Do you know any tips on how to improvise?

How to ad lib and improvise in a play? 10 points?

• i'm gonna be in my school play and wanted some tips on how to ad lib and improvise. links would be GREAT. thanks in advance

• Answer:

  Hello TheaterLover! Timing...as they say is everything...but I disagree. I used to be an actor in a community theater troupe and had to take a class on ad-libbing. The exercises were really fun and had us all laughing the entire class - at every class too. Now, I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume that you want to know about this because either you'll be tested on it or you feel you might need it during the play? One of the things we were taught was to have fun with it but always be "in the now" when you're on stage. Instead of reciting the lines you've memorized focus on what they mean and what you're responding to. One of the performances I did was a series of vaudville acts and had to sing some songs with a group onstage dressed in old west saloon costumes. At one point during the song I had to step up front center stage and accept an award. there was no speaking at all I was just supposed to bow, blow kissess and mouth the words thank you as I backed away to blend back in with the line of singers behind me. In small community theaters there isn't always a choice when it comes to props. So the only thing the prop master could come up with was this plastic statue of an oscar. When the actor handed it to me on stage during our 4th or 5th rehearsal I was surprised because we had been using a plaque prior to that. All of sudden it just came to me. So when I stepped forward instead doing what I was supposed to do instead I yelled out "You like me, You really like me!" (In case you're too young to know this when Sally Field won her second oscar those were "approximately" her words - but then after that it became a running joke with comedians and late night talk show hosts) Everybody laughed so the director told me to keep it in. What I'm trying to say is just go with it. Have fun and make sure you keep the rhythm going in the scene. How would you rerspond if you were playing a different character? Know and think ahead of tme about everyone elses purpose for being in the scene with you. And if possible know their lines too because obviously that's your cue. You should also know ahead of time what other cues will come into play such as sounds. i.e., if a telephone is suppose to ring right before one of your lines and it doesn't you could say "'I'm expecting a call at any moment or did I just hear the phone ring?" knowing the rhythm of your scene is key. there's an action or line that starts the scene and from that point on until the end of the scene - there is a rhythm to it. It's kind of like a song but more like a beat. Just practise and make sure you are staying with the beat of the scene when you ad-lib. think of different scenarios dealing with your responses. Is there another way to respond to this line or that cue?Basically, its supposed to come naturally - which it does if you're feeling relaxed and comfortable with stepping in/out of character. It's kind of scarey thinking about it but if you practise before going on stage it will help immensely. Because you see, the art of ad-libbing is really not to ad-lib but to make the audience think you're ad libbing!! Good Luck and here are some links http://www.venthaven.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=114:jeff-dunhams-the-art-of-ad-libbing-&catid=43:tips-and-techniques&Itemid=71 http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091214194349AAxDaG2 http://www.davidgilmourblog.com/2011/02/memorable-ad-libs.html