrounding your foot taking any all tension. Really allow this light, heat, color, whatever you are visualizing to really relax every part of the foot from the toes to the ankle.

Ø      In just a moment the elevator will start to move down in floors. As it moves down, this light, heat, color, mist, whatever you have begun to picture, will start to travel up your body, taking away any tension, (or nervousness). Take a deep breath in, belly rises up toward the ceiling, deep breath out, belly falls in toward the floor.

Ø      9th floor. Picture that light, color, mist, traveling up your body now so that it is completely surrounding your body from the tip of your toes to the tops of your knee caps. As it moves it take away any and all tension. Scan your body and let go of any tension. Deep breath in, belly rises, deep breath out, belly falls.

Ø      8th floor. Again picture that light, heat, color coming from the floor up you body so now it completely surrounds you from the tip of your toes to your belly button. Take a moment and really scan the body. When people have stage fright it is normally stored in their bellies, so really find that and let it go. Deep breath in through the nose, belly rises, deep breath out through the mouth, belly falls.

Ø      7th floor. Picture that light, color, mist, traveling up your body now so that it is completely surrounding you from the tips of your toes to where your neck meets your shoulders. A lot of people store tension in their shoulders or when they are nervous have a hard time breathing. Find any tension in those areas and let it go. Deep breath in, belly rises, deep breath out, belly falls.

Ø      6th floor. Again picture that light, heat, color coming from the floor, up the body so now it surrounds your neck, arms and head; so that the whole body is now surrounded. Really use that light, heat, mist to really take away anything that is not needed; nervousness, tension, anything. Deep breath in, belly rises, deep breath out, belly falls.

Ø      5th floor. Keep that light, heat, color coming from the floor and keep it surrounding your body. Really use it to help you relax. 3 deep breaths, breath in, belly rises, deep breath out, belly falls. (repeat three times)

Ø      4th floor. Scan the body, tips of toes to top of head. Let go of any tension. Deep breath in, belly rises, deep breath out, belly falls.

Ø      3rd floor. Scan the body, tips of toes to top of head. Let go of any tension. Deep breath in, belly rises, deep breath out, belly falls.

Ø      2nd floor. Scan the body, tips of toes to top of head. Let go of any tension. Deep breath in, belly rises, deep breath out, belly falls.

Ø      1st floor. Scan the body, tips of toes to top of head. 3 deep breaths, inhale exhale, (repeat three times)

Ø      (Let sit for a moment).= Bring small movement to fingers and toes.

Ø      Bring movement to ankles and wrists.

Ø      Slowly roll to your right side and bring yourself to a upright position.

Ø      Slowly open your eyes.

At this point I turn the lights and end the exercise.  Depending on why I am using Elevator, I will sometime have a discussion with the class about why this exercise is important. See the adaptation section.