Setting Ideas for Improv Acting and Comedy Sketches

One of the essential ingredients to a good improv scene is a setting. But sometimes, the ideas just dont flow. This list of settings for improv acting and comedy sketches may help grease the wheels. Keys to Success If youre not relying on your audience to suggest a setting, youll need to think quickly and choose one yourself. One of the goals of improv is to learn how to think quickly and creatively when confronted by the unexpected. To do that, youll need to bear a few things in mind: Go with it. If youre told to wear a trench coat, then do it. Now youve got one detail to add to the sketch of the character youre building: one whos a private eye in an old detective movie. Accept everything that people do or say as literal truth and dont try to deceive or outwit your fellow actors.Create a backstory. You can add realism to your character by asking questions or making statements that reference a past event. Maybe your detective character just had a run-in with a police officer who doesnt like him. As the two glare at each other, your character asks, You going to arrest me just like last time? And just like that, youve established a backstory for your audience that gives them more information about the scene youre creating.Be specific. Improv actors rarely work with elaborate sets or with many props. Instead, the challenge is to create a sense of place and character with your words and actions. Dont speak in monosyllables. Be descriptive.  Begin mid-action.  Unlik e scripted acting, improv doesnt have the luxury of building up to a dramatic climax through a prologue. You want to keep the activity (and inspiration) moving. Each sketch should start with your characters already engaged in a scenario, like being up to their elbows in a sink full of dirty dishes.Act without words. Speaking is just one way that an actor can convey information. Try choosing an improv setting and then using pantomime or another means of non-verbal communication.  Dont be yourself. Youre not playing yourself in improv; youre someone else. As you perform, push yourself to act and react in ways the real you may never do. Suggested Improv Settings Once the actors are ready, its time to choose a setting. Some performers let the audience make suggestions, with the troupe picking their favorite. Others leave it to the director or host to pick a scenario. Theres no right or wrong way to do it. Thats the beauty of improv. A:Art GalleryAmbulanceAdoption ClinicAmazon RainforestAntique StoreAttic B:BarbershopBalconyBoatBirds NestBlacksmithBakeryButterfly HabitatBeaver DamBootcamp C:CastleCat Ladys HouseChessboardCheese FactoryClassroom Cemetery(Inside a) Comic BookChiropractors OfficeCircus D:Dance StudioDragons LairDesertDeep Sea DivingDepartment of Motor VehiclesDetentionDrunk Tank E:EgyptElephant SanctuaryElfs ForestExecution ChamberEarthquake Preparedness Class F:Ferris WheelFire StationFishing PondFootball StadiumFutureFortune Tellers Shop G:Grocery StoreGolf CourseGhost TownGondolaGarbage DumpGarageGoldmineGypsy CampGrand Canyon H:Hardware StoreHelicopterHenhouseHogwartsHospitalHawaii I:IglooIsland (Tropical)IcebergIce Cream ShopIce Age J:JungleJet Pilots CockpitJudges ChambersJury BoxJewelry StoreJurassic Age K:Karate ClassKaraoke BarKnights Training GroundsKing Kongs CageKnitting CircleKangaroo Farm L:LagoonLighthouseLibraryLOST (The TV Show)LifeboatLumberjack CampLondonLaundromat M:Make-Up CounterMarathon Finish LineMechanics ShopMoonMousetrapMummys Tomb(Inside a) MicrowaveMountain Top N:Nursing HomeNews StationNeverlandNature TrailNightclubNewspaper Office O:Orchestra PitOffice CubicleOrchardOutback (Australia)Open House (Real Estate)Optometrist P:Picnic SpotPanda ExhibitPromPirate ShipPet StorePost OfficePhotography ClassPolice Station Q:Queen Elizabeths CourtQuiz ShowQuicksand R:Radio ProgramRestaurant Grand OpeningRed Carpet (Movie Premiere)Riverboat(Inside a) Romance NovelRobbers Hideout S:SafariSchool LunchroomSchool Nurses OfficeSantas WorkshopSki SlopeSpider WebSummer CampSmurf VillageSoftball GameSpaceshipSecond-Hand StoreSubmarineStable T:TreehouseTravel AgencyTruckstopTheater AuditionTidepoolTribal CeremonyTourist Trap U:Ugly Princess Birthday PartyUndergroundUnderwaterUnemployment OfficeUtopian Society V:Vampires HomeVolleyball CourtVolcanoVoting Booth W:Witchs CavernWarehouseWhite HouseWaterslide ParkWrestling RingWild WestWoodshop ClassWedding Ceremony X:X-Ray LabXylophone Store Y:Yard SaleYoga ClassYearbook Club Z:Zeppelin (Blimp)Zombie Vacation SpotZoo

Abraham Lincoln The President That Held Our Nation Together

Abraham Lincoln Research Paper Abraham Lincoln. The president that held our nation together. Lincoln’s early life. Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, in a log cabin in Hardin County Kentucky, to his parents Thomas Lincoln, and mother Nancy Lincoln. They moved around and eventually settled in the back-woods of Indiana. They lived in a small cabin in the back-country of Indiana. As said by biography.com, â€Å"where the family squatted on public land to scrap out a living in a crude shelter, hunting game and farming a small plot,† (â€Å"Abraham Lincoln biography†). Lincoln worked hard most of his life. A year after his mother’s death (Nancy Lincoln) he grew far apart from his father. His father then married a widow named Sarah Bush Johnston who encouraged Lincoln to read and write. He became very smart and walked long ways to find books to study, because of the short supply in the back-woods of Indiana. Lincoln entering presidency. When Lincoln was older, as said by History.com, â€Å"He moved to the newly named state capital of Springfield,† (â€Å"Abraham Lincoln†). Where he learned law and made the name for himself, As stated by History.com, â€Å"Honest Abe,† (Abraham Lincoln). Lincoln then moved to New Salem, Illinois. While working around the community at different jobs, like: Shopkeeper, Postmaster and General store owner, Lincoln acquired the social skills and would tell honest stories and made himself popular among the people of the region. People would electShow MoreRelatedLincoln s Impact On The Civil War1542 Words   |  7 PagesAbraham Lincoln Research Paper Who was the Greatest President that ever lived! Abraham Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln was a very well respected man at an early age. He worked hard most of his life and worked hard in law, and as a president to keep our nation in one during the Civil War. He had the mindset to get where he needed to go. He lived a long and resentful life full of problems that he fixed. Lincoln’s early life, Lincoln enters presidency, Lincoln’s impact on the Civil War as a president, Lincoln’sRead MoreLincoln s Impact On The Civil War1564 Words   |  7 Pages Abraham Lincoln Research Paper During the Civil War, was Abraham Lincoln the cause or the cure? Abraham Lincoln, the man that hit right path toward life while earning respect. He worked hard most of his life and at law, and as a president to keep our nation in one during the Civil War. He had the mindset to get where he needed to go. He lived a long and resentful life full of problems that he fixed. Lincoln’s early life, Lincoln enters presidency, Lincoln’s impact on the Civil War as a presidentRead MoreSlavery During The 19th Century895 Words   |  4 PagesDuring the 1800’s to 1850’s, slavery was undergoing a huge development in which helped the nation to grow into what it is today. 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American red cross Free Essays

The American Red Cross, otherwise known as ARS, was founded by visionary leader Clara Barton in 1881. She was inspired by the work of the international Red Cross while she was in Europe during the Franco- Prussian War of 1870-1871. She was so inspired that she brought the model back to the United Stated and led the organization through its first domestic and international relief missions, including assisting the U. We will write a custom essay sample on American red cross or any similar topic only for you Order Now S. military during the Spanish-American War in 1898. The Red Cross was chartered by the United States Congress to â€Å"carry on a system of national and international relief in time of peace and apply the same in mitigating the sufferings caused by pestilence, famine, fire, floods, and other great national calamities, and to devise and carry on measures for preventing the same. † The Charter is unique to the Red Cross because it assigns duties and obligations to the nation, to disaster survivors, and to the people who generously support their work through donations. Red Cross disaster relief focuses on meeting people’s immediate emergency needs caused by disaster. When disaster threatens or strikes, the Red Cross provides shelter, food, and health and emotional health service to address basic human needs and assist individuals and families in resuming their normal daily activities independently. The Red Cross also feeds emergency workers like fire fighters and police, handles inquiries from concerned family members outside the disaster area, provides blood and blood products to disaster victims, and helps them access other vailable resources. Each year, the American Red Cross immediately responds to about 70,000 natural and man-made disasters in the U. S. , ranging from fires to hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hazardous materials spills, transportation accidents and explosions. People count on the Red Cross to help them in their darkest hour. In turn, the support of donors makes it possible for the Red Cross to fulfill its humanitarian mission. They are deeply grateful for the generosity of individuals, corporations and foundations who invest in the Red Cross. How to cite American red cross, Papers