10 Improv Prompts for the Christmas Season

The festive season is upon us, and what better way to celebrate than with some Christmas-themed improv games? Improvisation and Christmas have several things in common: both involve creativity and imagination, bring joy and laughter, emphasize spontaneity, and highlight community and togetherness. In this article, we will explore 10 improv prompts with a Christmas twist, each with a subtle nod to a popular Christmas musical, play, or film. After the list of prompts, we will delve into ideas to make your improv games more challenging, with examples of setting changes, stake changes, props to use, and more.

Prompts:

1. Two elves from the North Pole compete to create the most innovative toy of the season. (A nod to “Elf: The Musical”)
2. A group of carolers gets lost and ends up singing at unexpected places. (A nod to “A Christmas Carol”)
3. A small town is thrown into chaos when the Christmas tree in the town square goes missing. (A nod to “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!”)
4. A group of friends gets stranded in a cabin during a snowstorm and must find creative ways to entertain themselves. (A nod to “White Christmas”)
5. The ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future decide to take a vacation and leave a rookie ghost in charge. (Another nod to “A Christmas Carol”)
6. A family forgets to buy a Christmas turkey and must find an alternative at the last minute. (A nod to “A Christmas Story”)
7. An office Christmas party takes an unexpected turn when the boss announces a surprise. (A nod to “Die Hard” – which some people consider a Christmas film)
8. A group of strangers is stuck on a train on Christmas Eve and must work together to make it home in time for Christmas. (A nod to “The Polar Express”)
9. A department store Santa Claus discovers that he has magical powers. (A nod to “Miracle on 34th Street”)
10. A child wakes up on Christmas morning to find that they have been transformed into one of Santa’s reindeer. (A nod to “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”)

Festive Twists:

Changes to the Setting:

1. The secret society meeting stumbled upon by the carolers is actually a gathering of elves planning a Christmas revolution.
2. The train the strangers are stuck on is actually the Polar Express, but it has lost its magic and can’t move.
3. The office where the Christmas party is taking place is actually located in Santa’s workshop at the North Pole.

Changes to the Stakes:

1. If the elves can’t create the most innovative toy, Christmas will be canceled.
2. If the strangers on the train don’t make it home in time for Christmas, a spell will be cast, and they will forget their families forever.
3. If the child transformed into a reindeer can’t lead Santa’s sleigh through the snowstorm, Christmas will be delayed for the entire world.

Prop Additions:

1. A magical snow globe that shows the future.
2. A set of enchanted bells that can only be heard by those who believe in Santa Claus.
3. A mysterious box that contains the Christmas spirit.

Each of these prompts, setting changes, stake changes, and prop additions is designed to add a festive and fun element to your improv games. Whether you are playing with a group of friends or performing on stage, these Christmas-themed improv prompts and twists are sure to bring joy and laughter to your holiday celebrations.