The Theatre Classroom -- Part 7: Improv Activity With Small Groups

Given Titles

Split your class into groups of five actors. Inform the groups that they must create a scene to fit the title they are given, which you have written beforehand on your 3x5 cards. You could have all the titles in a hat and one person could draw the title — that way your students can’t say that you favored one group over another by giving them the “easy” piece. Not that that would ever happen! They will have exactly 3 minutes to discuss the scene quietly before you say, “Places.” The only rule is that they cannot say the title in the improvisation.

When you say “Places,” actors must take their position for the opening of the scene and freeze. Actors who enter after the scene has begun stand offstage. The scene is to begin when you call “Curtain.” Hopefully everyone in your class will be able to do this activity in one class period. I would not, however, give out the titles to each group at the same time — the groups not performing will want to talk about their presentation as other groups are performing. 

Here are some suggested titles to use in this exercise:

-Custer's Last Stand

-Monsters Have Feelings, Too

-George Washington at Home

-The Yellow Brick Road

-The Big Bully

-Maria's Birthday Party

-The Marriage Proposal

-The Sandbox

-The Pet Shop

-The Operation

-The Will

-The Detective

-Expectant Father

-The Submarine

-Rich People’s First Date

-Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

-Substitute Teacher

-The Robot

-Superman's Problem

-Freddy the Frog

-Valentine's Day

-Book Report

-Wedding Anniversary

-The Exterminator

As always, urge the actors to concentrate on telling the story and play it as realistically as possible — no stereotypes. As the scene develops, be alert for overacting or lack of concentration. If necessary, freeze the action to call attention to such faults. Allow a good scene to run no longer than 4 minutes; a poor one should be cut very short. After the scene is over, ask the audience what the title was. This would also be a good time to use the Student Evaluation Form.