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By Eddie James
12/2/2008
As Tom and I finished a Youth Worker Seminar in Pittsburgh recently, we did something we hadn't done before in a regular seminar: we asked for volunteers. This can be a scary prospect when you don't know anyone sitting in the crowd and don't know why they are there, but we took the chance.
We knew we had about an hour to show these fine workers how they could incorporate improvisational drama in an easy fashion. We asked for volunteers - some to give us topics and some to act them out - and away we went. Everyone in the room was amazed, including Tom and myself, at how funny the results turned out to be.
I say all this to say, our blueprint works. I shouldn't be astonished by it, but it's always a little risky asking for someone to get on stage and act out or improvise. When we talk about improv, the purpose of acting on the spot is not so much to play games but to produce actual skits. Improv is every bit as important as drama games when it comes to stretching your actors to become fearless. Work the improv mechanics, but as the leader of the drama team watch what your actors produce and always keep in the back of your mind, "this improv could become a skit."
In that Pittsburg seminar, we had quite a hodgepodge of youth workers from all over the country (much like soup...more about soup in a minute.) We had the workers pitch different themes and subjects they would be teaching and preaching on in the months to come. Then we took a theme that was pitched and took a situation from that theme. Let me give you some examples, and I'll take two from INSTANT SKITS, the book that Tom and I wrote to help you get your students going...and get them involved sooner than later. Here are two freebies just to get you started:
INSTANT SKITS: (click here to go there)
Situation #1:
Situation: You are my best friend
Conflict: Girl and Guy have been best friends since grade school. They've always been there for one another. They never dated for fear of ruining the friendship. The two are now about to enter college and they start to discuss the possibility of dating one another. One thinks it's a good idea and the other does not. They are attracted to one another.
Theme: friendship, dating, risk, vulnerability.
Situation #2:
Situation: You are my back up friend
Conflict: Actor 1 is realizing Actor 2 is no friend at all. Actor 2 is only nice to actor 1 whenever they are bored, no other friends around or needs something. Actor is fed up and confronts Actor 2.
Theme: friendship, dignity, inner worth.
As you can see, when you have a "situation" to start with, you ask for volunteers to act or improvise that situation, and see what they create. Turn your actors loose, and then you can ask the people sitting and watching (the audience) two questions about the results:
1. What worked?
2. What did not?
Have the actors really listen to the feedback. During the performance, listen for the laughter, and listen for the moans and groans. Then after the feedback has been given, have your actors do the same situation again, but add in the feedback from the audience. (You may even want to get two more actors to give their interpretation to the scene as well.)
In about 40 minutes with this technique, you can have an improv that has turned into a skit before your very eyes. And the great thing about what you've created is that the script that was written with the students' own minds, languages and voices of their generation. Like I said, it works.
Try out the free situations above and see the liberty your actors will have as you watch them grow to become more fearless.
At Skitguys.com, we believe in improvisation because we know that most some of the best scripts we have available came from improvs. Come check those out as well as our podcasts for more drama tips and ideas: www.skitguys.com. We also have podcasts on itunes and skitguys.com with more drama tips and fun!
Oh yeah, since it's fall and it's getting chilly, here is my wife's excellent soup recipe...skits and soup...what more could anyone need?
Let us know how we can help you in serving students and the Lord.
Sincerely,
Eddie James
Skit Guy Tortilla Soup:
My wife wanted me to say she realizes it's a long list BUT it's a great soup. It truly is, I can vouch for that fact, you can eat off of it for a week and it's very healthy to boot...
Hope you like it. If you do end up making it, email us and let us know what you think!
Tortilla Soup:
1 lb
cooked chickenit's always a little risky asking for someone to get on stage and act out or improvise. When we talk about improv, the purpose of acting on the spot is not so much to play games but to produce actual skits. Improv is every bit as important as drama games when it comes to stretching your actors to become fearless.
I really wanted to get into our church drama team but i don't really know anyone. I've kinda shut myself out and now that im getting into youth i want to be in it so the article really helped me know not to be afraid to mess up because i could improvise.
Anonymous 8:06:54pm on 6/15/2009
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