School of Theatre > For educators > In your classroom > Improvisation

Improvisation

Discover spontaneity through Improvisation. Using a series of theatre games, listening exercises, improvisations and narrative scenes, students learn to communicate effectively and trust their impulses. In this workshop, your students will open up to the kind of spontaneity that breeds better comic timing on stage, stronger reactions in rehearsals and increased laughter in the classroom. Berkeley Rep Teaching Artists will modify curriculum based on students’ grade, level of experience and teacher feedback. Improvisation is available as a one-, three- or 10-hour workshop.

program benefits

  • Introduces and develops theatrical skills and knowledge in middle and high school students.
  • Students develop skills, such as spontaneity and physical timing, necessary to develop improvised characters and scenes.
  • Encourages students to make choices and experience their consequences.
  • Students work collaboratively with partners and groups towards a common goal.
  • Provides an avenue for creative expression and increased self-confidence, particularly in public speaking.
  • Exposes students to multiple modalities of learning and expression.
  • Offers flexibility of curriculum for students in all degrees of learning, ELL, students from different cultural backgrounds and students with learning and physical disabilities.

To bring an Improvisation workshop into your classroom, please complete the registration form. We will contact you to confirm your scheduling once we have received all necessary registration information.

workshop dates

September 2012–May 2013

workshop length

One-, three- or 10-hour sessions

maximum class size

30 students / 1 teaching artist

grade level

Grades 6–12

workshop costs

  • First one-hour workshop—FREE * (one hour per public school)
  • Additional one-hour workshop—$75/hour
    ($60/hour educator discount **)
  • Three-hour session—$60/hour
    ($55/hour educator discount **)
  • 10-hour session—$55/hour
  • Title I discount—$55/hour
  • Non-public schools—$75/hour

* Limited to one free teaching hour per public school in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano and Sonoma counties. Based on availability of Berkeley Rep School of Theatre staff. Limited to 30 students per classroom. Must sign and agree to Berkeley Rep School of Theatre booking agreement.

** Must be paid by personal check or credit card for use in educator’s own classroom.

*** Due to high fuel costs, schools located over 50 miles away from Berkeley Repertory Theatre may be charged an additional transportation fee.

Register now

new concepts and vocabulary introduced

  • Blocking / Use of space
  • Character
  • Committing to the immediate choice
  • Conflict
  • Emotion
  • Expression
  • Giving and receiving offers
  • Just say “yes…and”
  • Objective
  • Obstacle
  • Partnering
  • Relationship
  • Setting the scene
  • Shape
  • Spontaneity
  • Subtext
  • Tactic

content integration

All of the subjects below are integrated into the Improvisation curriculum. Depending on grade level and number of bookings, some subjects are explored further than others.

all standards covered

English Language Arts: Literary Response and Analysis: 3.3, 3.4; Listening and Speaking: 1.6, 1.9, 1.11, 2.1, 2.6
Physical Education: 1.4, 1.5, 5.3, 5.4
Visual and Performing Arts, Theatre: 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3

key standards

English Language Arts

  • Use speaking techniques, including voice modulation, inflection, tempo, enunciation and eye contact.
  • Establish clearly the speaker’s point of view on a subject and relationship with that subject.

Physical Education

  • Demonstrate body management and locomotor skills.
  • Evaluate the effect of expressing encouragement to others while participating in a group physical activity.

Visual and Performing Arts, Theatre

  • Artistic Perception
    • Identify a character’s objectives and motivations to explain that character’s behavior.
  • Creative Expression
    • Participate in improvisational activities, demonstrating an understanding of text, subtext and context.
    • Use improvisation to discover character and motivation.
    • Use effective vocal and facial expression, gesture and timing to create character.
    • Perform character-based improvisations, pantomimes or monologues, using voice, blocking and gesture to enhance meaning.
    • Improvise or write dialogues and scenes, applying basic dramatic structure (exposition, complication, crises, climax and resolution) and including complex characters with unique dialogue that motivates the action.
  • Connections, Relationships, Applications
    • Demonstrate projection, vocal variety, diction, gesture and confidence in an oral presentation.

back to top

 

Register now

 

Questions?

Call 510 647–2972, or email outreach@berkeleyrep.org.

 

school of theatre
major sponsors

Chase

Target

The S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation / The Mosse Foundation for Education and the Arts / The Woodlawn Foundation