Theater

You probably make yourself laugh from time to time, but can you get a good laugh out of your friends? Being funny is an innate talent for many people, but you aren't completely out of luck if you...

Dinner theater is an exciting way to introduce kids to stage entertainment. Many of the shows invite audience participation, so children stay engaged and feel like they're part of the action. From...

You'll learn how to be more confident, how to have fun, how to diffuse some of the things that linger in the back of your mind, how to work well with others no matter what age and most importantly...

Laughter is a start, learn three easy steps to find out if you are the funniest person in the room.

There's a fine line between "funny" and "lame." Here's how to ensure people are laughing with you, rather than at you.

It's all about you. No, really. If you're emo and you know it, clap your hands. After this futile attempt at self-validation, decide you want to be an emo website owner. To accomplish this, you...

When I first moved here (the south of France, for those of you who are here because you really want to know how to know a hawk from a handsaw and not just because you're one of those who'd want to...

I will teach you how to build the puppet stage that was featured on The Jerry Springer Show. I was a puppeteer, and the designer, and builder of this stage. It is very sturdy when assembled, as we...

This article talks about the "do's" and "don'ts" that are essential when going on an acting audition or casting call, giving the untrained actor an edge, so as to avoid...

Laughter is the best medicine, so why do we take ourselves so seriously. A good dose of laughter has been scientifically proven to reduce stress, lower blood pressure and increase quality of life...

The "I'm Cool & So Are You" warm-up game is good for working with new groups of people who do not know each other. Learn the "I'm Cool, and So Are You" improv warm-up from a professional...

Choosing the right play for your church, school or theatre group is the first, most important decision in putting on a successful show. You want to make sure you select plays that your audiences...

You have signed up for an acting class, or gotten cast in a play or a film. What to do now? There are many ways to go about this; I'll suggest one that centers on posing and answering questions...

When you need a breakable sword in a production there are several things that need to be taken into consideration before you start making one. I will present some ideas here for you to apply in...

Use these few steps to make your friends laugh. I'll even give you a joke to start with.

Do you forget where you put things? Can't remember the contents of your last five books or your last ten movies? Want to recall the details of your fifth birthday party? Need to give a speech...

The improv game "Sportscaster" combines zany pantomime and verbal wit to put an absurd twist on an everyday activity.

A good monologue can be the key to getting the acting role of your dreams. A traditional fixture in the theater world, they are occasionally used by casting directors in film and, less frequently,...

"Late for Work" is an improv game in which a player acts like an employee who must explain to the boss why the employee is late for work. The catch is that the boss, the other employees...

"Limericks" is an improv game in which the players most work together to create a short poem on the spot, based on an audience suggestion.

The object of this improv game is to create a scene in which each line of dialogue starts with the letter immediately following the letter that started the one before it. Got it?

If you want to start an improv troupe, or you're looking to build your acting skills and confidence, or you just want a fun and challenging hobby, this article can get you started in...

Improvisation games are a fun way to get the gears turning in student's minds, but many adult games simply don't have enough premise for children under 10 to grasp. Here's a few games that 6-16...

Tyler Perry is a playwright (among many other things) on the move. Many of us are have attended a live Tyler Perry play or two over the years. If you have had the pleasure, you know that a Tyler...

If you've made it this far, then your sense of humor is just as ridiculous as mine. Now let's make the water drop noise with our cheek.

Maybe you've acted in school plays or a church production and you caught "the bug." Or maybe you've never acted on any stage, but think it might be a lot of fun. In either case,...

(This is Part 2 of the series "How to Audition for Community Theatre (for Beginners)." To read Part 1: Find the Right Theater, skip down to the Resources section of this article for a...

(This is Part 3 of the series "How to Audition for Community Theatre (for Beginners)." To read Part 1: Find the Right Theater, and Part 2: Choose an Audition, skip down to the Resources...

(This is Part 4 of the series "How to Audition for Community Theatre (for Beginners)." To read Parts 1, 2, and 3, skip down to the Resources section of this article for links.) You've...

When, aided by all the Ghosts of Christmas, old Ebenezer Scrooge finally "saw the light", the entire audience of nursing home residents roared, or stood if they were able, in honor of...

Before I discovered my true college passion, psychology/social work, I was, yes, a theatre kid. While theatre is still something that I participate in all the time, I decided to devote my college...

To be a Renaissance lady or a southern belle you need a hooped underskirt. They also make a great base for a ghost or an angel costume. Here is an easy way to make a very sturdy one using...

Shakespeare? Seriously, Shakespeare? Like, Wow, man. Heavy. But then again maybe not so much.

Improv is short for improvisation. Improv comedy has become a popular training tool for actors, as well as popular entertainment, on both television, and live theaters around the world. Improv...

Call it what you will: Theater talk, lingo or jargon but learn it if you’re working in the theater whether as a performer, a stagehand or an usher. The theater world has a lingo all of its...

If you're just starting to break out into the cosplay world, here's a few steps to help you along the way with your costume!

Have you always wondered what it takes to be an actress? There are many things to consider, but the good news is, if you truly want to act, you can do it! Here is some honest advice about how to...

Satire is most often found in the performing arts, but it is also found as a genre in print. Satire is the ridicule or derision of particular vices or idiosyncrasies for the purposes of irony and...

Blob tag is not only a fun game for kids of all ages. It’s also a terrific tool for learning about cooperation and trust between actors. Use the game as an ice breaker at your child or...

Here's a brief guide on how to speak like a Minnesotan.

Phones are great tools for communication—or for instilling fear in whomever answers it. You can scare someone on the phone by calling them up to relay a very chilling message. The message...

An excellent playwriting activity is to write an adaptation of a short story. Because short stories are written in the narrative form and plays are basically all dialogue, this activity presents...

Streamlining and standardizing the audition process is vital when working with teenage actors. A good production begins with professional-level auditions, during which you will set the tone for...

Have you ever seen a silent movie? Just imagine what those silent picture greats such as Chaplin and Keaton could have done had they had sound? Now apply that to playing with toys. If you or...

Have you ever had to cry on stage for an audition or play? Here's how to reproduce real tears on cue.

Finding the right material to audition for Musical Theatre jobs is an art-form in and of itself. But having a variety of songs that show off your range and ability is crucial to the business....

Churches, community event coordinators and corporations seem to hit a wall when trying to hire funny, professional, clean comics for their shows. This is because there are not that many out there...

You live in a city with a famous celebrity and would love to be friends with them. What do you do when you meet? How can you befriend them? This article will give you concrete tips to make...