The following is a list of exercises that will help to strengthen your acting troupe in the fundamentals of theater. We will start with getting your people comfortable with each other, then following that will be exercises to develop strong characters, then end with improvisation games!

Ice Breakers

These games are ideal to loosen up an unfamiliar crowd, or get a tight knit group focused and full of energy.

Soundball: Have the group stand in a circle facing each other. Establish an imaginary ball. Take turns tossing the ball across the circle, from one person to another. On each toss, the person throwing the ball must accompany it with an original sound. The person receiving the ball must mimic the sound as they are catching it, then throw it to a different person with their own sound, and so on. Make sure that the thrower/receiver make definite eye contact, and that the sounds stay original and are not repeated. This game is good for strengthening eye contact, quick, uncensored thinking, and accepting what a fellow actor gives. The worst thing an actor can do is reject what another actor gives and/or says "no." This will be expanded upon in the improv section.

Adjective/Action Name game: Have the group stand in a circle facing each other. Pick one person to start and continue around the circle, one after another. What each person must do is say - "Hi, my name is _______-_______!" In the first blank they must say an adjective that describes them AND starts with the same letter as their name. The second blank is their name. While they are saying their descriptive name, they must also accompany it with an appropriate action. For example, my name is David. If it were my turn, I would draw out a long sword from a sheathe as I say - "Hi! My name is Dashing David!" The entire group then repeats the action and says "Hi, Dashing David!" Then it moves to the next person until everyone has done it. Not only is this game good for learning everyone's name, it also gets people moving around and acting silly, while having their ideas accepted by the group. It is a very affirming, positive game. It also encourages creative, unconventional thinking.

Mirror Game: Pair off the group and have each couple face each other. Choose one person to be the "mover" and the other is the "mirror." Have them establish eye contact for a minute or so, which they CANNOT break for the duration of the exercise. The mover slowly begins to move, slow movements with the hands and arms, head etc., while the mirror copies exactly what the mover is doing. Again, eye contact cannot be broken. It is not the movers job to fool the mirror or go so fast that the mirror cannot keep up. The object is for an outside observer not be able to tell who is the mover and who is the mirror. After five minutes of so, switch the mirror/mover in mid motion and continue for another five minutes or so. The strength of this game is getting actors used to making eye contact with each other, without laughing- which may occur the first time this game is played. It also gets actors used to observing and being aware of what fellow actors are doing.

TRUST GAMES

Trust Circle: Have the group stand in a tight circle, shoulders touching with one member in the middle. The person in the middle should cross their arms over their chest and stand straight. It is important that the person in the middle, NOT bend their knees. The people in the circle should put their hands up, ready to catch the person in the middle. Now, the person in the middle closes their eyes and falls into the circle. The people in the circle slowly push the middle person around the circle- around and across, while the person in the middle just enjoys the ride. Again, the person in the middle needs to keep their legs and back straight, just pivoting around the ankles. They are trusting the circle to keep them upright and within the circle. (After a minuet or so, it is actually very relaxing!) Do this until everyone in the group has been in the middle of the circle.

Lead by Voice Game: Split your group in pairs. Have one set of the pairs form a large circle with the others in the middle. Go around the circle and have each person say, "cookie" three times. The corresponding parter must listen very carefully to their partner. The group in the middle closes their eyes and the circle moves briefly so that the ones in the middle are unaware of where their partner is. Then the partner must guide their other half back to them using only their voice, and the word "cookie."