Celebrity Gift Bag – Lesson Plan

The Oscars are happening this weekend and celebrities are no-doubt cramming the gifting suites. Here’s a little drama/improv warm-up that makes everybody a celebrity! I call it…

The Celebrity Gift Bag

I got the idea for this game at a recent conference we attended. The organizers were providing gift bags to all the teachers saying that the gifts were superhero-themed because theatre teachers are superheroes! They then admitted that not all the contents were superhero themed, but theatre teachers are creative enough to invent a reason the contents are included.

Here’s what you need:

• A gift bag or box.
• A bunch of random junk in the bag or box.

Arrange the class in a circle and explain that they’re all famous movie stars, if only for a moment. Pass the bag around the room. Each person removes an item and exclaims, “Wow! Could I ever use this. It’s a ______________.”

The answer should relate to being a movie star. For example:

• …a pen for signing all my million dollar contracts.
• …an empty Kleenex box to hide my Oscar from thieves.
• …a pack of gum to freshen my breath for a love scene.
• …a comb to keep my mink stole in top condition.

Then pass the bag to the next person, etc.

The only goal should be to complete sentence. It’s not a contest to see who can be most “creative.” Don’t worry about being funny or entertaining, or even if the completed sentence makes sense (e.g. …a bag of pretzels for my Lamborghini’s fuel tank). Just worry about completing the sentence without hesitation.

I like games like this for improv because they de-emphasize the performance aspect of improv. Just get the brain going. Focus on accepting your own idea.

Try different professions:

• Superhero
• Sanitation worker
• Teacher
• Bus driver
• Skycap
• Tree trimmer
• Meteorologist

Adding on…

• After describing the item, demonstrate its use.
• Use the item to start a scene.