Actor’s Challenge: Competitive Improv Games
Improv is a fun and entertaining activity that allows actors to practice their craft. However over time, overuse of the same improv games can leave actors less interested in participating. As a result, I created Actor’s Challenge, which added a competitive element to our improv. Actor’s Challenge is simply a a collection of fun, team-building activities for the purpose of warming up, strengthening improv, acting skills, and teamwork. Of course the competitive element isn’t necessary to enjoy these activities, but when we do them, my actors get excited on a completely different level.
How It Works
For each Actor’s Challenge, students/actors get into groups of 4-5. Each group completes the same improv. Then the groups perform separately, each group trying to be the best. I took several improv games that I was already familiar with along with many new ones that would work well for groups of about 4-5. Next, I created a slideshow so that I could pull them up quickly. I like to surprise the students/actors with an improv by calling out “Actor’s Challenge!” When I do this, they know that it’s time to get into their groups for an improv challenge. They get really excited when we do these.
Choosing A Winner
The groups get really competitive, so you’ll need to be prepared to decide on a winner each time. I choose winners based on 1. who follows the challenge rules the closest, 2. who performed the best and/or most completely, and 3. how well they worked together.
Optional Bonus Points or Prizes
In a classroom setting, while not necessary, you can offer bonus points or prizes to the winning group. Some years, I tally points for the winners of each challenge and then give bonus to the winning group at the end of the grading quarter. Other times, if I have prizes or rewards available, I offer those. All of the rewards are inexpensive or free. Many of mine are leftover items from circus game prizes that we did in the lobby at intermission of our production of Freak. Some are gift cards donated from local restaurants. Others are extra gifts from previous years that were ordered for goody bags at Thespian Awards Assembly.
Actor’s Challemge Slideshow
Click HERE for my Actor’s Challenge slideshow, which is loaded with lots of improv games that work well for teams of 4-5. Feel free to make a copy for yourself and adapt it as needed so that it will work best for you and your actors. Have fun, and break a leg!
You might also like…
If you enjoyed this post, you might also like my post Murder Mystery Theatre, The Game. (By the way, that’s me in the image below, in the Sherlock Holmes Museum in London!)
