Hi Sarah: I've been doing consulting workshops for a long time, discovered improv, and fell in love. I have started a little entrepreneurial project called Third Beat (find us on facebook at Third Beat Improv). Would love to talk and share experiences.

Thanks, Laurie Kauffman

Since that worked, you might want to think about Blitz Gibberish Detective. It's just like regular Gibberish Detective (Person must communitcate who killed, where and with what) except that you use five actors. The first has 60 seconds to communicate to the second; the second has 45 seconds to communicate with the third; the third has 30 seconds to communicate with the fourth; and, the fourth has 15 seconds to communicate with the fifth. Again, lots of energy, but not as strong on character development as speed dating.

How did Speed Dating go with your class?

Hi Sarah and welcome to AIN. Speed Dating is a game we play in both of my improv companies. We send one actor from the room and bring three other actors on stage. The audience then gives the on stage actors each a character, and sometimes something wrong with them (e.g. a flatulent Queen Elizabeth; a rabid Barney the Diansaur) We then bring the outside actor back and he/she has three dates with each of the other actors. The first "date" is 30 seconds; the second 15 seconds; and, the third 5 seconds. The person having the dates must then identify all three dates from the way the act on the "date." It is a fun performance game and both our audiences and our actors get a big kick out of it.
If you like, I may be able to find a video of a performance and send it to you.
Again, welcome to AIN.