ArtsWork - Drama & Theatre Source Book

Introduction
Drama/Theatre
Plays
Playwriting/Screenwriting
	Character Game Character from History Scenarios Sceenplay Dialogue Examples 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade Infanta Little Princess
Theatre Artists Work Together

Acting
	Warm-Ups Improvisation Examples Improvisation Starters
Scene Design/ Environment
	Environment Intro Making an Environment Setting Collage Floor Plan Props Finding Props Costume Renderings

Directing

Criticism & Audience
	Creating the Play Designing the Play Performing the Play Seeing the Play/ Movie
Storytelling
	Examples & Outline Practicing your story
Dance
	Careers Warm-Up
Pageant
Puppet Show
Tableau
Teachers Guide

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Students > Theatre Book > Improvisation

Improvisation

Improvisation is making up things as you go along. Kids use improvisation to make up dramas about what they’re reading or studying in school. It is fun to improvise. We’re all good at coming up with new ideas.

We’re always surprised at the good ideas we come up with for dialogue. We also find that doing improvisation helps us understand our characters better.

Often if we have an idea for how a scene begins, we can find out things that might happen next or how the story ends if we improvise it.

Improvisation is fun.

It helps actors learn

to listen to the other characters
to think on their feet
to use props and move on stage
to use an “outside voice” with enough volume to be heard
to stay in character, to concentrate on the scene
to discover the meaning of the scene they are doing

It helps playwrights figure out

how their characters get along with the other characters
what dialogue their characters might use
if the ideas for the story make sense
if the meaning of their drama is clear to the audience

Improvisation Examples

Let's try an improvisation now. I'll pretend to be the teacher and say:
Teacher: Where is your homework?
You'll answer: ?

Or I might pretend to be your mother and say:
Mother: You're late. Where have you been?
And you'll answer: ?

See, you've got good ideas!

Each person is different. See the pictures of all the different people. Some are old; some are young. Some are with their family; some are at work. Each person talks differently. They also talk differently in different places. At home, people may not talk the same way they do at work or at school.

In drama, you'll be characters that are different from you. Let's try an improvisation with you being a different person.

I'll be the kid. I'll say:
Kid: Mom, I need a dollar for candy.
You be the Mom and answer:

Let's try again. I'll be the student and say:
I don't have my homework. My puppy ate it.
You be the teacher. You answer:

You and I were creating dialogue. We were coming up with new ideas. When we create dialogue, characters and a problem/story for a drama, there are no right or wrong answers. Some ideas might fit better. Some ideas may be better for the audience, the people who hear and see the drama. But all of our ideas are worthwhile. You are creative. I'm excited that I had a chance to create a dialogue with you.

Find a partner and see if you and your partner can create
several more dialogues based on the “starters” below. See if you can keep the dialogue going until the problem is solved.


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