Theater Games for the Classroom

by Spolin, Viola

• ISBN13: 9780810140042
• ISBN10: 0810140047
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1986-07-01
• Publisher: Northwestern Univ Pr

Summary

Describes the rules and purpose of rhythmic movement games, space walks, transformation, sensory, and mirror games, and suggests storytelling activities

Table of Contents

Preface
Chapter 1: WHY BRING THEATER GAMES INTO THE CLASSROOM?	2	(21)
Games	2	(1)
Play	3	(1)
Freedom	3	(1)
Intuition	4	(1)
Transformation	4	(1)
Three Essentials of a Theater Game Focus, Sidecoaching, Evaluation	5	(4)
Approval/Disapproval	9	(1)
The Game Format	10	(1)
The Theater-Game Workshop	11	(1)
Workshop Atmosphere Control, Energy	11	(1)
Day's Order Skills chart	12	(2)
Sample Workshop	14	(2)
Playing Area	16	(1)
Teams	16	(1)
Counting Off	16	(1)
Fear of Participation	17	(1)
Group Agreement	17	(1)
Student Sidecoaches	18	(1)
Designing Workshops to Meet Specific Needs Participation, Problem solving, Catalytic action	18	(1)
Use of Supplementary Materials	19	(1)
Workshop Checklist (A Review) Leader preparation, Counting off, Lead-ins, Presenting the games, Lessons, Examples and comparisons, Resistance, Competition, Audience players, Calling "curtain!," Simultaneous play, Repeating games, Trouble-shooting, Wrap-up	20	(3)
Chapter 2: WARM-UPS	23	(7)
Traditional Games as Warm-Ups	23	(1)
Playground Games	24	(6)
OBJECT RELAY*	24	(1)
SWAT TAG*	25	(1)
EXPLOSION TAG*	25	(1)
QUICK NUMBERS*	26	(1)
STREETS & ALLEYS*	27	(1)
STREETS & ALLEYS: VARIATIONS*	28	(1)
RED LIGHT (CHEESE IT)*	28	(1)
DON'T LET GO*	29	(1)
Chapter 3: RHYTHMIC MOVEMENT GAMES	30	(5)
OCEAN WAVE*	30	(1)
A WALK IN THE MOONLIGHT*	31	(1)
SLOW MOTION/FREEZE TAG*	32	(1)
RHYTHMIC MOVEMENT	33	(1)
NO MOTION*	34	(1)
Chapter 4: SPACE WALKS	35	(7)
TOUCH & BE TOUCHED/SEE & BE SEEN	36	(1)
FEELING SELF WITH SELF*	37	(1)
SPACE WALK #1	38	(1)
SPACE WALK #2	39	(1)
SPACE WALK #3: SKELETON	40	(1)
SPACE WALK BLINDFOLDED	41	(1)
Chapter 5: TRANSFORMATION GAMES	42	(14)
Making the Invisible Visible	42	(14)
SPACE SUBSTANCE	44	(1)
SPACE SHAPING (SOLO)	45	(1)
SPACE SHAPING FOR TEAMS	46	(1)
TUG OF WAR	47	(1)
JUMP ROPE	47	(1)
PLAY BALL	48	(1)
PLAYGROUND	49	(1)
DODGE BALL	50	(1)
INVOLVEMENT IN TWOS	50	(1)
INVOLVEMENT WITH THREE OR MORE	51	(1)
FINDING OBJECTS IN THE IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT	51	(1)
IT'S HEAVIER WHEN IT'S FULL	52	(1)
TRANSFORMATION OF OBJECTS	53	(1)
DIFFICULTY WITH SMALL OBJECTS	53	(1)
THE OBJECT MOVES THE PLAYERS	54	(1)
ADD A PART	55	(1)
Chapter 6: SENSORY GAMES	56	(11)
SINGLE FILE*	57	(1)
I SEE YOU*	58	(2)
WHEN I GO TO CALIFORNIA*	60	(1)
BLACK MAGIC*	61	(1)
EGYPTIAN WRITING	62	(1)
THREE CHANGES*	62	(1)
OBSERVATION GAME*	63	(1)
WHO STARTED THE MOTION?*	63	(1)
SENDING SIGHT OUT	64	(1)
SEEING THROUGH OBJECTS	65	(1)
SEEING A SPORT: RECALL	65	(1)
LISTENING TO THE ENVIRONMENT	66	(1)
SENDING HEARING OUT	66	(1)
Chapter 7: PART OF A WHOLE GAMES	67	(5)
Linking the Players	67	(5)
PART OF A WHOLE, OBJECT	68	(1)
PART OF A WHOLE, ACTIVITY	69	(1)
PART OF A WHOLE, OCCUPATION	70	(1)
PART OF A WHOLE, RELATIONSHIP	71	(1)
Chapter 8: MIRROR GAMES	72	(5)
Reflecting and Sharing What Is Observed	72	(5)
ADAM'S SONS*	74	(1)
MIRROR	75	(1)
WHO IS THE MIRROR?	75	(1)
FOLLOW THE FOLLOWER	76	(1)
Chapter 9: WHERE, WHO, AND WHAT	77	(32)
Creating Environments, Characters, and Action through Play	77	(1)
Where Games (Setting/Environment)	77	(1)
Who Games (Character/Relationship)	78	(1)
What Games (Action)	79	(1)
Where Games, Demonstration	80	(14)
DOG & BONE*	81	(1)
AIRPORT*	82	(1)
WHERE GAMES WITH DIAGRAMS	83	(2)
WHERE GAMES WITH PROPS	85	(1)
EXCHANGING WHERES	85	(1)
RELAY WHERE: BUILDING A SET	86	(1)
WHAT TIME IS IT?	87	(1)
EXPLORATION OF A LARGE ENVIRONMENT	88	(1)
WHERE WITHOUT HANDS	88	(1)
SHOWING WHERE WITHOUT OBJECTS	89	(1)
WHERE WITH HELP	89	(1)
WHERE WITH OBSTACLES	90	(1)
WHERE: HELP/HINDER	91	(1)
THE SPECIALIZED WHERE	91	(1)
WHERE GAME (SCENE)	92	(1)
INVOLVEMENT WITH THE IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT	93	(1)
Who Games	94	(9)
NEW YORK (LEMONADE)*	94	(1)
HOW OLD AM I?	95	(1)
WHAT DO I DO FOR A LIVING?	96	(1)
WHO AM I?	97	(1)
WHO GAME	98	(1)
KNOCKING*	99	(1)
WHO'S KNOCKING?	100	(1)
SHOWING WHO THROUGH USE OF AN OBJECT	101	(1)
CHANGING EMOTION	102	(1)
What Games	103	(6)
WHAT AM I EATING? TASTING? SMELLING? HEARING?*	103	(1)
HERE WE GO ROUND THE MULBERRY BUSH*	104	(2)
IDENTIFYING OBJECTS	106	(1)
INVOLVEMENT WITH LARGE OBJECTS	107	(1)
INVOLVEMENT WITHOUT HANDS	107	(1)
WHAT'S BEYOND: ACTIVITY	108	(1)
Chapter 10: COMMUNICATING WITH WORDS	109	(14)
HANDWRITING LARGE	110	(1)
HANDWRITING SMALL	110	(1)
HANDWRITING BLINDFOLDED	111	(1)
DUMB CRAMBO*	111	(1)
NAME SIX*	112	(1)
SINGING SYLLABLES*	113	(1)
KITTY WANTS A CORNER*	113	(1)
ISABELLA*	114	(2)
PRINCESS THORN ROSA*	116	(1)
GIVE & TAKE WARM-UP*	117	(1)
GIVE & TAKE	118	(1)
GIVE & TAKE FOR READING	119	(1)
SEEING THE WORD	119	(1)
MIRROR SPEECH	120	(1)
VERBALIZING THE WHERE, PART 1	121	(1)
VERBALIZING THE WHERE, PART 2	122	(1)
Chapter 11: COMMUNICATING WITH SOUNDS	123	(9)
Gibberish	123	(9)
GIBBERISH INTRODUCTION	125	(1)
GIBBERISH: TEACHING	126	(1)
GIBBERISH: SELLING	127	(1)
GIBBERISH/ENGLISH	128	(1)
ECHO	128	(1)
MIRROR SOUND	129	(1)
FOREIGN LANGUAGE GIBBERISH	130	(1)
GIBBERISH INTERPRETER	131	(1)
EXTENDED SOUND	131	(1)
Chapter 12: MULTIPLE-STIMULUS GAMES	132	(4)
HOW MUCH DO YOU REMEMBER?	133	(1)
THREE-WAY CONVERSATION	133	(1)
THREE-WAY WRITING	134	(1)
DRAWING OBJECTS GAME	135	(1)
Chapter 13: PUPPETRY	136	(6)
Playmaking for Parts of the Body	136	(1)
A Quick Curtain in the Classroom	136	(6)
FEET & LEGS ALONE #1	137	(1)
FEET & LEGS ALONE #2	138	(1)
HANDS ALONE	139	(1)
EXERCISE FOR THE BACK	140	(1)
TOTAL BODY INVOLVEMENT	140	(1)
PUPPETS ON STRINGS	141	(1)
PARTS OF THE BODY/FULL SCENE	141	(1)
Chapter 14: PLAYMAKING FOR RADIO, TELEVISION, AND FILM	142	(8)
RADIO	143	(1)
GREEK CHORUS	144	(1)
VOCAL SOUND EFFECTS	144	(1)
POISON*	145	(1)
TELEVISION SCREEN	146	(1)
SHADOW SCREEN (MONTAGE)	147	(1)
SOUNDTRACK	148	(1)
CHORAL READING	149	(1)
DUBBING	149	(1)
Chapter 15: DEVELOPING MATERIAL	150	(10)
Improvisation	150	(4)
BOX FULL OF HATS	151	(1)
SKITS & SONGS*	152	(1)
ON THE SPOT	152	(1)
CHARADES	153	(1)
Interpretation	154	(1)
Building a Story	155	(5)
SPELLING*	156	(1)
VOWELS & CONSONANTS*	156	(1)
BUILDING A STORY	157	(1)
BUILDING A STORY: STOP MID-WORD	158	(1)
BUILDING A STORY: READING	158	(1)
RELATING AN INCIDENT ADDING COLOR	159	(1)
Chapter 16: STORYTELLING AND STORY THEATER	160	(8)
Building Larger Scenes through Theater Games	160	(1)
Storytelling	160	(3)
STORYTELLING	162	(1)
Story Theater	163	(5)
"The Three Little Pigs" (Skeleton)	165	(1)
"The King's Drum" (Skeleton)	166	(2)
Chapter 17: PLAYMAKING FOR AUDIENCE INVOLVEMENT	168	(8)
Playing House	168	(1)
Understanding the Audience	169	(7)
EYE CONTACT	173	(1)
PITCHMAN	173	(1)
DEAF AUDIENCE	174	(1)
EXITS & ENTRANCES	175	(1)
Chapter 18: PUBLIC PERFORMANCE	176	(7)
Developing the Scripted Play	177	(1)
Choosing the Play	177	(1)
A Timetable for Rehearsals	178	(1)
The First Rehearsal Period Sit-down readings, Walk-through rehearsals, Stage movement (blocking), Where (the set)	178	(2)
The Second Rehearsal Period The relaxed rehearsal, General improvisation, Nonstop run-throughs, Biographies	180	(1)
The Third Rehearsal Period The special run-through, The performance	181	(2)
Chapter 19: ROUNDING-OUT THE CHILD ACTOR	183	(7)
Inner Action	183	(2)
Stage Work	185	(2)
STAGE PICTURE	185	(1)
STAGE WHISPER WARM-UP*	186	(1)
STAGE WHISPER	186	(1)
ROCKING THE BOAT/SHARING THE STAGE PICTURE	187	(1)
Contact	187	(2)
CONTACT	188	(1)
Conflict	189	(1)
Role Playing	189	(1)
Chapter 20: REMOVING AMATEUR QUALITIES	190	(3)
The Amateur Actor	190	(1)
Preparing the Player for the Stage	190	(3)
Appendix 1: WORKSHOP SEQUENCES	193	(15)
Appendix 2: SCOPE & SEQUENCE OF SKILLS	208	(5)
Appendix 3: BIBLIOGRAPHY	213	(13)
A. Supplementary Materials and Teacher Resources	213	(7)
B. A Short List of Good Books on Puppetry	220	(1)
C. Stories, Legends, Fables, and Games	221	(3)
D. Poetry, Writing, and Storytelling	224	(2)
Appendix 4: INDEXES OF GAMES	226	(4)
A. Alphabetical Index	226	(2)
B. Games Cross-referenced by Curriculum Area	228	(2)
Appendix 5: GLOSSARY	230