English for musical theatre actors 60211100 Study manual for students of musical theatre actor

Lesson 2.
Actor’s skill
Grammar:	Adjective

Theatre warm up games for a group
If you’re working on a stage or film production, or are simply part of an acting class, here are some group games you can use to warm up together.
1. The eight-count shake: Shaking different parts of the body is a go-to warmup for a reason, and it’s just as suited for working in a group. Actors standing in a circle can count aloud together from one to eight while wiggling different limbs—first the left hand, then the right, then the left leg, then the right—then count to seven, then to six, and so on until you’re shaking each limb once on the final “one.” This both encourages cohesion in an ensemble and significantly ups a group’s energy levels.
2. Mirroring: In this group game, two people stand face-to-face and attempt to make themselves an exact mirror of their partner at all times. One may lead the movement while another follows, encouraging participants to keep their attention entirely on their scene partner’s body rather than on their own.
The cooperative standup: Partners sit back-to-back on the floor with their legs stretched out in front of them, interlock their arms behind their backs, and attempt to stand up together as one, pushing up against each other. Like many good physical warm ups, this is harder than it looks.
3. Group counting: Actors must count aloud to as high a number as possible, typically while gathered in a circle. Each actor may voice the next number whenever they feel the impulse, but if multiple people speak at once, the game starts over. This encourages performers to shift their focus from themselves to others, attuning them to subtle forms of communication.
4. Pass and receive: Like the energy ball exercise, games involving holding and passing imaginary objects encourage creativity and physicality. Try walking around a space at varying speeds with your fellow actors, tossing and catching imaginary objects, accompanied by words or sounds.
5. Group story invention: Piecing together an improvised story is a great way to warm up a group of actors’ minds. This is done by going around a circle and adding one sentence at a time to a story. Start with a simple prompt like: “I went to the grocery store this morning.” Group games like “I’m going on a picnic,” in which each performer adds a new food to a spoken list of items, also require focus and memorization.
6. Improvisation games: Practicing improve can benefit troupes of actors looking to get out of their heads and into their bodies. Some theater games, which are often taught in improve and comedy classes, are designed to attune an actor to their surroundings and the present moment.