by Gary Schwartz | Jan 26, 2021 | Improv Games, Warm Up Games
Single File is a good game to play with younger players. It promotes a lot of interaction and cooperation. Players split into two teams. One team lines up and stands at attention while the other team watches. Then they run out of the room or behind a screen and...
by Gary Schwartz | Jan 24, 2021 | Improv Games, Lecture / Explanation, Sensory Awareness, Spacewalks, Viola Spolin, Warm Up Games
Theater Games for the Classroom Project Or Sameaj Montessori in Mexico City teacher/student training program In 2019 I was invited by film director and founder of Or Sameaj Montessori, Jack Zagha Kababbie to conduct a series of Spolin Improv workshops for teachers at...
by Gary Schwartz | Oct 9, 2020 | Games, Warm Up Games
Name 6 is a great warm-up game to encourage ‘fun under pressure’. Everyone stands in a circle and one person has a bean-bag or other object to be used as a ‘hot potato’. The person designated as IT turns their back so they cannot see where the...
by Gary Schwartz | Jan 25, 2020 | Games, Orientation, Warm Up Games
Playing with the Unknown This game is a traditional game that asks the audience to communicate with a song, what action the one who goes out of the room must do. By playing “Hot and Cold” i.e., singing louder or softer as the guesser gets close to...
by Gary Schwartz | Apr 11, 2019 | Games, Improv Games, Orientation, Refining Awareness, Sensory Awareness, Warm Up Games
Extended Sound Individuals send sound and get it to land on an object across the room. Watch for physical involvement with the sound production. More than asking to speak up, this exercise asks you to make the sound LAND. Words travel with impact. FOCUS On keeping the...
by Gary Schwartz | Feb 12, 2019 | Refining Awareness, Warm Up Games
Relating an Incident – Adding Color Active Listening This is a good warm-up to the exercise VERBALIZING THE WHERE. In this exercise, Player A narrates a simple story. I.e., “I was walking down the street and saw a parked car, blocking the house on the...
by Gary Schwartz | Oct 18, 2018 | Improv Games, Orientation, Warm Up Games
High energy warm-up This children’s game is a favorite. Play for fun and also to incorporate an intro to “What is my Occupation?” You can also use it to work on the sensory exercises in orientation. Viola would often play this instead of Seeing a...
by Gary Schwartz | Oct 18, 2018 | Improv Games, Improvisation for the Theater, Lecture / Explanation, Spontaneity, Warm Up Games
Exits and Entrance – discussion Judgment and Other Blocks to Improvising The more blocked or opinionated the student, the longer the process. The more blocked and opinionated the teacher, the longer the process. My Big Breakthrough. The story I relate in this...
by Gary Schwartz | Oct 18, 2018 | Giberish, Improv Games, Orientation, Warm Up Games
Gibberish is used to communicate The mistake a lot of people make, is that gibberish is just a bunch of fun noise to be blathered and have some people make up what they can based on the attitude and gestures. Connecting their clever lines to some aspect of what...
by Gary Schwartz | Oct 18, 2018 | Improv Games, Orientation, Warm Up Games
Energy boost Drawing Objects in teams creates a lot of fun and great energy. Use it when energy is low or as a prelude to quick selection. Adjust as the equipment requires Two white boards and marker pens are a good way to do this game. Blackboards work too....
by Gary Schwartz | Oct 18, 2018 | Improv Games, Orientation, Warm Up Games
On Becoming Part of a Larger Object You can call out things like “Use your whole body!” to help them become involved. Or, if you see a few ‘hanging back’ you can just call out in general “Take a risk and join in!” This should be...
by Gary Schwartz | Oct 18, 2018 | Improv Games, Orientation, Space Objects, Warm Up Games
Part of a Whole: Activity (WHAT) “Show, don’t tell.” “See what’s going on and join in.” “Become part of the whole!” As Viola says in the book, this group interaction should create flow and energy. Repeat the game until...
by Gary Schwartz | Oct 18, 2018 | Improv Games, Lecture / Explanation, Sensory Awareness, Spacewalks, Viola Spolin, Warm Up Games
Welcome to the Spacewalks Page SIDE COACHING SPACE WALK GAMES/ EXERCISES Space walks should be given often as warm-ups and the side coach must participate actively in these exercises. Spacewalks are appropriate for any group, (classroom, workshop, or show warm-up). It...
by Gary Schwartz | Oct 18, 2018 | Improv Games, Orientation, Sensory Awareness, Warm Up Games
A Quick and Simple Warm-up This can be done at student’s desks if in a classroom, or just before going on stage, or whenever. Coach yourself if you can. It creates mindfulness.
by Gary Schwartz | Oct 18, 2018 | Improv Games, Lecture / Explanation, Orientation, Refining Awareness, Sensory Awareness, Spacewalks, Warm Up Games
Playing in Slow Motion Slow motion is a great sidecoach to use when you are feeling urgent or panic in a scene. Coaching slow motion re-focuses the players and they have more time to see without stopping . Understanding the difference between true Slow Motion and...
by Gary Schwartz | Oct 18, 2018 | Improv Games, Orientation, Warm Up Games
High energy warm-up This children’s game is a favorite. Play for fun and whenever the class or workshop needs a boost to keep the energy and spirits high. The more groups, especially work groups play for even a few minutes a day, it strengthens bonds, creates...
by Gary Schwartz | Oct 18, 2018 | Improv Games, Orientation, Viola Spolin, Warm Up Games
High energy warm-up Play for fun and also to get everyone used to seeing and using space objects. The fun is as important as the developing skill. But don’t make any recreational game into a “lesson”. It spoils the fun.
by Gary Schwartz | Oct 18, 2018 | Improv Games, Orientation, Warm Up Games
Red Light / Green Light Jump Rope Dodge Ball Lemonade Magic Music Playground Games Marbles, Hop Scotch, etc.
by Gary Schwartz | Oct 18, 2018 | Improv Games, Orientation, Warm Up Games
A very good warm-up This game is a favorite. I like this in favor of Zip, Zap, Zop or other such games. It is physical, requires players look, see and agree instantly to trade corners. Lot’s of action and daring can happen without hesitation because being Kitty...
by Gary Schwartz | Oct 18, 2018 | Improv Games, Orientation, Viola Spolin, Warm Up Games
Steal the Bacon Viola Spolin in a rare video conducting ending a workshop session with the traditional game of Steal the Bacon or Bring Home the Bacon. From a workshop at the University of Utah in 1972
by Gary Schwartz | Oct 18, 2018 | Improv Games, Viola Spolin, Warm Up Games
Save a Friend Tag Viola Spolin in a rare video, shows her group of players “Save-a-Friend-Tag’ from the Handbook of Recreational Games by Neva Boyd (her teacher and inspiration). This was part of the workshop session to get energy up, keep people involved...
by Gary Schwartz | Oct 18, 2018 | Improv Games, Warm Up Games
Storytelling meets Musical Chairs A traditional game that gets the energy flowing and everyone enjoying making up and contributing to a story. Fun anytime, but especially as a warm-up for Build a Story.
by Gary Schwartz | Oct 18, 2018 | Improv Games, Warm Up Games
Practice pushing the limits of spontaneous response. Although not the same game Numbers Change in the book. (pg. 407), Viola had us play this game several times. The aim is to enhance your impulse to respond instantly. I think also it gets everyone used to working at...
by Gary Schwartz | Oct 18, 2018 | Verbal Agility, Warm Up Games
Practice pushing the limits of spontaneous story building. This is a version of Build a Story – One-Word-at-a-Time, often called Story, Story Die! Rather than being an elimination game and creating a funny death to celebrate your failure, this version allows you...
by Gary Schwartz | Oct 18, 2018 | Follow the Follower, Improv Games, Mirror Games, Orientation, Sidecoaching, Warm Up Games
Following the Follower gives the players a Direct Experience This most essential exercise has many variations. Note the sidecoaching is not done to any one person, but in general, allowing each team to use what they need and ignore the coach if already doing it. Also...
by Gary Schwartz | Oct 18, 2018 | Follow the Follower, Improv Games, Mirror Games, Orientation, Warm Up Games
Variations of Mirror This most essential exercise has many variations. Three Way Mirror is a good problem to face once Two person mirror is solved. There are other variations. Who Started the Motion warm-up game, Mirror/Sub-Teams, Fun House Mirror, where each...
