Setting Ideas for Improv Acting and Comedy Sketches

Setting Ideas for Improv Acting and Comedy Sketches One of the essential ingredients to a good improv scene is a setting. But sometimes, the ideas just dont flow. This list of settings for improv acting and comedy sketches may help grease the wheels. Keys to Success If youre not relying on your audience to suggest a setting, youll need to think quickly and choose one yourself. One of the goals of improv is to learn how to think quickly and creatively when confronted by the unexpected. To do that, youll need to bear a few things in mind: Go with it. If youre told to wear a trench coat, then do it. Now youve got one detail to add to the sketch of the character youre building: one whos a private eye in an old detective movie. Accept everything that people do or say as literal truth and dont try to deceive or outwit your fellow actors.Create a backstory. You can add realism to your character by asking questions or making statements that reference a past event. Maybe your detective character just had a run-in with a police officer who doesnt like him. As the two glare at each other, your character asks, You going to arrest me just like last time? And just like that, youve established a backstory for your audience that gives them more information about the scene youre creating.Be specific. Improv actors rarely work with elaborate sets or with many props. Instead, the challenge is to create a sense of place and character with your words and actions. Dont speak in monosyllables. Be descriptive.  Begin mid-action.  Unlik e scripted acting, improv doesnt have the luxury of building up to a dramatic climax through a prologue. You want to keep the activity (and inspiration) moving. Each sketch should start with your characters already engaged in a scenario, like being up to their elbows in a sink full of dirty dishes. Act without words. Speaking is just one way that an actor can convey information. Try choosing an improv setting and then using pantomime or another means of non-verbal communication.  Dont be yourself. Youre not playing yourself in improv; youre someone else. As you perform, push yourself to act and react in ways the real you may never do. Suggested Improv Settings Once the actors are ready, its time to choose a setting. Some performers let the audience make suggestions, with the troupe picking their favorite. Others leave it to the director or host to pick a scenario. Theres no right or wrong way to do it. Thats the beauty of improv. A:Art GalleryAmbulanceAdoption ClinicAmazon RainforestAntique StoreAttic B:BarbershopBalconyBoatBirds NestBlacksmithBakeryButterfly HabitatBeaver DamBootcamp C:CastleCat Ladys HouseChessboardCheese FactoryClassroom Cemetery(Inside a) Comic BookChiropractors OfficeCircus D:Dance StudioDragons LairDesertDeep Sea DivingDepartment of Motor VehiclesDetentionDrunk Tank E:EgyptElephant SanctuaryElfs ForestExecution ChamberEarthquake Preparedness Class F:Ferris WheelFire StationFishing PondFootball StadiumFutureFortune Tellers Shop G:Grocery StoreGolf CourseGhost TownGondolaGarbage DumpGarageGoldmineGypsy CampGrand Canyon H:Hardware StoreHelicopterHenhouseHogwartsHospitalHawaii I:IglooIsland (Tropical)IcebergIce Cream ShopIce Age J:JungleJet Pilots CockpitJudges ChambersJury BoxJewelry StoreJurassic Age K:Karate ClassKaraoke BarKnights Training GroundsKing Kongs CageKnitting CircleKangaroo Farm L:LagoonLighthouseLibraryLOST (The TV Show)LifeboatLumberjack CampLondonLaundromat M:Make-Up CounterMarathon Finish LineMechanics ShopMoonMousetrapMummys Tomb(Inside a) MicrowaveMountain Top N:Nursing HomeNews StationNeverlandNature TrailNightclubNewspaper Office O:Orchestra PitOffice CubicleOrchardOutback (Australia)Open House (Real Estate)Optometrist P:Picnic SpotPanda ExhibitPromPirate ShipPet StorePost OfficePhotography ClassPolice Station Q:Queen Elizabeths CourtQuiz ShowQuicksand R:Radio ProgramRestaurant Grand OpeningRed Carpet (Movie Premiere)Riverboat(Inside a) Romance NovelRobbers Hideout S:SafariSchool LunchroomSchool Nurses OfficeSantas WorkshopSki SlopeSpider WebSummer CampSmurf VillageSoftball GameSpaceshipSecond-Hand StoreSubmarineStable T:TreehouseTravel AgencyTruckstopTheater AuditionTidepoolTribal CeremonyTourist Trap U:Ugly Princess Birthday PartyUndergroundUnderwaterUnemployment OfficeUtopian Society V:Vampires HomeVolleyball CourtVolcanoVoting Booth W:Witchs CavernWarehouseWhite HouseWaterslide ParkWrestling RingWild WestWoodshop ClassWedding Ceremony X:X-Ray LabXylophone Store Y:Yard SaleYoga ClassYearbook Club Z:Zeppelin (Blimp)Zombie Vacation SpotZoo