This activity is ideal for groups of 8 - 20 performers. Age does not matter too much; however,

younger performers really need to pay attention for the drama exercise to be effective.

How It Works:

One person (perhaps the drama instructor or group leader) serves as the "orchestra conductor."

The rest of the performers should sit or stand in rows, as though they were musicians in an

orchestra. However, instead of having a string section or a brass section, the conductor will create

"emotion sections."

For example:

Two performers are the "Sadness Section"

Three performers comprise the "Joy Section"

Two more make up the "Fear Section"

One person can be the "Guilt Section"

Another performer can be the "Confused Section"

And the list could go on!

Each time the conductor points or gestures to a particular section, the performers will make

emotional noises (try to avoid words -- make sounds that conveys the feelings). When the

conductor raises his hands high, the volume of the performers increase. Hands low, the volume

decreases.

Just as a maestro performs during an impassioned symphony, the conductor of the emotion

orchestra warms the performers up, pointing to them one at a time at first, and then to more

sections at once, eventually building to a climactic frenzy.

Performers must make certain that they pay attention to the conductor and become silent as soon

as the conductor points to another group.

Overall, "Emotional Orchestra" is a quick, fun way to warm up the performers and get the cast

primed for more challenging activities.

Other…

Try this great large group ending activity - I have run it withcorporate, kids, and others, and I find it very worthwhile...

Split groups up into 4 teams, each about the same size.  Be sure thegroups are separated from eachother, but are within a relatively closeproximity.

Frame-up:  Each team is responsible for a particular word, and everymember of the team is an expert at making that particular word.  Whenthe "conductor" points to a team, everyone on the team yells out theirword.

Team 1 - "Fiddle"Team 2 - "Faddle"Team 3 - "Funky"Team 4 - "Feet"

When the "conductor" points to each team, they yell out their word -when you put it all together, it sounds like a Human Orchestra!

There are many variations of this theme - different words can besubstituted, you can "play" your word at different volumes and tempos,etc...  See what you can come up with!

And, let me know if you come up with a variation that really gets greatresults!

Gotchya! (Grab the Finger or Cheese)

Handy icebreaker and attention-grabber for kids thru corporate group programs.

Stimulating group activity to get people together, focused, challenged, having fun and ready for action.  Useful to get focused attention when people arrive, get off the bus, or to fill 5-10 minutes.

Works with any size groups, indoor and outdoor.

Participants stand in a circle, arms out to the side.  Left hand palm up, right index finger pointing down and touching on neighbor's outstretched palm.

"When I say the word go, do two things.... grab the finger in your left hand, and prevent your right finger from being grabbed... 1 ... 2 ... 3 ... [add suspense] ... Go!".

Repeat several times.

Tom Leahy advises "put big energy, and your own style to it...it never fails to grab everyone's attention, bringing them immediately to the present...Provides perfect off the bus spark for the day....Good for 10 minutes".

The trick is dramatizing the "Go!", the build up of suspense, and most will jump the gun, adding to the fun.

Try a different trigger word, e.g., "Cheese", and mention lots of other "eeze" words for humor - peas, sneeze, wheeze, please and freeze.

Or use the word/theme of the day e.g., "outdoor" to help get people listening to every word.

Can transition to talking about "assumptions" and "temptation", etc.