Group Stare
Group Stare is a focus and connection exercise in which the entire group attempts to make and hold eye contact with every other member, one at a time. The exercise builds a sense of collective presence and mutual acknowledgment. It establishes the foundation of ensemble trust through the simple act of truly seeing each other.
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Related Exercises
Eye to Eye
Eye to Eye is a connection exercise in which pairs of players maintain sustained eye contact while performing various tasks or simply standing still. The exercise builds comfort with direct human connection and the vulnerability of being truly seen. It develops the focused attention that strong scene partnerships require.
Group Mirror
Group Mirror is an expansion of the classic mirroring exercise to the full ensemble. Players stand in a cluster and attempt to move as a single organism, with leadership shifting fluidly among members. The exercise develops the group mind sensitivity that distinguishes a true ensemble from a collection of individuals.
Learn to Be Looked At
Learn to Be Looked At is an applied improv exercise in which participants practice being the subject of others' attention without deflecting, performing, or withdrawing. The exercise addresses the discomfort most people feel when held in a sustained gaze and trains the capacity to remain present, open, and grounded while being observed -- a foundational skill for anyone who presents, leads, or regularly holds attention in professional or public settings.
Jeepers Peepers
Jeepers Peepers is a sustained eye contact exercise in which participants practice maintaining direct, unbroken eye contact with one partner for an extended period. The exercise works with the discomfort most people feel when held in a steady gaze and trains performers to remain present and available in the most intimate and demanding form of on-stage connection.
Group Scene Point of View
Group Scene Point of View is a scene exercise in which a large group performs a single scene, with each player contributing from a consistent character perspective. Rather than multiple characters pursuing separate agendas, all participants inhabit roles within the same shared reality and must maintain their individual points of view while serving the scene collectively. The exercise develops the ability to hold a consistent character perspective across a complex group environment.
Synchro Clap
Synchro Clap is a group focus exercise in which players attempt to clap simultaneously without any verbal coordination or designated leader. The exercise develops ensemble awareness and the ability to read and respond to the group's collective energy.
The Lineage
Explore the schools and structures that influenced or evolved from Group Stare.
112 Acting Games (Levy)
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). Group Stare. Retrieved September 28, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/exercises/group-stare
The Improv Archive. "Group Stare." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/exercises/group-stare.
The Improv Archive. "Group Stare." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/exercises/group-stare. Accessed September 28, 2026.
The Improv Archive is a systemically maintained repository. The archive itself acts as the corporate author.