"Do not ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." - Howard Thurman
Friday, November 22, 2013
Drama 20 Improvisation Activity Resources
Hi Drama 20 students! Please comment below with links to (or descriptions of) some improvisation exercises/activities that we can do in class on our "Improv Fridays." The more the merrier!
30 comments:
Superwoman
said...
This game, between two people, takes a given scene and requires the performers to exchange dialogue in which the first word they speak must begin with the next letter of the alphabet, starting with whichever letter is elected and finishing at the letter just before (Z would loop back to A). The dialogue must propel the action in the given scene (and ultimately conclude it).
Sample dialogue: "Are you coming to dinner?" "Before I wash my hands?!" "'Course not. That'd be disgusting." "Disgusting indeed." "Everyone should be so sanitary." "Flushing included." "Gross. I hope you flush." "Ha ha. Of course I do." "I was just testing you. You passed in flying colors." "Just hope those 'flying colors' don't come up in whatever you're making for dinner." "Keep it up, Mr." "Let me guess, something yellow and brown..." "My speciality, baked beans and corn on the cob." "Nothing quite like eating like a hobo." "Oh that reminds me...we're being evicted." "Please tell me you're joking..." "Quite serious in fact. And it's your fault." "Really? How?" "School keeps you from working. Paying the mortgage." "The mortgage? I'm in third grade!" "Usually that matters, but not in this case." "Video games are my only bill!" "Whatever, somebody's got to contribute." "Xylophones are what we learned about in school today, nothing about financial responsibility!" "You need to grow up, because you're father is about as useful, when it comes to feeding this family, as a box of Scooby Snacks." "Zoinks." Scene.
Certain letters are harder than others, but they always make for the most amusing moments, where in which a player must somehow adapt a limited range of words (or else more esoteric) to fit the scene. For the letter"x", "xylophone" "Xerox," and "x-ray" are often opted for (and usually forcefully so), moreso than "xenophobia." A wordsmith would excel at this game for sure, but remember that you're performing for an audience of lay men, less your ego.
Warning: this game is only to be attempted by die-hard music junkies and/or film buffs. Played between two exceptionally honed players, It is as hard as it gets. It is certainly an effort to recall a single song title to fit a single situation, but to carry on an entire scene with nothing but back-and-forth title-dropping, that is both befitting of the scenario and action propulsive, just makes things "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger." Like the question game, two active players are given one or more tag-team players to step in when an actual song title isn't offered (perhaps only a lyric, album title, or disqualitfying fraction). If not to play, this game is a spectacle if recall ability is at top notch. Too many, though, are forced to "Hit the Road Jack" because they can't take "The Weight" or "Beat It" (they just think, "I'll Cry Instead"). Note: filler words, as I've used between puns, are not allowed in actual gameplay, but I'm "Breaking the Law" to make a point.
Sound Effects – Two performers start a scene while two audience members provide the sound effects for this scene. Compilation Album (aka Greatest Hits) – Two to three performers try to sell a compilation album with songs that have to do with a subject suggested by the audience. Two or three other performers will sing the songs suggested by the other performers, accompanied by Bob Derkach. Sentences (aka Whose Line)[1] – Two performers perform a scene, occasionally making use of random sentences that audience members have previously written on slips of paper. New Choice (aka Quick Change) – Two performers perform a scene; at any time, a third performer can say "new choice" and the previous line or action must be changed. Song for a Lady (aka Duet, Song to an Audience Member) – One to three performers sing a song to an audience member, incorporating details of her life provided through a pre-song interview. This version of the game is significantly longer and more detailed than the Whose Line version. Moving People/Moving Bodies – Two or three performers start a scene with an audience member selected to move each performer. The performers can talk but cannot move at all unless moved by their audience member. Options (aka Film, TV and Theatre Styles)[1] – Two performers start a regular scene, with a third standing by. The third occasionally stops the scene and asks the audience to provide a style of television, literature, music, theater, or film, and then directs one or both of the performers to incorporate that style (possibly in combination with previous suggestions) into the scene. Often ends with a round of "Number of Words", the numbers being provided by the audience. Freeze Tag – Two performance start in a scene in positions determined by the audience. At any time, anyone else can yell "freeze!", tap one of the performers to switch with them, and then change the scene. A performer has the option to not tag anyone out, and may tag out more than one person, but there are always at least two performers in play. Adapted from a game played on the UK version of "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" Question This! (aka Improv Jeopardy!) – One player plays the host and four others play as contestants on a game show patterned after Jeopardy!, where the audience gives the answer, and the performers provides humorous questions, often using puns. Forward/Reverse – Players act out a scene, where at any time a third performer can say forward (act the scene as normal), reverse (act the scene backwards), swap roles, speed up, slow down, or other options. Two-Headed Expert – A pair of players (who talk either in unison or saying every other word) acts as an expert on a topic suggested by the audience while another pair (with the opposite restrictions) either is interviewing or learning from the first pair. Conducted Story/Fairy Tale – After asking for a name of a fairy tale to the audience, a player sits down in front of the other players and points at them spontaneously to create a story made up at that point. The player that is pointed has to keep telling the story where it is left off. The story can be interrupted any time by the sitting player.
Bob's Call – A revised version of "Show-Stopping Number," this game has two performers start a scene and anytime musician Bob Derkach hears a line that sounds like a title to a song, Bob starts playing the piano and the performer must sing a song based on what they just said. First Date – A married couple is selected from the audience and is interviewed about their first date and some parts are acted out by the cast. If the fact is acted out correctly, the couple rings a bell; if incorrect, the couple honks a horn. Mousetraps – Two players act out a scene barefoot and blindfolded on a stage littered with live mousetraps. In addition, they must start each sentence with the next letter of the alphabet. Kick It! – A revised version of "Scene to Rap", two players act out a scene and must start rapping when a third calls out "Kick it!"; the song continues until the caller says "Word!". Playbook (aka Every Other Line, on the UK version of "Whose Line is it Anyway?") – Two players act out a scene with one speaking freely and the other only using lines from an audience-chosen playbook.
http://www.fasttopten.com/list/top-ten-improv-games I really... like number 10:Scare off the bench, number 6:Freeze Tag, and number 5:Alphabet. They all sound super found
Is this game any good? Would it be absurd to continue writing the rest of this section in nothing but questions? This game involves two people, with any additional number of people off to each side as sub-ins. The players must only interact inquisitively, that is with questions only, to carry forth the given scene. As soon as one play slips up (offering a statement, re-asking the previous question in a slightly different way, or simply taking too long to respond), they are booted and replaced by the "player on deck" behind them in the wings. The worst way to play this game is to drag it on too long with techically acceptable questions, like kicking back the former question with, "Do you want me to_____?" over and over again. The object isn't just to stay in the game as long a possible (you can't win an improv game), but to carry forth the scene and evoke interest/laughter through the content of the dialogue.
Is this game any good? Would it be absurd to continue writing the rest of this section in nothing but questions? This game involves two people, with any additional number of people off to each side as sub-ins. The players must only interact inquisitively, that is with questions only, to carry forth the given scene. As soon as one play slips up (offering a statement, re-asking the previous question in a slightly different way, or simply taking too long to respond), they are booted and replaced by the "player on deck" behind them in the wings. The worst way to play this game is to drag it on too long with technically acceptable questions, like kicking back the former question with, "Do you want me to_____?" over and over again. The object isn't just to stay in the game as long a possible (you can't win an improv game), but to carry forth the scene and evoke interest/laughter through the content of the dialogue.
Improv Game 3: World's Worst. World's Worst can be played with many different types of audience suggestions. It can be played as "World's Worst Commercial for," and the suggestion would be a product, like toothpaste, milk, or car seats. It can be played as "World's Worst Profession," and the suggestion from the audience would be a profession, like teacher, dentist, construction worker, etc. Like 183 Blanks, each player as he or she thinks of a joke for this would step forward and say it. Players will embody the person doing the "World's Worst Profession," or will perform in the "World's Worst Commercial." For example, someone with a joke for "World's Worst Commercial for Toothpaste" might step forward and pretend they don't have teeth and say "Colgate worked for me!" Someone with a joke for "World's Worst Dentist," might step forward and mime they're holding a tooth in their hand and then say, "Oops, wrong tooth.
Action Figures Two performers do a regular scene, but they can only move their eyes and mouths. During the scene, two "Movers" (Audience Members) can move the performers or their appendages and the performers must go with it and justify it as they perform the scene. Tap the back of the thigh to get them to walk with that leg.
http://www.fasttopten.com/item.aspx?i=2e0306697e6241529cbaef1b2dfecd67Warning: this game is only to be attempted by die-hard music junkies and/or film buffs. Played between two exceptionally honed players, It is as hard as it gets. It is certainly an effort to recall a single song title to fit a single situation, but to carry on an entire scene with nothing but back-and-forth title-dropping, that is both befitting of the scenario and action propulsive, just makes things "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger." Like the question game, two active players are given one or more tag-team players to step in when an actual song title isn't offered (perhaps only a lyric, album title, or disqualitfying fraction). If not to play, this game is a spectacle if recall ability is at top notch. Too many, though, are forced to "Hit the Road Jack" because they can't take "The Weight" or "Beat It" (they just think, "I'll Cry Instead"). Note: filler words, as I've used between puns, are not allowed in actual gameplay, but I'm "Breaking the Law" to make a point.
-Hitch Hiker- Description Use 4 chairs to build the interior of a car. One player starts driving the car, and another player becomes a hitch hiker, hiking a ride. The hitch hiker character has a particular character tick or particular emotion, which the driver takes over. Other hitch hikers join in, each with their own characteristics or emotions, taken over by the driver and the passengers in the car as the hiker joins. When the car is full, one of the players leaves the car to make room for the new guest. Notes Don`t forget to justify leaving the car.
Interrogation: Two performers are police officers interrogating a third, who plays a suspect in a given crime. The suspect, however, does not know what the crime is and must deduce it from the clues given by the other performers. Played only once; similar games include "Newsflash" and "Press
Conference". Let's Make a Date: One performer (usually the fourth performer in the American version) is the contestant on a dating-type show. The other three performers are the possible dates who are given odd personalities or characters via envelopes. Following one or two rounds of questioning, contestant must guess who the others are. Similar to "Party Quirks".
Newsflash: One performer, usually Colin Mochrie, stands in front of a green screen as a field reporter, while two others are news anchors. Certain footage is shown on the greenscreen which the anchors and the audience can see, while the reporter can see only the greenscreen. Based on clues in the anchor's questioning - and sometimes the audience's reaction - the reporter must guess what kind of footage is being shown.
Party Quirks: One performer hosts a party which the other three arrive at. The three guests are assigned odd personalities or characters via envelopes. Whenever he is able, the host must identify what each guest is portraying. The guests enter one-at-a-time at the prompting of a doorbell sounded by the host. When their quirk is guessed correctly, a performer returns to their seat. Similar to "Let's Make A Date".
Press Conference: One performer is giving a press conference while the other three ask questions as reporters. The subject of the conference is either a known figure giving some sort of announcement (e.g. Santa retiring) or some sort of unusual achievement (e.g. the first female Pope). The subject is not informed of their identity, and must deduce it from the questions that the reporters ask.
Back in My Day... Players line up, and the audience provides nouns, people, occupations, etc. One player acts as host and calls out the audience suggestions. When a suggestion is called players need to complete the sentence with the suggestion and offer a punch line in the following format. Example Facebook. "Back in my day, we didn't have Facebook, we only poked the Pillsbury Dough Boy!"
One kid is a super villain. Three or four kids pick superheroes they want to be but keep their identify secret from everyone. Each kid superhero bursts in to the villain's secret lab. The superhero kid must act like their hero but can't say their name. The villain must guess who they are to defeat them and get keep them from destroying the secret lab. If the villain doesn't guess in a few minutes, another superhero enters. When all the heroes are present and have a chance to show their powers, then the villain must guess who they are (within a time limit) or be defeated.
Variation: You can have students also practice this in small groups of 4-5 and then perform it for everyone and have the audience guess the heroes instead.
what about the one we did last year, the trust one, we made an obsitcle coarse and one partner had to be blindfolded and try to make it through the obsicless by the directions of the partner
This game involves two teams of two (really embracing the "two heads are better than one" adage), two sets of props, and some heavy Rorschach-style interpreting. This game is a blast for those who love applying the nether-regions of their wild imaginations to the ambiguous. Alternating back and forth, allowing for a short window of thinking time, all of a sudden a pair of traffic cones can become giant crayon tips or a bra for Madonna, and a coat hanger can become a bow and arrow that won't fire or a pirate hook for a captain who will hang you out to dry (that is unless you are dryer-safe, at which point he'd probably just take you to the cleaners). While household items work, wonkier items allow for greater (i.e. more interesting) possibilities.
Certain things just make us smile, or give us chills, or make us fly off the handle. It can be something as big as who won the election, or as small as our internet connection being slow.
Unfortunately, we often leave all that behind when we walk on stage. There’s tendency for improvisers to just stand around talking. But when you feel on stage, the audience will respond emotionally, too.
Oscar Moment is a great game for reminding us that anything can provoke an emotional reaction.
To begin, two people start a scene, with or without a suggestion.
The scene proceeds normally, then the Coach/Director (or an audience member) yells “Oscar Moment!”
That’s the cue for the last person who spoke to snap into high gear and heighten, emotionally. Think Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Men, The Last Detail, The Shining, or, well, just about anything.
Player A: I watered the plants.
Player B: Oh right, I forgot.
Audience Member: Oscar Moment!
Player B: I’m always forgetting. Stupid, stupid, stupid! It’s like someone took a vacuum to my head while I was sleeping, and sucked my brain right out of my earhole. I’m a big, fat, fucking, forgetful loser! I’ll always be a loser!
Or whatever.
The more banal the line that leads to the Oscar Moment, the funnier the results. Once the player has reached their emotional limit, the scene continues until the other person gets called on to emote.
Hitchhiking Emotions Four players one by one join in on a car ride started by one player as the driver. The players take on various emotions given from the audience. As the driver picks up each hitcher, the entire car takes on that emotion.
Irish Drinking Song AKA Irish Jig The players sing a song about a topic in the style of an irish drinking song or "irish jig" Watch clip
Improv Madrigals A capella choral song weaving a series of audience suggestions. Each player is given an initial statement (usually a newspaper headline). After each player adds their suggestions, a musical treatment and builds into a fugue-like choral work, the players mix and match the lines and various elements to create new absurd headlines/statements. Watch a clip of Improv Madrigals
One to Five Players act out a 1 minute scene timed by the MC. The same scene repeats at 30 seconds, 15 seconds, 10 seconds, 5 seconds while maintaining the basic structure of the original.
Prom Date This is a musical guessing game. All set to music, the "promdate" has to guess three things about his/herself given by the audience: a job/occupation, quirk/tick and mode of transportation to the prom. The other two players (the parent and date) help drop clues to the "promdate" until they guess each of the given things through the magic of song.
Singing Shrink/Psychiatrist 3 Player are each given a quirk by the audience and must sing about their problems to the therapist. The therapist sings back to them a solution or advice on the problem. Watch a clip of Singing Shrink Improv
Sing It/Speak it Players act out a scene about a suggested topic. When the MC prompts them to "Sing it!" they must sing a song beginning with the last line of dialogue until the MC says "Speak it".
Curses, Foiled Again Two lines are formed on either side of the stage (Line A & B) One person steps forward from each line. Person A says "Oh no, it's." and says the name of a super hero that person B must become. Person B becomes that hero and exclaims, "I have finally found you." and says the name of a super villain. Person A becomes that super villain. Person A says, "You will never stop me from." and says what crime they will commit with their super power. Person B says, "I will stop you by." and says how they will stop them using their super power. If the super hero comes up with a good plan, the villain exclaims. "Curses, foiled again." but if the super hero falters then the villain laughs maniacally. The two each go to the end of the opposite line and the scene starts again.
I call this game "Dude!" but most people call it "Look Up" or some other less exciting name. It is an excellent focusing exercise, and is useful both for getting a cast to function as a unit and for evaluating how well an ensemble is working. Stand in a circle. Everyone look at the floor.
When the leader calls out, "Look up!" everyone must look directly into the face of someone else in the circle.
Most people will find they are looking at someone who is not looking back at them, but a few people will probably find that they are staring directly into someone else's eyes.
When this happens, these two people are "out," and must exclaim to each other, "Dude!" as they leave the circle.
Continue in this fashion until only one (or, if there's an even number in the group, two) are left.
At first this won't take very long, but after a while a group will get to the point where they can go for a long time without anyone being knocked out. It takes a real psychic bond--essential also for real ensemble work.
there's one where you have a human statue in a certain shape, then the second "statue" has to be "molded" by their team into the first statue. you have 3 minutes.
30 comments:
This game, between two people, takes a given scene and requires the performers to exchange dialogue in which the first word they speak must begin with the next letter of the alphabet, starting with whichever letter is elected and finishing at the letter just before (Z would loop back to A). The dialogue must propel the action in the given scene (and ultimately conclude it).
Sample dialogue: "Are you coming to dinner?" "Before I wash my hands?!" "'Course not. That'd be disgusting." "Disgusting indeed." "Everyone should be so sanitary." "Flushing included." "Gross. I hope you flush." "Ha ha. Of course I do." "I was just testing you. You passed in flying colors." "Just hope those 'flying colors' don't come up in whatever you're making for dinner." "Keep it up, Mr." "Let me guess, something yellow and brown..." "My speciality, baked beans and corn on the cob." "Nothing quite like eating like a hobo." "Oh that reminds me...we're being evicted." "Please tell me you're joking..." "Quite serious in fact. And it's your fault." "Really? How?" "School keeps you from working. Paying the mortgage." "The mortgage? I'm in third grade!" "Usually that matters, but not in this case." "Video games are my only bill!" "Whatever, somebody's got to contribute." "Xylophones are what we learned about in school today, nothing about financial responsibility!" "You need to grow up, because you're father is about as useful, when it comes to feeding this family, as a box of Scooby Snacks." "Zoinks." Scene.
Certain letters are harder than others, but they always make for the most amusing moments, where in which a player must somehow adapt a limited range of words (or else more esoteric) to fit the scene. For the letter"x", "xylophone" "Xerox," and "x-ray" are often opted for (and usually forcefully so), moreso than "xenophobia." A wordsmith would excel at this game for sure, but remember that you're performing for an audience of lay men, less your ego.
http://improvencyclopedia.org/games//Scorpion.html
http://improvencyclopedia.org/games//American_Idol.html
Warning: this game is only to be attempted by die-hard music junkies and/or film buffs. Played between two exceptionally honed players, It is as hard as it gets. It is certainly an effort to recall a single song title to fit a single situation, but to carry on an entire scene with nothing but back-and-forth title-dropping, that is both befitting of the scenario and action propulsive, just makes things "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger." Like the question game, two active players are given one or more tag-team players to step in when an actual song title isn't offered (perhaps only a lyric, album title, or disqualitfying fraction). If not to play, this game is a spectacle if recall ability is at top notch. Too many, though, are forced to "Hit the Road Jack" because they can't take "The Weight" or "Beat It" (they just think, "I'll Cry Instead"). Note: filler words, as I've used between puns, are not allowed in actual gameplay, but I'm "Breaking the Law" to make a point.
Sound Effects – Two performers start a scene while two audience members provide the sound effects for this scene.
Compilation Album (aka Greatest Hits) – Two to three performers try to sell a compilation album with songs that have to do with a subject suggested by the audience. Two or three other performers will sing the songs suggested by the other performers, accompanied by Bob Derkach.
Sentences (aka Whose Line)[1] – Two performers perform a scene, occasionally making use of random sentences that audience members have previously written on slips of paper.
New Choice (aka Quick Change) – Two performers perform a scene; at any time, a third performer can say "new choice" and the previous line or action must be changed.
Song for a Lady (aka Duet, Song to an Audience Member) – One to three performers sing a song to an audience member, incorporating details of her life provided through a pre-song interview. This version of the game is significantly longer and more detailed than the Whose Line version.
Moving People/Moving Bodies – Two or three performers start a scene with an audience member selected to move each performer. The performers can talk but cannot move at all unless moved by their audience member.
Options (aka Film, TV and Theatre Styles)[1] – Two performers start a regular scene, with a third standing by. The third occasionally stops the scene and asks the audience to provide a style of television, literature, music, theater, or film, and then directs one or both of the performers to incorporate that style (possibly in combination with previous suggestions) into the scene. Often ends with a round of "Number of Words", the numbers being provided by the audience.
Freeze Tag – Two performance start in a scene in positions determined by the audience. At any time, anyone else can yell "freeze!", tap one of the performers to switch with them, and then change the scene. A performer has the option to not tag anyone out, and may tag out more than one person, but there are always at least two performers in play. Adapted from a game played on the UK version of "Whose Line Is It Anyway?"
Question This! (aka Improv Jeopardy!) – One player plays the host and four others play as contestants on a game show patterned after Jeopardy!, where the audience gives the answer, and the performers provides humorous questions, often using puns.
Forward/Reverse – Players act out a scene, where at any time a third performer can say forward (act the scene as normal), reverse (act the scene backwards), swap roles, speed up, slow down, or other options.
Two-Headed Expert – A pair of players (who talk either in unison or saying every other word) acts as an expert on a topic suggested by the audience while another pair (with the opposite restrictions) either is interviewing or learning from the first pair.
Conducted Story/Fairy Tale – After asking for a name of a fairy tale to the audience, a player sits down in front of the other players and points at them spontaneously to create a story made up at that point. The player that is pointed has to keep telling the story where it is left off. The story can be interrupted any time by the sitting player.
http://improvencyclopedia.org/games//Assassin.html
Bob's Call – A revised version of "Show-Stopping Number," this game has two performers start a scene and anytime musician Bob Derkach hears a line that sounds like a title to a song, Bob starts playing the piano and the performer must sing a song based on what they just said.
First Date – A married couple is selected from the audience and is interviewed about their first date and some parts are acted out by the cast. If the fact is acted out correctly, the couple rings a bell; if incorrect, the couple honks a horn.
Mousetraps – Two players act out a scene barefoot and blindfolded on a stage littered with live mousetraps. In addition, they must start each sentence with the next letter of the alphabet.
Kick It! – A revised version of "Scene to Rap", two players act out a scene and must start rapping when a third calls out "Kick it!"; the song continues until the caller says "Word!".
Playbook (aka Every Other Line, on the UK version of "Whose Line is it Anyway?") – Two players act out a scene with one speaking freely and the other only using lines from an audience-chosen playbook.
http://www.fasttopten.com/list/top-ten-improv-games I really... like number 10:Scare off the bench, number 6:Freeze Tag, and number 5:Alphabet. They all sound super found
http://www.utexas.edu/cofa/dbi/node/29
It's called Zip, Zap, Zop. We should add the Boing.
Is this game any good? Would it be absurd to continue writing the rest of this section in nothing but questions? This game involves two people, with any additional number of people off to each side as sub-ins. The players must only interact inquisitively, that is with questions only, to carry forth the given scene. As soon as one play slips up (offering a statement, re-asking the previous question in a slightly different way, or simply taking too long to respond), they are booted and replaced by the "player on deck" behind them in the wings. The worst way to play this game is to drag it on too long with techically acceptable questions, like kicking back the former question with, "Do you want me to_____?" over and over again. The object isn't just to stay in the game as long a possible (you can't win an improv game), but to carry forth the scene and evoke interest/laughter through the content of the dialogue.
Is this game any good? Would it be absurd to continue writing the rest of this section in nothing but questions? This game involves two people, with any additional number of people off to each side as sub-ins. The players must only interact inquisitively, that is with questions only, to carry forth the given scene. As soon as one play slips up (offering a statement, re-asking the previous question in a slightly different way, or simply taking too long to respond), they are booted and replaced by the "player on deck" behind them in the wings. The worst way to play this game is to drag it on too long with technically acceptable questions, like kicking back the former question with, "Do you want me to_____?" over and over again. The object isn't just to stay in the game as long a possible (you can't win an improv game), but to carry forth the scene and evoke interest/laughter through the content of the dialogue.
http://www.withoutannette.net/games.php
http://www.withoutannette.net/games.php
Improv Game 3: World's Worst. World's Worst can be played with many different types of audience suggestions. It can be played as "World's Worst Commercial for," and the suggestion would be a product, like toothpaste, milk, or car seats. It can be played as "World's Worst Profession," and the suggestion from the audience would be a profession, like teacher, dentist, construction worker, etc. Like 183 Blanks, each player as he or she thinks of a joke for this would step forward and say it. Players will embody the person doing the "World's Worst Profession," or will perform in the "World's Worst Commercial." For example, someone with a joke for "World's Worst Commercial for Toothpaste" might step forward and pretend they don't have teeth and say "Colgate worked for me!" Someone with a joke for "World's Worst Dentist," might step forward and mime they're holding a tooth in their hand and then say, "Oops, wrong tooth.
Action Figures
Two performers do a regular scene, but they can only move their eyes and mouths. During the scene, two "Movers" (Audience Members) can move the performers or their appendages and the performers must go with it and justify it as they perform the scene. Tap the back of the thigh to get them to walk with that leg.
http://improvencyclopedia.org/games//SloMo_Samurai.html
word up
http://www.fasttopten.com/item.aspx?i=2e0306697e6241529cbaef1b2dfecd67Warning: this game is only to be attempted by die-hard music junkies and/or film buffs. Played between two exceptionally honed players, It is as hard as it gets. It is certainly an effort to recall a single song title to fit a single situation, but to carry on an entire scene with nothing but back-and-forth title-dropping, that is both befitting of the scenario and action propulsive, just makes things "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger." Like the question game, two active players are given one or more tag-team players to step in when an actual song title isn't offered (perhaps only a lyric, album title, or disqualitfying fraction). If not to play, this game is a spectacle if recall ability is at top notch. Too many, though, are forced to "Hit the Road Jack" because they can't take "The Weight" or "Beat It" (they just think, "I'll Cry Instead"). Note: filler words, as I've used between puns, are not allowed in actual gameplay, but I'm "Breaking the Law" to make a point.
http://improvencyclopedia.org/games//SloMo_Samurai.html word up
http://www.childdrama.com/warmups.html
-Hitch Hiker-
Description
Use 4 chairs to build the interior of a car. One player starts driving the car, and another player becomes a hitch hiker, hiking a ride. The hitch hiker character has a particular character tick or particular emotion, which the driver takes over.
Other hitch hikers join in, each with their own characteristics or emotions, taken over by the driver and the passengers in the car as the hiker joins. When the car is full, one of the players leaves the car to make room for the new guest.
Notes
Don`t forget to justify leaving the car.
Interrogation: Two performers are police officers interrogating a third, who plays a suspect in a given crime. The suspect, however, does not know what the crime is and must deduce it from the clues given by the other performers. Played only once; similar games include "Newsflash" and "Press
Conference".
Let's Make a Date: One performer (usually the fourth performer in the American version) is the contestant on a dating-type show. The other three performers are the possible dates who are given odd personalities or characters via envelopes. Following one or two rounds of questioning, contestant must guess who the others are. Similar to "Party Quirks".
Newsflash: One performer, usually Colin Mochrie, stands in front of a green screen as a field reporter, while two others are news anchors. Certain footage is shown on the greenscreen which the anchors and the audience can see, while the reporter can see only the greenscreen. Based on clues in the anchor's questioning - and sometimes the audience's reaction - the reporter must guess what kind of footage is being shown.
Party Quirks: One performer hosts a party which the other three arrive at. The three guests are assigned odd personalities or characters via envelopes. Whenever he is able, the host must identify what each guest is portraying. The guests enter one-at-a-time at the prompting of a doorbell sounded by the host. When their quirk is guessed correctly, a performer returns to their seat. Similar to "Let's Make A Date".
Press Conference: One performer is giving a press conference while the other three ask questions as reporters. The subject of the conference is either a known figure giving some sort of announcement (e.g. Santa retiring) or some sort of unusual achievement (e.g. the first female Pope). The subject is not informed of their identity, and must deduce it from the questions that the reporters ask.
Back in My Day...
Players line up, and the audience provides nouns, people, occupations, etc. One player acts as host and calls out the audience suggestions. When a suggestion is called players need to complete the sentence with the suggestion and offer a punch line in the following format. Example Facebook. "Back in my day, we didn't have Facebook, we only poked the Pillsbury Dough Boy!"
Defeat the Superhero League
One kid is a super villain. Three or four kids pick superheroes they want to be but keep their identify secret from everyone. Each kid superhero bursts in to the villain's secret lab. The superhero kid must act like their hero but can't say their name. The villain must guess who they are to defeat them and get keep them from destroying the secret lab. If the villain doesn't guess in a few minutes, another superhero enters. When all the heroes are present and have a chance to show their powers, then the villain must guess who they are (within a time limit) or be defeated.
Variation: You can have students also practice this in small groups of 4-5 and then perform it for everyone and have the audience guess the heroes instead.
7. Pop Culture – Situation is given. Actors play the scene but they can only use lines from pop culture such as songs and movies etc.
what about the one we did last year, the trust one, we made an obsitcle coarse and one partner had to be blindfolded and try to make it through the obsicless by the directions of the partner
This game involves two teams of two (really embracing the "two heads are better than one" adage), two sets of props, and some heavy Rorschach-style interpreting. This game is a blast for those who love applying the nether-regions of their wild imaginations to the ambiguous. Alternating back and forth, allowing for a short window of thinking time, all of a sudden a pair of traffic cones can become giant crayon tips or a bra for Madonna, and a coat hanger can become a bow and arrow that won't fire or a pirate hook for a captain who will hang you out to dry (that is unless you are dryer-safe, at which point he'd probably just take you to the cleaners). While household items work, wonkier items allow for greater (i.e. more interesting) possibilities.
We all have emotional reactions to things.
Certain things just make us smile, or give us chills, or make us fly off the handle. It can be something as big as who won the election, or as small as our internet connection being slow.
Unfortunately, we often leave all that behind when we walk on stage. There’s tendency for improvisers to just stand around talking. But when you feel on stage, the audience will respond emotionally, too.
Oscar Moment is a great game for reminding us that anything can provoke an emotional reaction.
To begin, two people start a scene, with or without a suggestion.
The scene proceeds normally, then the Coach/Director (or an audience member) yells “Oscar Moment!”
That’s the cue for the last person who spoke to snap into high gear and heighten, emotionally. Think Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Men, The Last Detail, The Shining, or, well, just about anything.
Player A: I watered the plants.
Player B: Oh right, I forgot.
Audience Member: Oscar Moment!
Player B: I’m always forgetting. Stupid, stupid, stupid! It’s like someone took a vacuum to my head while I was sleeping, and sucked my brain right out of my earhole. I’m a big, fat, fucking, forgetful loser! I’ll always be a loser!
Or whatever.
The more banal the line that leads to the Oscar Moment, the funnier the results. Once the player has reached their emotional limit, the scene continues until the other person gets called on to emote.
Hitchhiking Emotions
Four players one by one join in on a car ride started by one player as the driver. The players take on various emotions given from the audience. As the driver picks up each hitcher, the entire car takes on that emotion.
Irish Drinking Song AKA Irish Jig
The players sing a song about a topic in the style of an irish drinking song or "irish jig" Watch clip
Improv Madrigals
A capella choral song weaving a series of audience suggestions. Each player is given an initial statement (usually a newspaper headline). After each player adds their suggestions, a musical treatment and builds into a fugue-like choral work, the players mix and match the lines and various elements to create new absurd headlines/statements. Watch a clip of Improv Madrigals
One to Five
Players act out a 1 minute scene timed by the MC. The same scene repeats at 30 seconds, 15 seconds, 10 seconds, 5 seconds while maintaining the basic structure of the original.
Prom Date
This is a musical guessing game. All set to music, the "promdate" has to guess three things about his/herself given by the audience: a job/occupation, quirk/tick and mode of transportation to the prom. The other two players (the parent and date) help drop clues to the "promdate" until they guess each of the given things through the magic of song.
Singing Shrink/Psychiatrist
3 Player are each given a quirk by the audience and must sing about their problems to the therapist. The therapist sings back to them a solution or advice on the problem. Watch a clip of Singing Shrink Improv
Sing It/Speak it
Players act out a scene about a suggested topic. When the MC prompts them to "Sing it!" they must sing a song beginning with the last line of dialogue until the MC says "Speak it".
Two Words......PARTY GUESTS
Curses, Foiled Again
Two lines are formed on either side of the stage (Line A & B) One person steps forward from each line. Person A says "Oh no, it's." and says the name of a super hero that person B must become. Person B becomes that hero and exclaims, "I have finally found you." and says the name of a super villain. Person A becomes that super villain. Person A says, "You will never stop me from." and says what crime they will commit with their super power. Person B says, "I will stop you by." and says how they will stop them using their super power. If the super hero comes up with a good plan, the villain exclaims. "Curses, foiled again." but if the super hero falters then the villain laughs maniacally. The two each go to the end of the opposite line and the scene starts again.
I call this game "Dude!" but most people call it "Look Up" or some other less exciting name. It is an excellent focusing exercise, and is useful both for getting a cast to function as a unit and for evaluating how well an ensemble is working.
Stand in a circle. Everyone look at the floor.
When the leader calls out, "Look up!" everyone must look directly into the face of someone else in the circle.
Most people will find they are looking at someone who is not looking back at them, but a few people will probably find that they are staring directly into someone else's eyes.
When this happens, these two people are "out," and must exclaim to each other, "Dude!" as they leave the circle.
Continue in this fashion until only one (or, if there's an even number in the group, two) are left.
At first this won't take very long, but after a while a group will get to the point where they can go for a long time without anyone being knocked out. It takes a real psychic bond--essential also for real ensemble work.
there's one where you have a human statue in a certain shape, then the second "statue" has to be "molded" by their team into the first statue. you have 3 minutes.
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