workshopgameslist

ABC

Improvisers play a scene in which EACH line they speak begins with the next sequential letter of the alphabet from A to Z (or the audience can choose a letter that serves as your beginning/ending point).  For instance, one improviser will begin their first sentence with the letter A, all following sentences may begin with any letter.  The second improviser begins their line of dialogue with the letter B, etc.

Complaint Department

This is an "out" game.  One player works in the complaint department of a store.  The other player is the customer and goes out into the hallways.  The audience chooses an item for the customer to return.  The customer enters and tries to return an item.  The other improviser must not only supply clues to the customer as to his/her object, but must also accept and justify all the offers made by the customer.  The audience snaps when the customer is close, claps when s/he succeeds.

Deadline

The audience will supply a deadline.  The two improvisers will build a scene around that deadline, one with high status and one with low status.  Throughout the course of the scene, they will switch status.

Freeze Tag

In this game, two players begin by simply moving in a free-form way until the coach yells "Freeze."  Based on their frozen position, they must then begin a scene.  Other players may call "Freeze" any time they see a position that inspires them.  That player will then take the exact position of one of the frozen players and establish a completely new scenario.  This repeats.

Get off the Bench

This is a silent game.  Three improvisers sit motionless on a bench, staring straight ahead.  Slowly, a physical offer is made by one of the players which must be copied by the others.  Once all three players are in unison, players may add on.  Players continue to add until they manage to all get off the bench at once.

In a ______, With a ______

Improvisors get the audience to fill in the blanks with a non-geographic location and a noun.  The scene does not necessarily have to begin with the suggestions, but may move toward that moment.  Or it may begin at the suggestion and proceed wherever it might.

Mystery Expert

This is an "out" game.  One player is the host of a talk show, the other player is the guest and goes out into the hallway.  The audience chooses a noun and a verb ending in -ing... this is the guest's expertise.  The guest enters and must engage in the interview as if s/he knows what his/her expertise is.  The host supplies clues until the guest is able to guess his/her expertise.  The audience snaps when the guest is close, claps when s/he succeeds.

Sit, Stand, Bend Over

This is a silent game.  At any given time, one improviser must be standing, one sitting and one bending over.  This can also be played with a spoken scenario and the players must justify their positions at any given time.

Superheroes

The audience gives a suggestion of a crisis facing the city.  One player is the commissioner and starts on stage.  S/he will find a reason to introduce a superhero to help solve the situation - choosing a name as the superhero is sent for.  The next player will enter as that superhero, find a way for his/her powers to save the day and then find a need (and choosing a name) for the next superhero.  This progresses through 3 superheroes in total.

World's Worst

Players stand in a line.  The host will choose a category and players are free to step forward at any time to give a brief offer of the world's worst example of that category.

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