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Acting Games for Theater Class

In theater class, acting games are not only enjoyable but these games also serve the purpose of giving students practice, developing acting skills, encouraging camaraderie and keeping acting training fresh. The most effective acting games encourage the participants to work together to accomplish a common goal.
  1. Bus Ride

    • To play bus ride, set up chairs to mimic the inside of a bus, choose three to four students to be characters and instruct the remaining students to sit in the chairs Each student will enter the bus with a specific characteristic, such as a flirt or snob, or emotion, such as depression or joy. The students enter the bus one at a time acting out their character or emotion. Once all the passengers on the bus figure out what the character represents, the passengers must follow the lead and begin to take on the characteristic or emotion.

    Fairy Tale

    • To play fairy tale, instruct the class to pick seven or eight elements of a story or fairy tale such as falling trees, lightening or stampeding horses. Assign each element a sound, such as stomping feet for stampeding horses. Divide the students in half and instruct one group to plan the story including the elements and the other group to providing the movement and sound for each element. After the first group completes the story planning, bring the groups together and have the group act out the story.

    Human Machine

    • To play human machine, instruct each student to assume a function and sound of a part of a machine. Participants can stand, sit, lie or squat while assuming the machine part; however, the position assumed must be a pose that is sustainable for a long period. After each student assumes a position, "work" the machine by using different gears and causing different parts to function and make sounds. End the activity by "breaking down" the machine part by part.

    Telling a Lie

    • To play telling a lie, instruct two students to sit facing each other and have the remaining students assume the role of audience. Advise the two students that they are siblings or best friends. Ask a question, such as “why is your bedroom set up on the front lawn?” and have the two students take turns explaining. At any time, the audience can ask questions that the students must answer. Ask the students to be creative and avoid giving logical explanations.

Stage Acting

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