Someone runs out in local team
colors and a big "O" painted on his chest (or stomach). A sports jersey
with a big O can work as well. He can have one of those giant foam hands
that he waves around. He is excited and screams as he runs on the stage:
BIFF
Go team! Yeah!!!!!
(He calms down and smiles at the audience)
Was that good? I'm practicing for the big game.
(He looks at
his O on his chest)
No, I'm not a zero. I am the 0 in go team. Maybe I am a zero
to some people.
But this is my
life. This is something that matters to me. Matters to me more than most
anything. You know why?
Unlike most
things, there is a clear start and finish.
There are
heroes and villains. Winners and losers. There's no pretenders or double agents
or false friends. The uniforms make it clear and simple. We know who to
root for and who to trust.
If only life
were this simple... This easy... good and bad... Right and wrong.
What if war
could be settled with a game?
All the world
problems - solved on a Sunday.
Once a year we
can have China vs USA... India vs Pakistan... Winner gets what they want for a
year.
No more bombs
and no more guns... Just helmets and balls. It sure would be a lot better
than what happens now. Because everyone who fights a war is just a big
zero.
For permission to use the monologue contact doug@freedrama.net
The following monologue is adapted from the play "Operation Redneck" by D. M. Larson. Tina is a small town girl who is worried about her friend, Julie, bringing her liberal boyfriend to their small conservative town.
TINA: Now wait a minute. You know how narrow minded people here can be. Well... your Greenie boyfriend doesn't go to church. And Your Grandpa's a minister. Your boyfriend thinks all hunters should be shot. Isn't your dad a big game hunter? And your boyfriend doesn't want to have any kids. He thinks the Earth is way too overpopulated? Doesn't your Grandmother hold the town record for giving birth to the most kids? They have a picture of her at the maternity ward in town. This is bad. The last liberal who came to town nearly got themselves killed. Remember when your cousin Earl brought home that girl from California? She had her armpit hair braided! She did! JJ said he saw it. And she chained herself to the local Steak in the Rough BBQ and refused to leave until they served salads. You know what happened to her? She got run over by a garbage truck. Did so, ran right over her foot. It's not safe for them greenies here. You better tell your boyfriend not to come.
Here is a really good script to use on Martin Luther King Jr. day for your school, church or stage.
The play is "From Birmingham Jail" which is a fictional account of the famous letter written by MLK.
"The Last Can" A short play about two people in love... at the end of the world... with only one can of food left (for 1 male and 1 female) from the published play "Secrets of my Soul" ISBN-13: 978-1493533589
"Looks Get in the Way" A short romantic comedy for two actors. (1 male and 1 female) from the published play "The Weird, Wild and Wonderful Days of School" ISBN-13: 978-1482739626
"Polly Wants a Cracker" A short play for two actors (one man, one woman, optional non-speaking extras) from the published play "The Weird, Wild and Wonderful Days of School" ISBN-13: 978-1482739626
"One Way or Another" A short play for two actors (one man, one woman) from the published play "The Weird, Wild and Wonderful Days of School" ISBN-13: 978-1482739626
"The Food of Love" A short play for two actors (one man, one woman) from the published play "Secrets of my Soul" ISBN-13: 978-1493533589
"Kate and Rick" - Duologue scene for two actors from Published Script- Male and Female from the published play "Teen Angel" published in "Royalty Free Plays" ISBN-13: 978-1438235790
"Confession" - drama for two actors from the published play "Secrets of my Soul" ISBN-13: 978-1493533589
"Falling Away From You" - drama for two actors about being away from each other from the published play "Secrets of my Soul" ISBN-13: 978-1493533589 (1 male 1 female)
"A Sacrifice" - Short Drama- 2 actors (2 female) from the published play "Secrets of my Soul" ISBN-13: 978-1493533589
Here are some Pirate Improv Game ideas for a themed drama classroom experience.
Pass the Cannon Ball: All players in a circle. Ask the
players to pass a mimed cannon ball [present] to others
(one ball at a time). The cannon ball becomes heavier,
until it weighs a ton, or extremely light, extremely big
(and light or heavy) or extremely small (and light or
heavy). Actors need to show the ball's characteristics
in the way it gets passed. When the cannon balls makes
it around the circle, then the last person loads the
cannon and fires it off and everyone says boom!
Pirate Mirror Exercise: Pair up actors. One actor is the
mirror and must copy everything the other actor does
(who is a pirate).
Shrinking Treasure Box: Actors pantomine that they are
in a very large treasure box. They jump in and are
excited about the treature (show it without using
words). Show audience all the sides. Then the treasure
box gets smaller. Show the audience how small it is
getting. Then they must figure out a way to escape. The
actor must do a good job showing the audience how they
have escaped (without talking) so they can correctly
guess how.
Find the Captain: Everyone quietly mills about the room.
No one knows who the captain is. One person (the
Captain) will elect to freeze in position unexpectedly.
As soon as one notices that someone else has frozen in
position they freeze as well. So the effect of one
person freezing causes everyone to freeze. Once everyone
is still the group starts milling around again. The goal
is to see how quickly the group can freeze in position
and also figure out who the captain is.
3 Peg Legs: A fun and silly game. Let everyone walk
leisurely around the room. When you shout '3 Peg Legs'
the players must form little groups, each group
consisting of 3 legs touching. Use your imagination -
say 4 hook hands, 2 ears, 9 fingers, 5 patch eyes, 4
elbows, 3 heads, 7 left big toes, 4 little fingers.
Repeat till everyone is giggling.
Pirate Alphabet Game: The actors act out a scene but
they must start each sentence with the letters of the
alphabet. The scene is a captain is getting his crew to
prepare the ship for it's first voyage to sea. If an
actor gets a letter wrong, audience yells WALK THE PLANK
(and that actor must pantomime walking the plank and
jumping in the ocean). The remaining actors continue.
Lines from our Pockets: The audience will write lines
that pirates might say. Someone will collect the lines
and not show them to the actors. The actors put the
papers in their pockets without looking at them. The
actors will act out the scene and then they must take a
paper from their pocket after saying a few made up lines
and add the line in their pocket at the end of what they
are saying. The scene is a group of pirates looking for
treasure on an island.
Pirate Melodrama: We have an old fashioned melodrama for
you, but with a twist. The twists will be based on
suggestions from the audience. We have three characters:
a damsel in distress, a pirate hero, and an evil pirate
villain. Audience: you will Boo at Villain, Cheer for
Hero, Ahhh for Damsel. Audience will suggest... Damsel:
something strange to raise on a farm, Villain: a weird
form of torture, Hero: an odd weapon someone might use
to stop a villain.
Stunt Doubles: 2 Actors are acting a scene such as
swabbing the deck of the ship. When it comes time to do
a "dangerous" step (such as filling the bucket with
water or getting soap) they call in their stunt doubles.
Here Comes Blackbeard: One actor plays Blackbeard who is
off stage. The other two actors are pirates who want to
join Blackbeard's crew. They describe what Blackbeard
is like while he is off stage. Blackbeard enters to
inspect the troops and Jill acts like he is described.
He repeats this three times and must add each new trait
on top of the other ones that are said.
Your theatre group will need 4 actors and a leader to cover PLOT, run games, and get volunteers from audience.
INTRODUCTION (Someone plays a famous person and does charts of Hamlet plot - See "Our Story Begins..." below)
PLOT: Hamlet's father is murdered. The main suspects in the murder are his wife Gertrude and his brother Claudius (Hamlet's uncle)
CSI - In the style of the TV show - actors try to solve the murder of Hamlet's father (select three audience members play Claudius, Gertrude, King) Witness (actor #1) - tells version and volunteers from audience act it out Cop (actor #2) - tells version and volunteers act it out Gil and Katherine (actors 3 and 4) - tell their version and volunteers act it out
PLOT: A ghost has been appearing at the castle. Soldiers are waiting for ghost to reappear - ghost is of Hamlet's father and reveals that it was a most unnatural murther.
Film and TV styles - Audience calls out movies and tv shows (such as Batman and Robin, Dukes of Hazzard, Harry Potter, Blue's Clues, Dora, Alien vs. Predator, Star Wars) - Actors 1 with audience volunteer are soldiers waiting for something outside castle - a ghost appears (Actor #2) - LEADER CHANGES MOVIE/TV STYLE- ghost leaves when cock crews - CHANGE IN MOVIE/TV STYLE- Horatio (actor #3) enters - CHANGE IN MOVIE/TV STYLE- ghost appears and goes - CHANGE IN MOVIE/TV STYLE- Hamlet (actor #4) enters and talks to ghost
PLOT: Hamlet decides to use a play to make his Uncle confess to his father's murder. He believes that if the murder is reinacted on stage his Uncle will reveal himself.
Possible games - Gibberish (we never found a good game that worked for this so if you figure one out, please email us at pocolocoplayers@yahoo.com)
PLOT: Hamlet goes to his mother because he feels she was part of the plot to kill his father. Polonius, Ophelia's father, is hiding and spying on them. Hamlet tries to make his mother confess but when he becomes violent, Polonius cries for help. Hamlet thinks it is his Uncle who is spying and attacks. Polonius is killed.
Stunt Double (Hamlet - Polonius - Hamlet's mother) Three audience volunteers are needed. Hamlet: Actor 1 Hamlet's Stunt Double: Audience Member Gertrude: Audience Member Gertrude's Stunt Double: Actor 2 Polonius: Audience Member Polonius' Stunt Double: Actor 3 HAMLET COMES TO HIS MOTHER Two characters do the scene from Hamlet and when one of the actors is about to get hurt, they call for a stunt double. The stunt double takes the physical punishment, the scene then resumes with the original actor who is unharmed. The stunt doubles for the scene carry previous injuries into subsequent times they enter the scene.
PLOT: Ophelia is so upset that Hamlet has gone crazy and killed her father Polonius that she goes crazy too and drowns herself.
Lines from our pockets - At Ophelia's funeral (four actors) Audience Participation: During an intermission or before the show, the audience writes lines of dialogue on pieces of paper. How it works: The two actors do a simple scene, but must pull lines intermittently from the pocket, and incorporate them into the scene. Wackiness ensues.
(use the following if the first CSI game went well) BAKCUP GAME CSI - Crime scene - Ophelia's death Witness - tells version and they act it out Cop - tells version and they act it out Gil and Katherine - tell their version and they act it out
PLOT: Laertes challenges Hamlet to a dual to the death to avenge the deaths of his father Polonius and his sister Ophelia. But Hamlet's uncle has poisoned them both and they are paralyzed. They can talk but they can't move.
Poisoned! Battle to the death but can't move - helpers from audience help Hamlet (actor 1) and Laertes (actor 2) fight - introduce more actors into the scene to frustrate audience members - Gertrude (actor 3) and Claudius (actor 4).
PLOT: Due to a lack of Mr. Yuck labels in the castle, everyone seems to fall victim to the poison that Claudius intended for Hamlet alone. Which is kind of symbolic don't you think?
Questions only (tournament of champions) - audience yells “Die” Actors vs. Guests - All volunteers from previous games asked to return - must speak in questions - audience person who answers the most times in questions in a row wins Scene: What is rotten in the state of Denmark?
More ideas:
Our story begins… (you may want to start the show with a plot poster - we tried this for one performance but ended up not needing it)
Denmark in a smellier time (poster can be in shape of Denmark - act like something on back of poster smells)
Hamlet's father dead
His mother Gertrude marries Hamlet's Uncle Claudius
The ghost of dead King appears at the castle and tells Hamlet that Uncle killed him
Hamlet starts to behave strangely after seeing ghost
Hamlet has some actors do a play that reenacts his father's murder and makes Claudius and Gertrude very uncomfortable.
Hamlet visits his mother in her bedroom in a scene that makes the audience very uncomfortable and kills Polonius who is spying (thinking it is Claudius).
Claudius sends two spies , Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, to kill Hamlet but they have a contract dispute and receive larger roles in another play.
Ophelia goes nuts after her father Polonius is killed and drowns herself.
Hamlet agrees to a duel with Laertes (Ophelia's brother) and Claudius adds poison to Laertes blade to make sure Hamlet dies.
Claudius also offers Hamlet a poison cup to drink from but Gertrude drinks it instead and dies.
Hamlet stabs Laertes and Laetres stabs Hamlet. Hamlet (taking forever to die) kills Claudius. And Hamlet dies
Other games we tried
Dating Game with Gertrude plus Hamlet, Claudius and Dead Father as the bachelors - failed miserably for us.
Party Quirks - we had strange quests coming to the wedding feast of Gertrude and Claudius - it was funny but it didn't seem to make sense in the overall context of things.
Hook (Anticipatory Set): Have students play Rock, Scissors, Paper. Ask them where they think the game came from.
Direct Instruction: Read play "Rock, Sword, Firecracker!" a short comedy about the legend behind the game of Rock, Scissors, Paper. http://www.freedrama.net/firecracker.html
Guided Practice: In groups, create ideas for a short play where you make up the history behind something ordinary such as Knock, Knock Jokes.
Closure: Have students tell about their short play ideas.
Independent Practice: Students will pick their favorite fake history contest and write a script.
Follow-up: Groups of students can practice and perform a student written script for the class.
Question: i have to do a 1-2 minute improvisation on my own. I will be given a character, situation, and conflict. I will then have 30 seconds to prepare and a desk and two chairs i can use.
I am a horrible improviser. Really, really terrible and it's tomorrow. Any ideas how to at least be ok? How to survive? Tips...
Answer:
The key with improv is don't worry about being funny. Take your required elements and do the very first thing that comes to mind. Don't over think it. Improv works best when you are impulsive.
Or if that sounds too scary :)
You can pre-plan how you will handle it. Maybe you will do it in the style of a commercial or a documentary. Or maybe you are an Alfred Hitchcock or Rod Serling (Twilight Zone) type narrator settin up the scene. If you narrate the scene and set it up before you perform in then it should give you time before you act it out.
For example, you are the narrator and you say, here is (character), he is in (setting) and this is when he (situation). Then you can throw in a twist or something else interesting... But you will be surprised by... Some other interesting thing you think up.
My wife and I decided to make a commercial for the Crash the Superbowl competition.
Hollywood often uses twins when using baby actors but we decided we'd try our commercial with our one baby daughter. The results were very cute and hilarious and totally worth it. But it wasn't easy. Since the baby was the star and focus of the video, we could only shoot for about 30 minutes a day. So over three days, we were able to get enough cute video of her for 30 seconds. Imagine how challenging that must be for a 30 minute sitcom or a 2 hour movie!
This play has a flexible cast. Not all scenes need to be performed. And actors can play multiple parts because no characters repeat from scene to scene. The smallest cast you could have by doing all the scripts would be three males and four females. But there are many as 49 speaking roles possible. Each scene can be performed as an individual one act as well.
Here is a fun video created by Michael Staley from my script "Underdog" (aka Fight Me) http://freedrama.net/underdog.html which is a free skit for two male actors.
It's a fun video with outtakes. Please check it out and give them a thumbs up.
No Witnesses
By D. M. Larson from the published play "The Bullied, Bungled and Botched"
ISBN-13: 978-1518661082
(Female Version of Monologue)
MOIRA
I saw it... This terrible thing. It happened to this girl I don't even like. And no one knows who did it... Except me.
Do I tell?
It's between what is right and what will ruin your life.
I don't even like her... She brings it on herself.
Why does she have to be so... Weird?
And if I tell... Everyone will turn against me... I will be like her... An outcast... Invisible.
Is that how it happens... One little thing you do turns you in to a leper? Social leprosy.
The right thing feels so wrong. I know I'm supposed to tell the truth but the truth will not set me free. The truth will ruin me... Keeping quiet will ruin her... And I don't know if I care.
I guess that's what happened to all those guys who stood up for what was right... Gandhi shot, MLK shot, Jesus crucified... I'm no Jesus.
I wonder if she could ever forgive me? She can get over it right? Forgive me... I don't want to be crucified.
END
(male version below)
NO WITNESS By D. M. Larson
(Male Version of Monologue)
I saw it... This terrible thing. It happened to this kid I don't even like. And no one knows who did it... Except me.
Do I tell?
It's between what is right and what will ruin your life.
I don't even like him... He brings it on himself.
Why does he have to be so... Weird?
And if I tell... Everyone will turn against me... I will be like him... An outcast... Invisible.
Is that how it happens... One little thing you do turns you in to a leper? Social leprosy.
The right thing feels so wrong. I know I'm supposed to tell the truth but the truth will not set me free. The truth will ruin me... Keeping quiet will ruin him... And I don't know if I care.
I guess that's what happened to all those guys who stood up for what was right... Gandhi shot, MLK shot, Jesus crucified... I'm no Jesus.
I wonder if he could ever forgive me? He can get over it right? Forgive me... I don't want to be crucified.
Here is a new free poster by artist Shiela Larson that you can use with your production of the Freedrama.net free play script "The Weird, Wild and Wonderful Days of School."
What do you dream about? I dream about dragons. All the
time. I know they're not real but I want them to be. Sure, most
girls dream of unicorns but I... I love dragons... And fire.
I've seen some requests for homecoming game skits and I thought these improv games could work well. These can be good for school and team spirit skits or school competitions (battle between the classes).
Team Spirit School Spirit Homecoming Improv
Victory Walk: The team walks in place in a life.
Audience or leader calls out different things they have
to walk through. Snow, ice, mud, rain, etc. When the
leader feels like they get through one, then he yells
victory and they cheer.
Documentary or Slide Show: A leader pretends to be a
narrator of a documentary and the actors must act out
the documentary the leader describes. They story is the
glorious history of the class/team/group. They story
can be over the top such as helping with world peace,
ending hunger in Africa, etc. They can do it as a
slideshow/powerpoint with still picture poses or
actually act out what is being narrated.
Stunt Doubles: 2 Actors play two people from the other
team. They can't do anything right or they are scared
to do simple tasks such as throw a ball so they call in
members of your team to help and show they how to do it.
When it comes time to do a "dangerous" step (such as
tying their shoes) they call in their stunt doubles. The
easier the "dangerous" task is, the funnier it can be
(such as picking up a gum wrapper).
Helping Hands: Have two groups of actors. One group plays the home team or school. The other team plays the opposing school or team. They are preparing for the big game by eating their dinners. But the opposing team's hands are played by other actors (they come from behind and have their arms come under the front player's arms who wraps their arms behind their backs). They then must eat their meal with their unseeing arms doing the feeding.
Lines from our Pockets: The audience will write lines
for the actors to say. Someone will collect the lines
and not show them to the actors. The actors will act out
a team/school spirit scene and then they must work the
lines into the scene. You can have two actors play
people from the other team and give them weird lines to
say and then give the good team people cool lines to
say.
Here Comes Jack and Jill: Two actors play Jack and Jill
who are off stage. Jack and Jill are from the other
team or school. Two home team/school actors describe the
terrible things Jack and Jill do while he/she is off
stage. Jack and Jill enter and they have to act like
described.
Questions Only: Actors get in two lines (one line is the
home team/school and the other is opposing team/school).
They talk in the form of a question. If they make a
statement or don't use a question, then they must go to
the back of the line or the audience can shout DIE and
they must do a dramatic death scene. The line with the
most left at the end wins.
Stand Sit Slump: Three players are preparing for the big
game. One must be standing, one must be sitting and one
must slump down on the ground. After each actor says one
thing, the last actor to speak must pick a new position
(stand) and the others must adjust and pick the two
remaining positions (sit and slump). This can continue
until a high moment of humor or until one actor messes
up.
Pick your Captain of the team (The Good, the Bad, and
the Ugly): You must pick a Captain to lead your team. 3
players form a line upstage. The audience provides
questions or problems for which they need advice. Actor
#1 always provide good advice, actors #2 always gives
bad advice , and actors #3 gives really bad advice. Good
advice should be good, bad should be opposite of the
good and ugly should be an even worse version of bad.
Gibberish: A group of actors (group #1) are from the
other team/school and act out a scene speaking in a
weird alien language. They act out a simple activity
like stretching before the big game. The other group of
actors (group #2) act out the same scene and translate
what was said in English.
Variation: have actors translate what was said by the
other team/school actors as they act
Melodrama: Do an old fashioned melodrama, but with a
twist. The twists will be based on suggestions from the
audience. Have three characters: a damsel in distress
(from the home team/school), a hero (from the home
team/school, and a villain (a character from the other
team/school). Audience: will Boo at Villain, Cheer for
Hero, Ahhh for Damsel. Audience will suggest... Damsel:
something strange to sell for a school fund raiser,
Villain: a weird form of torture, Hero: an odd weapon
someone might use to stop a villain.
Game Day Story in a Minute: The actors act out a story
of their big victory game and then act out the story in
one minute. Then they must act out the same thing in 30
seconds. THEN they must act it out in 10 seconds.
Find more improv games and ideas at http://www.freedrama.net/improv.html
I know it's a bit early for Christmas, but I got a request for a solo performance idea for one actor at a Christmas party. I came up with a short monologue and some improv games:
SHORT MONOLOGUE:
"I wrapped myself up for you. I wanted to give myself to you as a present. I thought it would be cute. I even have a song and dance for you.
Sing and dance to "Santa Baby" or "Let it Snow"
What do you think? No you can't return me!"
GAMES
There is a fun game called, "hands through or arms race." You can have two or four people come up and wrap presents. One person becomes the arms of the other person and must stand behind them. You can play Santa or a parent trying to teach their elf or kid how to wrap presents or if you have four people you can do a present wrapping race.
Mirror exercise - you and an audience member do present wrapping and they must copy exactly how you wrap it.
Melodrama - The blank that saved christmas - Have the audience come up with the blank (like the Dog who Saved Christmas) and make the blank the hero. And here is how to play the melodrama game: You narrate a story and have audience members act out the characters as you tell the story. "We have an old fashioned melodrama for you, but with a twist. The twists will be based on suggestions from the audience. We have three characters: a damsel in distress, a hero, and a villain. Audience: you will Boo at Villain, Cheer for Hero, Ahhh for Damsel. Audience will suggest... Damsel: something strange to raise on a farm, Villain: a weird form of torture, Hero: an odd weapon someone might use to stop a villain."
Honey Walk:
All actors walk in place. The audience calls out different things they must walk through. Snow, ice, (ice caps are melting!) then mud, waste, trash, etc.
Pass the Ball of Trash:
All players in a line. Ask the players to pass a mimed ball of trash to others (one ball at a time). The ball becomes heavier, until it weighs a ton, or extremely light, extremely big (and light or heavy) or extremely small (and light or heavy) or very smelly. Actors need to show the ball's characteristics in the way it gets passed. The last person in line crosses the stage to the first player and as they do, the audience can call out a suggestion of what the ball of trash becomes.
Documentary or Slide Show:
A leader pretends to be a narrator of a documentary and the actors must act out the documentary the leader describes (leader does a Save the Earth like animals in crisis). They can do it as a slideshow/powerpoint with still picture poses or actually act out what is being narrated.
Stunt Doubles: 2 Actors are acting a scene such as dealing with someone who is doing something bad to the Earth. When it comes time to do a "dangerous" step (such as picking up some litter) they call in their stunt doubles. The easier the "dangerous" task is, the funnier it can be (such as picking up gum wrapper).
Lines from our Pockets: The audience will write lines for the actors to say. Someone will collect the lines and not show them to the actors. The actors will act out a Save the Earth scene and then they must work the lines into the scene.
Here Comes Jill: One actor plays Jill who is off stage. The other two actors are two friends concerned about how wasteful Jill is. The two describe the terrible things Jill does while he/she is off stage. Jill enters and she has to act like she is described.
Eco Inventions (aka props): All the actors are sharing their new Save the Earth products. Give the actors weird things they have never seen before and they must say what they do. The object can do anything except what it really does.
Questions Only: Actors get in two lines (one line is Pro-Earth and the other is Anti-Environment). They talk in the form of a question. If they make a statement or don't use a question, then they must go to the back of the line or the audience can shout DIE and they must do a dramatic death scene. The line with the most left at the end wins.
Stand Sit Slump: Three scientists are testing the environment for contamination. One must be standing, one must be sitting and one must slump down on the ground. After each actor says one thing, the last actor to speak must pick a new position (stand) and the others must adjust and pick the two remaining positions (sit and slump). This can continue until a high moment of humor or until one actor messes up.
Melodrama:
Do an old fashioned melodrama, but with a twist. The twists will be based on suggestions from the audience. Have three characters: a damsel in distress, a hero, and a villain. Audience: will Boo at Villain, Cheer for Hero, Ahhh for Damsel. Audience will suggest... Damsel: something strange to raise on a farm (wind or solar farm), Villain: a weird form of torture, Hero: an odd weapon someone might use to stop a villain.
Gibberish: A group of actors (group #1) are aliens from another world and act out a scene speaking in a weird alien language. They act out a simple activity like picking up trash or recycling. The other group of actors (group #2) act out the same scene and translate what was said in English.
Variation: have actors translate what was said by the aliens as they act
Variation 2: have a actor play a superhero alien who speaks gibberish and have the other actors try to figure out what he/she is saying in a scene where an alien lands in their backyard
Pick your Eco Hero (The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly): You must pick a hero to join your Save the Earth Club. 3 players (superheroes) form a line upstage. The audience provides Save the Earth questions or problems for which they need advice. Actor #1 always provide good advice, actors #2 always gives bad advice , and actors #3 gives really bad advice. Good advice should be good, bad should be opposite of the good and ugly should be an even worse version of bad.
Action Figures: 2-4 actors are the litter patrol. They have a contest to see who can pick up the most trash but none of them can move on their own. They can only speak. 2 audience members must move them in the race to pick up the most trash.
Here are ideas to create a full show on the theme of Superheroes with Freedrama.net scripts and Improv Games for Kids from http://www.freedrama.net/improv.htmlHere are some good one act plays for a superhero themed show:Superhero Support Group: 6 actor one act about heroes in need of therapy http://www.freedrama.net/supers.html
Then perform these improv games between each one act play:Defeat the Superhero League:
One actor is a super villain. Three or four actors pick superheroes they want to be but keep their identify secret from everyone. Each superhero bursts in to the villain's secret lab. The actor must act like their hero but can't say their name. The villain must guess who they are to defeat them and get keep them from destroying the secret lab. If the villain doesn't guess in a few minutes, another superhero enters. When all the heroes are present and have a chance to show their powers, then the villain must guess who they are (within a time limit) or be defeated.
Gibberish:
A group of actors (group #1) are superheroes from another world and act out a scene speaking in a weird alien language. They act out a simple activity like playing baseball or cooking. The other group of actors (group #2) act out the same scene and translate what was said in English.
Variation: have actors translate what was said by the aliens as they act
Variation 2: have a actor play a superhero alien who speaks gibberish and have the other actors try to figure out what he/she is saying in a scene where an alien lands in their backyard
Press Conference:
One actor volunteers to be the "famous person" from comic books or superhero movies. The actor becomes the famous person by acting the same as the person and using their voice or accent but can only answer yes or no. The other students interview the "famous person" and they get yes or no answers until they can guess who it is.
Superhero Story in a Minute: The actors get a superhero story title from the audience and then act out the story in one minute. Then they must act out the same thing in 30 seconds. THEN they must act it out in 10 seconds.
Stunt Doubles: 2 Actors are acting a scene such as dealing with a villain who is doing something bad. When it comes time to do a "dangerous" step (such as punching the villain) they call in their stunt doubles. The easier the "dangerous" task is, the funnier it can be (such as picking up litter).
Lines from our Pockets: The audience will write lines for the actors to say. Someone will collect the lines and not show them to the actors. The actors will act out a superhero scene and then they must work the lines into the scene.
Here Comes Superfly: One actor plays Superfly who is off stage. The other two actors are two citizens who need help. The two citizens are disappointed to see Superfly coming and describe the terrible things Superfly does while he/she is off stage. Superfly enters to try and help and she has to act like she is described.
Evil Inventions (aka props):
All the actors are super villains. Give the villains weird things they have never seen before and they must say what they do. The object can do anything except what it really does.
Questions Only:
Actors get in two lines (one line is villain and the other is heroes). They talk in the form of a question. If they make a statement or don't use a question, then they must go to the back of the line or the audience can shout DIE and they must do a dramatic death scene. The line with the most left at the end wins.
Stand Sit Slump:
A superhero faces two villains (or two heroes face one villain). One must be standing, one must be sitting and one must slump down on the ground. After each actor says one thing, the last actor to speak must pick a new position (stand) and the others must adjust and pick the two remaining positions (sit and slump). This can continue until a high moment of humor or until one actor messes up.
Pick your Superhero (The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly):
You must pick a superhero to join your League of Just Avengers. 3 players (superheroes) form a line upstage. The audience provides questions or problems for which they need advice. Actor #1 always provide good advice, actors #2 always gives bad advice , and actors #3 gives really bad advice. Good advice should be good, bad should be opposite of the good and ugly should be an even worse version of bad.
Action Figures: 1-2 actors are superhero action figures and 1-2 actors are villain action figures. They must do battle but none of them can move on their own. They can only speak. 2 audience members must move them in to battle.
Honey Walk:
All actors walk in place. They are walking through the forest to Grandma's house. The audience calls out different things they must walk through. Snow, ice, mud, jello, honey...
Fairy Tale in a Minute:
The actors get a fairy tale title from the audience and then act out the story in one minute. Then they must act out the same thing in 30 seconds. THEN they must act it out in 10 seconds.
Use Mad-Script3 Little Pigs with suggestions from audience
Stunt Doubles: 2 Actors are acting a scene such as dealing with a big bad wolf or wicked witch or helping Rapunzel escape from her tower. When it comes time to do a "dangerous" step (such as turning on the hose) they call in their stunt doubles.
Lines from our Pockets:
The audience will write lines for the actors to say. Someone will collect the lines and not show them to the actors. The actors will act out a fairy tale scene and then they must interject the lines into the scene.
Use Mad-ScriptCinderella with suggestions from audience
Here Comes Jill:
One actress plays Jill who is off stage. The other two actors are Jack and a friend. Jack and the friend describes what Jill is like while she is off stage. Jill enters looking for her pail and when she comes in, she has to act like she is described.
Press Conference
This is good for getting a kid to feel comfortable standing in front of a group by themselves. One kid volunteers to be the "famous fairy tale character." The kid becomes the famous character by acting the same as the person and using their voice or accent but can only answer yes or no. The other students interview the "famous character" and they get yes or no answers until they can guess who it is.
You can hear my name and see the play. It's fun to see one of my plays in another language.
Buy a low cost PDF of the script: https://sellfy.com/p/Gnuo/
More Improv Games for Kids (warm-ups / practice for new actors)
Freeze
Split the kids in to two equal groups. If you have an odd number, have one kid play the leader. Have one group walk around the other group. When the leader yells freeze, the group walking must each freeze in to a silly pose. The other group must each pick someone to swap with and must do the same exact silly pose. When all the kids have switched, the leader yells "Go" and the students unfreeze, walk around the other group until the leader yells "Freeze" again.
Defeat the Superhero League
One kid is a super villain. Three or four kids pick superheroes they want to be but keep their identify secret from everyone. Each kid superhero bursts in to the villain's secret lab. The superhero kid must act like their hero but can't say their name. The villain must guess who they are to defeat them and get keep them from destroying the secret lab. If the villain doesn't guess in a few minutes, another superhero enters. When all the heroes are present and have a chance to show their powers, then the villain must guess who they are (within a time limit) or be defeated.
Variation: You can have students also practice this in small groups of 4-5 and then perform it for everyone and have the audience guess the heroes instead.
Gibberish
A group of kids (group #1) act out a scene speaking in a weird alien language. They act out a simple activity like playing baseball or cooking. The other group of kids (group #2) act out the same scene and translate what was said in English.
Variation: have kids translate what was said by the aliens as they act
Variation 2: have a kid play an alien who speaks gibberish and have the other kids try to figure out what he is saying in a scene where an alien visits their school or lands in their backyard
Press Conference
This is good for getting a kid to feel comfortable standing in front of a group by themselves. One kid volunteers to be the "famous person." The kid becomes the famous person by acting the same as the person and using their voice or accent but can only answer yes or no. The other students interview the "famous person" and they get yes or no answers until they can guess who it is.
"Trinity Rises" Trinity Rises is the story of a young woman who is dealing with the damage to her family and her community as a result of uranium mining. Is her grandfather a Cold War Patriot or a victim of a government who put the creation of nuclear weapons before the health of the miners? She wants to protest against the government but will anyone join her? Does the promise of economic prosperity outweigh the health risks? 2-4 females, 1-3 males (5 total)
There are some monologues for men on this link that are from published plays: http://www.freedrama.net/small1.html
They are:
"Fallen" - Short Dramatic Monologue from Published Script- Male (1 minute)
"Flowers from Phil" - Short Comedic Monologue from Published Script- Male (1 minute)
"Master" - Comedic Monologue from Published Script- Male (2-3 minutes)
"Humpty Dumpty Private Egg Hard-Boiled Detective" - Comedic Monologue from Published Script- Male (2 minutes)
"Blinded by the Knight" A short comedy play about a nervous nerd looking for love in a comic book store (for 2-4 males and 2-4 females = 6 total) http://www.freedrama.net/blindknight.html
"Holy Ground" a full length religious horror musical for six actors (3 m 3 f) about an evil that consumes the world leaving on a few survivors who hope for protection from the holy ground of a church. http://www.freedrama.net/holygrnd.html
Short skits with flexible casts that work for six actors:
"Fart-Zen" - very short play for three or more actors (any gender) http://freedrama.net/fertzen.html
"Rock, Sword, Firecracker!" Short comedy about the legend behind the game of Rock, Scissors, Paper. 3+ actors (any gender) http://freedrama.net/firecracker.html
"Touched by an Alien" Short comedy about space explorers that discover a new kind of alien. 5 actors of any gender (plus possible non-speaking roles). http://freedrama.net/aliens.html
"Stung" A short comedy about someone who wants to be one with nature but nature doesn't like her. (4 speaking parts with possible extras) http://freedrama.net/stung.html