Theatre Warm ups?

Question:Hey guys
i'm looking for some warm ups that i could do in my theatre class, there are ages from about 15-18 in this class. and i'm looking for an activity or game that has vocal, movement or character work. all of them in one would be great!
does anyone know any?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Hey guys
i'm looking for some warm ups that i could do in my theatre class, there are ages from about 15-18 in this class. and i'm looking for an activity or game that has vocal, movement or character work. all of them in one would be great!
does anyone know any?

Okay this was a favorite of mine that I learned from the experimental theatre wing kids at Tish. I hope I explain it right.

You begin in a circle. One person starts by turning to the person to their left and making eye contact. They make a very small sound with a small movement attached. When ready the person on the left begins to do the same sound and movement. They then face the middle of the circle and build on it producing a slightly bigger sound and movement and then turn to the person on their left. With each person the sound and movement get larger when they get as big as possible you start to bring it down again. At his point dialouse can be introduced as well.

I like variations on follow the leader and even Simon Says. You can play dialouge tag. I have found that the biggest challenge with middle school and highschool actors is getting their energy up, so I like anything tha's very physical, keeps their mind on intention, and encourages them to be loud (which is tricky if you have to warm-up close to the house.

Group mirrors are good for physical warm-up and concentration.

Read the book "Theatre Games For Rehearsal" by Viola Spolin. Beyond that, do any exercises you would otherwise do before a sport. Anything that helps your actors trust each other and feel loose and open, that's what you need to do.

You can't beat the ones used for years:

Have each actor stand. Ask them to make their bodies fluid instead of solid, moving all the while. Then ask them to lie down in their own space. Now say:

Close your eyes. Thin blue, all is blue, you are blue, you only see blue...

Now you see yellow, only yellow all is yellow

Repeat for each color.....

Now standup again and each one says:

Does this shop stock short sox....3 times quicly

Now: rubber buggy bumpers, quickly 4 times over andover

Now : A lonely lily lying all alone along a lonely lane

Now practise whispering loudly until the whisper can be heard in the back row..

When Sir John Gielgud was asked why he was always practising such a whisper he replied :

Because that is where my deaf Aunt Cicely sits and she has all the money I hope she leaves me !

There are dozens more such exercises. Make up your own, each one with a purpose such as stretching muscles or improving diction.

And actor must be a fluid, articulate person flowing easily across the stage, effortlessly rising or sitting.

So many amateurs are unglainly, they thump and they slur because they did not learn how to glide and enuciate in practice sessions like you are suggesting.

Bravo to you in your efforts. Break a leg !