Two players perform a scene. Anyone can call freeze, tap out a player, take their physical position, and justify it with a completely new scene.

Also known as: Freeze, Tag

See also: Pan Left Pan Right

One person sings any song. When another player is inspired by a word or idea, they tap the singer out and start a new song. Keep the circle moving.

See also: Zip Zap Zop

A long-form structure where scenes are connected by panning the camera left or right to reveal adjacent moments in time or space.

Also known as: Camera Pan

See also: Freeze Tag, Story Spine

Players build a story in turns using the cue phrases: Once upon a time… Every day… Until one day… Because of that… Until finally… Ever since then…

Also known as: The Spine

See also: Pan Left Pan Right

Each player is limited to only two specific lines of dialogue. They must use these lines to create a believable scene.

See also: Yes And

Players rapidly fire words associated with the previous word. No hesitation — say the first thing that comes to mind.

Also known as: Free Association

See also: Yes And

Two players build a scene by accepting every offer the other makes and adding to it. The core rule of improv made into an exercise.

Also known as: Yes, And

See also: Word Association, Two-Line Vocabulary

Players stand in a circle and pass energy with the words Zip, Zap, and Zop in sequence, pointing to someone new each time.

Also known as: Zip Zap Boing

See also: Hot Spot

Players pantomime a scene in an empty space, using only their bodies and imagination to create objects and environments. This improv game is played by 2 players. One holds a (mimed) black box, which has 3 buttons, one of which is red. These buttons control a player; one button might be the `jerk your leg` button. The exact functions of each button are not defined. The other player enters and asks if he can play with the box. Player 1 agrees, but adds something like "Whatever you do, don't push the red button". Player 2 begins to play with the buttons, controlling player 2. Then, we slowly work up to the use of the dreaded red button, which will make player 2 do something not-so-obvious. This can be anything, but it should not be preconceived. The red button might become a Mood swing button, a Start Screaming, Start Giggling, Sing Opera, or Switch-to-Gibberish button.