Game: Slideshow

Number of players: 4 or 5 Tags: Exercise, large group, all levels

When: This is an easy exercise, done just after warm ups

Overview: This exercise is done in groups of four or five players. Each player will have a turn presenting their own slide show. The other players will be creating the images that the presenter has to describe.

Introduction: "We’re now going to see a slide show. Unfortunately, the person presenting the slideshow has no real idea what they’ll find in each photo.”

Details: Immediately after the presenter is selected, they will step forward so that they cannot see what the other players are doing. The presenter will give a brief introduction to the slideshow: the purpose of the trip, where the pictures where taken, who went on the trip, etc. During that description, the players will move about, trying different physical poses, interacting with each other, in general trying different stage pictures until the presenter says something like “and here’s the first photo, click.”

When the presenter says “click,” all the other players freeze in their current positions. The presenter immediately turns around and then has to describe this photo, justifying everyone’s pose, in the context of their slideshow.

After the description, the presenter steps forward again and sets up the events leading to the next photo. During the set up, the other players move around again, interacting and perhaps influenced by the previous photo and descriptions. They keep moving until they hear the presenter say “click” when they immediately freeze for the narrator to again turn around and describe this new photo.

We typically limit this to three photos; basically the beginning, middle, and end of a trip. After the third picture the presenter can say a concluding, summation line.

After this presenter finishes, then the next player in the group takes a turn as the presenter. The exercise continues through all the players having a turn as the presenter.

Game: Tag Out Story

Number of players: 5 Tags: Performance, exercise, narrative

When: This is a game we do in performances, and it’s a good warm-up exercise

Overview: Five players line up one behind the other. Whoever is in front always tells the story. The person just behind will, at some point, tap the player in front. Immediately, the player in front stops telling the story (mid sentence, mid word if possible) and peels out of line, going to the back. All the other players take a step forward so that the person who tapped now becomes the in-front story teller, and they finish whatever the previous teller had started (finish the sentence or even the word where the previous story-teller was cut off). They continue until the person behind them taps them on the shoulder, repeating the cycle.

Introduction: "This group is going to tell us a story. The person in front will always be telling the story until they are tapped out by the person behind. Now, I need the name of a story that has never been told.”

Details: This is a narrative exercise where each story teller has to pick up the thread of the story told by the person before. The major technical challenge is to seamlessly pick up the story where the previous person left off, finishing whatever they started without repeating the last word or syllable that was cut off.

The minor technical challenge is to remember to step forward whenever the front story-teller is tapped out. This keeps the line circling in place.

However, there is an overall pacing to this exercise that makes it work in a performance. The first round through the players should each tell one or two lines of the story before they are tapped out. The second round through, the taps should come every half of a sentence of so. The next round should be after only a couple of words, and from the fourth round on, this should be like a one word story. The person in front should be tapped out immediately after they start. This requires that the person who is tapped out run to the back of the line, as the entire line should be cycling through in a fast round. The energy is high, the words need to be distinct, and the story should be built like any one word story exercise.

The director will call a curtain when the story hits some sort of ending line (button).

Game: Panel of Experts

Number of players: 4 Tags: Performance, exercise, character

When: This is a game we do in performances, and it is a moderately hard exercise

Overview: Three players are experts in a field chosen by the audience. The fourth player is the moderator of the panel and the host of the show where this panel is presented.

Introduction: "We are going to see a panel of experts. What is their topic of expertise."

Details: This is a character exercise. When the topic is selected, the three players who are the experts must select a character that fits the topic. It does not matter whether the player has any personal experience in the selected topic, their character is the expert, and whatever they say is the opinion of an expert in the field.

The moderator must define the show that’s hosting this panel, as well as the format. For instance, it could be a radio show that has a different topic week to week. Or it could be a TV show that regularly deals with this topic, etc. The player will be the host for that show.

The moderator introduces themselves and the show, and then allows each expert to introduce themselves. Each expert tells their name, and how they are an expert in the field. After the introductions, the moderator can ask a couple of questions to the panel, either about the topic or about something that came up in the introductions. After one or two questions from the moderator, the audience is then prompted to ask questions to the expert panel, either to the whole group or directed to a particular expert.

It’s important to play this recognizing that experts in any field would know other experts in the field. So all of these experts probably have some history, including professional disagreements, rivalries, romances, and personal grudges. Play that in the introductions and when responding to questions.

Variation: The moderator introduces the first expert, endowing that player with a name and a title. The player then fills out the rest of the introduction, saying a couple things about their history. The moderator goes on to introduce each of the other experts who also expand upon their histories.

Game: Counting Words

Number of players: 3 Tags: Performance, exercise

When: This is a game we do in performances, and it is an easy exercise

Overview: Each player in the scene is given their own number between 1 and 7 as assigned by the audience. This is the number of words that player must use each time they speak during the game.

Introduction: "For this scene, I’d like a number between 1 and 7 for Player A."

“Now a different number between 1 and 7 for Player B.”

“Another one for Player C”

“During this scene, each time a player speaks, they can only use that number of words. No more, and no less!”

Details: When selecting words for each player, try to get one with a small count (1 to 2), a medium count (3 to 5), and a large count (6 to 7).

A player should not do a set of words and then do another set of words without at least one other player speaking between the sets.

It’s important that a player should be allowed to get all their words out. Don’t cut off a player with 7 words after they’ve only spoken 4. They must speak all 7 before someone else says a line.

It’s helpful if players finish each other’s sentences, especially for those who have a small number of words.

Game: Hitchhiker

Number of players: 3 at a time, but typically done as a rotation through a large group

Tags: Exercise, large group, warm up, all levels

When: This is done as an exercise towards the beginning of class.

Overview: A series of short, three person scenes is performed. Three chairs are arranged so that one chair (for the driver) is in front (towards the audience) and two chairs (for the passengers) are behind. These three chairs are meant to roughly simulate a car.

Players will rotate between the three positions as a new player enters the scene. The new player (the hitchhiker) enters the car and takes the closest passenger seat. The player that was in that seat, will move to the other passenger seat. That passenger will move up to the driver’s seat, and the driver will rotate out of the scene.

The hitchhiker enters the car with a strong character choice. The other two players in the car will immediately take on that same character. We see a very short interaction between the three characters which includes finding out where the hitchhiker needs to go and the car driving off.

Very soon, the driver or either passenger will notice a new hitchhiker standing on the road and request that they stop to pick them up. The driver stops the car and then the players rotate allowing room for the hitchhiker to enter the scene with their character choice. Once again, all the players in the car will take on the new character, and the rotation continues.

Introduction: "This is an exercise where we have to quickly identify and take on a character being presented to us. The idea is that these three chairs represent a car with the driver in front and two passengers behind. They stop for a hitchhiker and the three players in the car rotate so that the driver leaves, the passenger furthest from the hitchhiker moves to the driver’s position, the passenger closest to the hitchhiker moves to the other passenger seat, and the hitchhiker can enter and sit in the empty seat."

"The hitchhiker enters with a strong character choice that’s different that the one previously in the car. As the other players in the scene identify the character, they take on that same character choice. The three players in the car all have the same characteristics and we’ll see a very short scene with them before the driver or one of the passengers notices the next person in line; the next hitchhiker. They stop the car, rotate positions, and then react to the hitchhiker’s new character.”

Details: There should be a line that forms on one side of the stage, where the hitchhikers will enter the car. The scenes are very short, just long enough to establish that all three players have the same characteristics.

And that point cannot be emphasized enough: all the players have the same characteristics. They are not playing opposite or against the hitchhiker character. The entire car becomes filled with same character type.

Game: Freeze Tag

Number of players: 3 or more Tags: Exercise, large group, warm up, cool down, all levels

When: This is a large group warm-up exercise and a large group cool down exercise.

Overview: A series of short, two person scenes is performed, and the transition between scenes occurs when a player outside of the current scene calls "freeze" and then replaces one of the performers. Poses are held through the freeze, and the new player assumes the pose of the replaced player. Each scene is independent of the previous scene, the only influence being the physical pose at the time of the freeze.

Introduction: "This will be a series of short, two person scenes. At any time, two people will be playing their scene in the middle and someone on the outer circle will yell 'freeze.' At that point the performers freeze in their current positions. The freezer steps up to one of the previous performers and taps him or her on the shoulder. The tapped out person will go back out to the circle, the person entering assumes the pose, and then that new player also starts a new scene. The new scene must justify the poses of both players. Once the who, what, and where are portrayed, then someone else in the circle can yell 'freeze' to start a new scene. These are meant to be short scenes, so get the who, what, and where out quickly."

"Also, do not wait to freeze a scene only when you have a new scene in mind. The idea is to freeze on an interesting pose and wait until you get into that pose before you come up with a scene. Let the physical pose inform the scene."

Details: The entire class forms a circle, and the introduction is given. During the introduction, the director will get two players into the middle of the circle. After the introduction, these two will immediately start a short scene. They will be interrupted by someone else in the group who shouts "freeze". The two players instantly stop the scene, freezing in their current positions. The player who yelled "freeze" steps up to either of the two players, taps that player out, and assumes the player's pose. The tapped out player goes back out to the circle. The new player will start a new scene with new characters and will justify the position of the characters. After a short time, another player in the outer circle will yell "freeze" and the cycle will repeat.

Each scene is meant to be short, just getting out the who, what, and where. If the scenes are going too long, I will tell everyone to get to more freezes. If I see some reluctant players, I'll freeze the current scene and call out the reluctant player to step in and start a new scene as if they were the one who yelled "freeze."

Occasionally, two people will yell "freeze" at the same time. We've taken to calling this a double freeze, and both of the freezers step forward and take over the two existing poses, tapping out both of the previous performers. Either of the new players can start the new scene.

Variation 1: Break the entire class up into groups of three. These groups are spread around the classroom. Now, freeze tag will always have 1 person not doing the scene who is obviously the next freezer. This forces everyone to participate and a player can only sit out one scene before they have to go back in.

Variation 2: The entire class lines up with their backs against a wall except for the first two in line who turn to face the wall. Two players are in the open area where most of the other players are facing, and they start off performing a short scene. The third person in line (after the two facing the wall) will yell "freeze" when the performers are in an interesting pose. At that point, the first person in line will turn out and quickly move towards the frozen performers. That player immediately taps one of the two performers out, assumes that players pose and starts a new scene. The tapped out player runs to the end of the line. Everyone in line takes a step towards the front of the line, the person who yelled "freeze" now turns towards the wall, and the new third person in line watches for a freeze. Repeat until everyone has had a chance to start a new scene.

This variation is sometimes called "Double Blind Freeze Tag" because the player who has to start a new scene hasn't seen the previous two scenes and has no preconceived notion of what they are stepping into.

Game: One Word Story

Number of players: 2 or more (although more than 20 can be unwieldy) Tags: Exercise, Large Group, All Levels, Narrative

When: This is a large group warm-up exercise

Overview: A group of players will tell a story while standing in a circle. But, each person will add only one word at a time as the focus goes around the circle to build sentences and the story.

Introduction: "We're going to tell a story, but each of us can only add one word at a time as we go around the circle building up sentences. Because you only get to add one word to the story each rotation, individually you're not going to have a big impact on the plot. Don't get hung up on the perfect word; instead just say a word that keeps the sentence going. If you need a name, use the ones already mentioned. Same with objects, actions, or emotions. The more you can reincorporate ideas in the story, the tighter it will become. You'll notice us go off the rails when someone introduces a new concept into an established story. Now, who has a title for this story?"

Details: The class is broken up into one or more groups so that each group has less that 20 players. A group stands in a circle, not quite shoulder to shoulder. The introduction is given, and then someone in the group comes up with a title for the story. That persons starts by giving the first word. A direction is established, and then sentences are built up. Punctuation is usually implied, but if someone says the punctuation out loud, it is NOT their word. That person still needs to add a word to the story.

The story is ended by the director at an appropriate time, typically some sort of resolution, but sometimes when the story has completely gone off the rails. However, our group has found a common way to end a scene by starting a sentence with the sequence "The moral of the story is .." and then creating a moral. With more experienced players, just starting a sentence with the word "The" is enough to let everyone know that we'll end with a moral. The director still decides when the moral is complete, although this is a more obvious call.