How to Play the Improv Game Actor's Nightmare

"Actor's Nightmare" is actually a play written by Christopher Durang, in which an actor doesn't know what his lines are nor what play he is in. This idea is the impetus behind the Actor's Nightmare improv game. Start with any script at all--although famous movie scripts work best for audience reactions--and you have an amusing game for audiences of all kinds. Head to your local library, book store or just do a search on the Internet to find the scripts you want to use.This game is best when played in front of a large group of people, such as an audience or an acting class. Of course, you can play it anywhere for fun or practice, but the reaction of the audience is what really makes this game work.

Things You'll Need

• A variety of movie scripts

Instructions

The Host's Job

1. Solicit suggestions of non-geographical locations from the audience. Choose one.

2. Solicit an idea for an object unrelated to the non-geographical location from the audience.

3. Explain the game to the audience.

4. Randomly choose a script from the variety of scripts.

5. Give the script to one player who will only recite lines from the script.

The Job of the Two Improv Players

1. Together with the player using the script, develop a rough plot for your scene (beginning, middle and end) using the non-geographical location and unrelated object as a starting point. For time-efficiency, do this while the host is explaining the premise of the game to the audience.

2. Start the scene, establishing the non-geographical location and the unrelated object.

3. Ask leading questions to the actor with the script, forcing her to recite from the script. Do not act as though the actor's questions do not belong in the scene. Just run with them and make them fit the scene. If necessary, you'll have to twist the scene to fit the lines.

4. End the scene by asking the actor with the script a final question.

5. Exit the staging area.

The Job for the Player with the Script

1. Develop the skeleton of your scene (beginning, middle and end) using the non-geographical location and unrelated object with the two improv actors while the host explains the game to the audience.

2. Get your script from the host.

3. Randomly choose a line from the script to say each time you speak during the scene.

4. End the scene by answering the final question from one of the improv actors using a randomly selected line from the script.

5. Exit the staging area.

Tips & Warnings

• Have a wide selection of scripts for this game.

• Use scripts that are familiar to the audience, so that they can identify the lines used.

• The player reading from the script should do so with authority.

• Do not try to be funny! The comedy comes from the random lines.

• The player reading from the script should not plan ahead as to which lines to use.

• Do not act as though what the player reading from the script says doesn't belong in the scene.