"DUBBED" SKITS

Here's a fun idea when videotaping (or just doing drama) ... and you can't or don't want your actors to have to remember any lines.

You have off-camera readers with scripts while the actors listen and act out what they're hearing from the readers.

You need to prepare your script with lots of "leading cues" for each actor. A "leading cue" is a phrase that let's the actor know it is their part which is about to be read. (Remind your readers to PAUSE their reading right after the leading cue for just a moment so the actors know it's their turn.)

Example of a "leading cue"

• And then Jesus said... (pause)
• And then Moses said/walked (pause)
• And suddenly, there was a choir of angel.... (pause)

The actor hears their cue "and then Jesus said" to know it is THEIR line that's coming next, and then they mouth and act out the line as they hear it, or act it out right after they hear it.

Pretty simple really, you just need to make sure your script if FULL of such "leads" and actions, or that your actors create their own actions as they hear and mouth the line.

Of course you need kids who can read to read the lines, but we've also done it where the younger kids have all the acting parts and the workshop leaders and shepherds read the lines.

This is quite a hoot! Especially if you have a crowd of people who talk (all their mouths are going different directions!) or if you have a male reader reading/talking for a female actor's lines or vice versa. We've also done it with kids acting and parents as the readers and vice versa. Too funny!

Tip: Rehearse the actions that can go with each line.