Acting Improv Is Here!
Fall is now in full-swing: the leaves are changing, we are drowning in all things pumpkin and stuffing our faces full of apple pie, and those, er, *lovely* Spirit Halloween stores can be seen popping up in our neighborhood shopping plazas.
Here at Rising Stars, we love fall and Halloween as much as the next music-and-theater-activities-for-youth-company. Perhaps even more. Which is why we are very excited to bring to you a super fun workshop series to make this awesome time of year even better:
Act Out!
An Acting Improvisation Workshop
for ages 10-15
Session I: October 31
Session II: November 7
Session III: November 21
Never heard of acting improv? Not sure what it is? Well then read on!
Acting improvisation, or improv, is a form of theater where the plot, characters, and dialogue are created collaboratively by the actors on the spot. In other words, it is acting without a script, and it is one of the most helpful creative tools in an actor's arsenal.
But like, you think, what does that mean, exactly?
If you've done theater before, it's likely that you've played "improv games" or "theater games," probably as warm-up exercises or ice-breakers. Some examples of these games include versions of the Name Game, in which each participant introduces him/herself with an accompanying gesture and/or word (check out the video below); Pass-the-Motion, where an original physical motion and an accompanying sound are passed along and changed slightly with each person; or Pass-the-Object, where each participant must come up with an alternate use for an ordinary object that is passed around the circle.
These theater games are the basis for acting improv. Yes, they are fun and are great ice-breakers and can be helpful in recalling someone's name, but more importantly, they require quick, on-the-feet thinking, teamwork, and lots of creativity.
Longer, more advanced forms of improv include games like "Sit/Stand/Lean" and "Party Quirks." These games, especially "Sit/Stand/Lean," are more like scenes created by the actors as they unfold - there are characters and situations, and each scene has a clear beginning, middle, and end. Remember that show Whose Line Is It Anyway? That's the kind of thing we're talking about.
So why is improv such an important tool for actors?
1. Acting improv is SPONTANEOUS. On-the-spot, quick thinking is incredibly important for actors. If you've ever been on stage and someone has forgotten a line, or done something different from the blocking you've rehearsed, you probably had to improvise a little bit to keep the scene moving in the right direction. A Go-with-the-flow, roll-with-the-punches kind of thing. This kind of on-your-feet thinking is part of what improv teaches you to do.
2. It fosters CREATIVITY. While you may be given a situation and perhaps the types of characters involved in an improv scene, it is up to you and the other actors to create the dialogue and the progression of the scene. It is up to you to determine how the characters relate to one another and how those relationships affect the outcome of the situation. And since no two scenes are alike, you get to create something different every time, causing you to think more and more outside the box.
3. You learn to take creative RISKS. Trust me, this is a good thing. The more creative risks you take, the more effective an actor you will be. Directors and audiences want to see actors who make bold dramatic choices. Improv allows you to develop your risk-taking skills in a secure, non-judgemental environment.
4. It fosters TEAMWORK. Improv is all about working with and relating to other actors and their characters. It is about creating an environment where everyone's input is valued and no one's risks are judged. It is about being flexible when another actor takes the scene in a different direction than you had maybe envisioned. It is about learning to work with and learning from all different types of people.
So, register for our sessions! You can register for one, two, or all three!*
Session I will focus on the basics - physical creativity and playing with different objects. Session II will focus on slighly longer games that involve more interaction among the players. Session III will tie everything together with some full scenes and more extended games!
*In order to participate in Session III, we highly recommend doing at least one of our two previous sessions, especially if you have never done improv before.
So, hop on over to our Workshops tab and fill out your registration form today! You will have fun, we promise.
