Here are 10 improv games designed to teach storytelling and scene work for any team building workshop, class, jam, rehearsal or warm-up for a show.

At New York Improv Theater, we believe laughter is a powerful tool for learning, and improv games are an incredible way to bring that energy into any classroom. We often partner with educators, sharing techniques that not only make lessons more engaging but also cultivate essential life skills in students. The games we’re about to share are fantastic for teaching storytelling and scene work, skills that benefit students and professionals alike. In fact, we use these very same exercises in our corporate training and professional development workshops for teachers and staff! These ten improv games will help your participants enhance focus and presence, boost communication and connection, and foster a lighthearted atmosphere—all through the joy of play! Have fun!

---

1. One-Word Story

This game is a fantastic exercise in collaborative storytelling and listening. The group stands or sits in a circle. One person starts a story with a single word. The next person adds one more word to continue the story, and so on. The challenge is to create a coherent narrative together, often leading to surprising and funny outcomes. It really boosts communication and connection.

• REMEMBER EVERY STORY IS BUILT WITH THREE TYPE OF BRICKS:
  WHO, WHERE & WHAT CHOICES!
  WHO ARE YOU? (Character & Relationships)
  WHERE ARE YOU? (Setting, with detailed discovery of our imaginary world)
  WHAT ARE YOU DOING? (Action, plot, why, etc)

---

2. Yes, And… Short Stories

This game is at the heart of improv and teaches fundamental principles of agreement and building. One person starts a statement or an action. The next person responds by accepting what was just offered and then adding something new, starting their contribution with “Yes, and…” This collaborative pattern builds scenes organically, making it wonderful for boosting communication and connection and fostering a lighthearted atmosphere.

---

3. Yes, And… 5-Line Scenes

Standing in a circle, player one starts a 5-line scene with player two. The next four lines from player one and two must each begin with the words “Yes, and…” After five lines, player two starts a new 5-line scene with player three, following the same “Yes, and…” structure. Continue around the circle until everyone has had at least two turns. This rapid scene creation further enhances focus and presence and boosts communication and connection through quick collaborative building.

---

4. Conducted Story

This game powerfully hones listening skills and the ability to maintain a continuous narrative. Several players stand in a line, acting as collective storytellers, while one person serves as the “Conductor.” The Conductor points to one player to begin the story. As long as the Conductor is pointing at them, that player tells the story. Without warning, the Conductor can switch to another player, who must seamlessly pick up the narrative exactly where the previous speaker left off—even mid-sentence or mid-word! This demands constant, attentive listening from everyone, whether they’re speaking or waiting for their turn. “Conducted Story” is fantastic for enhancing focus and presence and truly boosting communication and connection as the group creates a single, flowing story together.

---

5. Yes, And Then…

This variation is excellent for younger groups or novice improv players, where “Yes, and…” alone might not always trigger flowing responses. By adding the expectation that something happens next, students can skip the “thinking” stage and dive into the story with fun, lighthearted anxiety. You can even add some anxious prompting with “YES AND THEN…” to encourage immediate follow-up. This approach can be particularly effective when incorporated into games like “Conducted Story” and “Yes, And… Short Stories,” fostering a lighthearted atmosphere and boosting communication and connection by promoting continuous narrative flow.

---

6. Trait Plate

This game focuses on collaboratively building characters within a shared narrative. Standing or sitting in a circle, players tell a story. Unlike typical “Yes, and…” games, each player is now a different character. On every turn, you must “Yes, and…” everything that came before, then add one new thing about your own character and one new thing about the next player’s character. While this story emphasizes the “WHO,” make sure to also include “WHERE” and “WHAT” story choices. After three rounds, the group should have 6-8 solid, unique traits for each character (e.g., job, age, relationships, physical traits, mental/emotional traits, clothing, props, history). This detailed character building significantly boosts communication and connection and enhances focus and presence on narrative specifics..

---

7. Ten Scenes, Ten Minutes

This game is a great way to get an entire class working on scenes at the same time. It’s a fast-paced exercise designed to generate a high volume of quick scenes. The group typically works in pairs or small groups. The facilitator calls out simple scene prompts (e.g., “At the supermarket,” “First date,” “Lost in space”). Each pair then has one minute to create a complete scene before the next prompt is called. The emphasis is on initiation, quick establishment of characters and stakes, and clear endings. This game significantly enhances focus and presence and helps boost communication and connection through rapid-fire collaboration.

---

8. Scene Starters – Emotional Choice

This exercise helps players instantly commit to strong emotions at the top of a scene, which often drives compelling narratives. Two players step forward to start a scene. The first player offers a simple choice of a need or want (e.g., “I need a new pair of shoes!” or “I want to go to the movies!”). This player is then done talking in this scene and lets the other player take over without any reaction of their own. Player two now reacts at a level TEN in any emotional choice—happy, sad, excited, angry, scared, anxious, etc. This game profoundly enhances focus and presence and boosts communication and connection by encouraging emotional honesty and reactivity, and can be coached to explore how emotional choices define “WHO,” “WHERE,” and “WHAT” happened in the past.

---

9. Three-Line Exchange (Who, Where, What)

This foundational scene work game helps players quickly establish the core elements of a scene. Two players step into the playing space. In their first line, one player establishes WHO they are (their relationship to the other person, their character). In the second line, the other player establishes WHERE the scene is taking place. In the third line, the first player establishes WHAT is happening or what the immediate conflict/goal is. After these three lines, the scene continues naturally. This structure helps enhance focus and presence by demanding clear information delivery and boosts communication and connection by providing a strong framework for collaborative storytelling.

---

10. I Am a Tree

To create an improv scene, we must make simple choices. Don’t try to be funny or clever, as that often leads to writer’s block or disconnected choices. Simply LISTEN and RESPOND. In this game, one student will pose as a tree and say, “I AM A TREE.” Another student will add to the picture by saying, “I AM A ________ THAT IS _______” (identifying “Who/What” they are and “HOW” they connect to the tree). This builds a rich and imaginative scene collaboratively, enhancing focus and presence on shared world-building and boosting communication and connection through simple, connected offers.

Join us for weekly shows, classes and jams. We daily host corporate teams and student groups at our Times Square NYC theater as well as tour schools, community centers, and private events DC to Boston to Pittsburg and beyond! CLICK HERE for upcoming public shows. CLICK HERE for upcoming classes & jams. EMAIL for information regarding private shows & group sales.

Print out our FREE PDF download of the above info and use in your classes!