In these handles, the focus is on the scene itself.  Still, some very interesting twists can come into play…

Change / Shoulda Said

(2 players)

Two players play out a scene.  Any time the emcee or other designated person rings a bell or calls “Change,” the indicated player must change what he/she just did or said. 

Freeze Tag

(all players)

This game has many variations, but in the version we play the most, two players play out a scene.  If anyone else onstage yells “Freeze!”, the actors in the scene must do so, and then the Freeze caller must either tap out one of the actors in the scene, assuming the same physical position, or enter the scene space and start a brand new scene with the others. 

Foreign Film Dub

(4 players)

Two players are given a made-up movie title and a foreign language.  They then play a scene from the movie speaking only in (as close as possible to) the language they’ve been given.  The other two players, the “dubbers,” alternate translating the foreign language into English. 

Moving Scenery

(2-4 players)

Two players play a scene.  The other two serve as every prop the other two actors need in the scene.  This game is frequently played with one or two audience members in place of the two Lab Rats ”props” players. 

Open Scene

(2 or more players)

Two or more improv actors get a suggestion from the audience and play a wide-open scene.  Yep.  That’s it.  They just improvise a scene, free to do whatever they want in it.  We guarantee it’s more entertaining than you might think.

Rotating Scenes

(4 players)

The audience supplies four scene inspirations.  We usually ask for an object (like a shoelace), a location (like a desert island), a profession (like a barber), and an idea (like honor or transcendentalism).  The actors position themselves in more or less a square, with two onstage and two waiting behind.   The onstage actors (Players A and B) play a scene based on the object.  When “Rotate!” is called, player A exits and player C comes on.  Players B and C play a brand new scene based on the location.  “Rotate!” is called, player B exits, and player D comes on, joining player C in a scene about the chosen profession, and so forth and so forth, until the four unrelated scenes finally (hopefully) come together in a natural and entertaining conclusion. 

Sound Effects

(2 players)

One player mimes a scene by himself/herself, while the other provides the sound effects. 

Stage Directions

(2 players)

Prior to the game, suggestions are collected from the audience for actions for the scene’s players to do during the scene.  For example, “washing a cat,” “fighting in the war,” and “having a baby” are popular.  These suggestions are all folded up and scattered all over the stage.  The two players then play out a scene based on a different suggestion given by the audience.  During the scene, they must pick up the action suggestions and DO them, while working them into the scene at the same time. 

Styles

(2 players)

Two players play a scene normally.  Then, the emcee calls freeze and supplies a new film or theatre style for the players to emulate as they continue the scene (”spaghetti western,” “film noir,” and “Swedish porn” are popular).  The process repeats until the scene is over or the audience is satisfied.

Town Crisis

(6 players)

A suggestion is taken from the audience for a crisis that a small town could experience.  Six players- each taking on a unique and elaborate character- give interrupted monologues describing their experience with the crisis.  In the beginning, each story is unrelated.  Eventually, the unrelated threads come together as the town unites to solve the crisis. 

Whose Line (Is it Anyway?)

(2 players)

Prior to the game, the audience gives suggestions for one-liners that could be inserted into any scene.  These lines are written on strips of paper.  Two players then take 2-3 lines each and tuck them away, without reading them, ready to pull them out and insert them at opportune (or inopportune!) moments of the scene.