Improv/Games
Improv Offer/Suggestion
When you give or get an idea from the audience
Objective
A goal that the character wants to achieve
Volume
The relative loudness of one's voice. Soft or hard.
Pantomime
Acting without words, or sounds, or mouthing of words. Acting in silence.
Prop
Anything the actor HOLDS on stage. Mostly used to develop STAGE BUSINESS.
Funeral
One player is the deceased. Audience suggests an odd or peculiar way to die, and then the death is played. After death, the dead gets back into her coffin and we return to the service. Then, taking turns, guests at the funeral service step up and present, in a monologue, their experience with the deceased. After each monologue what was described is played, like a flash-back.
Fourth Wall
The imaginary wall that divides you from the audience. This wall is created in your mind and for you to better see, listen and react to the world you create.
Setting
The location and time in which the scene is taking place. Scenes cannot shift time. If you have a new time, you have a new scene.
Dialogue
Two or more people speaking with specific objectives.
Cheat Out
Opening our body for visibility on stage.
Dating Game
“The Dating Game” is based on the TV game show popular in the US in the 1960s. A contestant (player or audience member) asks questions of three bachelors (or bachelorettes) who are hidden from view. The contestant chooses one of them with whom to go out with on a date.
Stage Business
Actions that define character.
Wings
The space off stage - beyond the sight of the audience, just past the legs.
Scene
Written dialogue and blocking with a specific setting, relationship, conflict, objectives from a larger play or existing on its own
Cross
To travel on stage, marked by an X in your blocking
Improv Blocking
Refusing an idea
Motivation
The reason WHY a character incites action
Beat
A Pause. A breath. A small change.
Gibberish
Gibberish is a nonsense LANGUAGE. Gibberish has variety in pitch, volume, and tempo to convey meaning of the performer.
Aside
When you are speaking directly to the audience - breaking the fourth wall.
Improv Gifts
Information you create that helps the scene progress, and could help your scene partner develop more ideas for the scene.
“Raise the Stakes”
Intensify the importance of your choice
Beat Change
A pause and change. An appraisal of ideas, redirection of tactic. A new way of approaching a need.
Monologue
One person speaking to a specific audience with a specific objective.
Stage Directions
UP - toward back of stage away from audience.
Down - toward the audience.
Left and right - performers left and right.
¼ ½ of the way between down and left or right
¾ ½ of the way between up and left or right