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It is much easier to learn an improv game by seeing it than by reading the structure in words. A teacher in Texas has put together a great demonstration of different improve games. Once you veiw the one below you can find the host of others.
Use the improv icebreaker called Movement Evolution to focus on listening and repeating. Learn the improv comedy icebreaker Movement Evolution in this free theater acting video from a teacher of improvisation.
Expert: Shana Merlin
Bio: Shana Merlin carries more than 1000 hours of teaching under her belt, and is one of the most experienced and effective improv teachers in Central Texas.
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Here is an excerpt from the book “Meet Your Playful Self” that talks about what is going on as people play the games and exercises.
Ha…Ha…
What is the unexpected result of this exercise that ALWAYS happens? When people push themselves out of the safety zone and begin to screw up, everyone will laugh. This will happen. Yet, unless someone points this out, no one will even notice it. In my early days of doing this work I missed it too.
I have watched the mood of the group lighten into laughter as people misspeak, and then asked; did anyone notice what just happened? Most often people will not have noticed their reaction to each other’s screw ups. When it is pointed out I ask, why is that happening? Why do we find our mistakes funny? What changed? What is going on?
Isn’t this reaction the same as the example used to define improvisation in the introduction of the book? This definition of an improvised moment is also reinforced on home video shows. Isn’t this what happens in all the “most funny videos”? A bride catches her dress on a nail and is left walking down the church aisle suddenly quite naked.
Yes. When we screw up playing zip, zap, zoop by saying or doing something outside the rules or expectations, we find the screw up is funny, just as we do when the bride catches her dress on a nail. So, we not only discovered, but actually experienced improvisation, didn’t we? In the workshop we are not left naked in our undees in a church but we are left naked with our screw up as we tried to accomplish a simple exercise. We have moved into the world of the unexpected, we have moved outside of the established rules, we have moved into this uncharted, intuitive, playful place.
After pointing out how the group has found this humor in each other’s missteps, and how the reaction would have gone unnoticed unless someone called attention to it, I ask another question. Before asking it, I tell the group not to answer the question out loud but just to formulate an answer for themselves. How do you feel now, compared to the way you felt when you first entered the room? Of course, you may guess the answer. When we stumble into the intuitive and reach our playful self we feel lighter, more relaxed, and open.
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