Harold - Improv Formats

So there is a lot of information out in the world about this format. The history is readily available. Del Close began seeking the form in San Fransisco with The Committee in the 70s. On returning to Chicago, Close met Charna Halpern and they combined some improv games in the format to initiate the exploration further into a working format, Harold.

The Reckoning (http://iowatercooler.com/)

The format is more than a structure. It is where an ensemble responds to a suggestion through dissection and collaboratively forming an art piece that is funny. The performance is based on a structure, but could go beyond it. It is the fundamental point of improv to follow the show, not what is presupposed or is said should happen. As Close said on his deathbed that Harold is long-form, as it is just creating one piece from a suggestion or maybe nothing.

Harold seeks the tone, themes and connections of scenes, relationships and characters to merge; forming the resulting comedic art. 

The structure starts with the opening, which could be whatever you chose. Many openings are composed already: organic; pattern game; invocation; scene painting; monologues and more. The organic opening enables the ensemble to combine their inspiration through physical representation of the idea, seconding and adding together through verbal clarification and building the specific individual creation. E.g. The Reckoning once initiated a hospital, a specific man with specific qualities to the exact bed and surroundings and statements  that added with the same tone and qualities. Clarity can come from repetition, e.g. "Weakness is only the for the wimps." In each moment found, this may be underlining it. All opening do this, but in different ways. 

The first beat has three scenes, but that is just a classic example. None of the scenes link, as it becomes problematic to the goal. The iO style has grown and changed over the years, like Close and Halpern desired. A factor that they have focused on is relationship. The truth in the relationship will create comedy; thus the book "Truth in Comedy". The inspiration for these scenes comes from the opening. A few ways to look at the details are thematic, commentary or word or phrases; this is as with the format Deconstruction.

The group game is a game that involves all players, all of the ensemble. One approach to this is presentational games that do not engage any scenic, conversational qualities. Using any aspect of the opening or suggestion that has not been offered in the scenes so far, the group shall present their game.

Based on the themes and tone of the group game, the second beat happens. These could well be three scenes, returning to the scenes of the first beat. There are multiple ways to return to the scenes: analogous (same game of the scene, or parts); character dash (keep one character); location (same place); tangent (some idea from the first scene); story is a NO! (in the iO approach). It is possible to notice broad themes from other scenes to bring into others, but not to clearly link scenes. This is due to ruining the third beat if links happen in this section.

A group game happens again. This happens alike the first one. 

The third beat is where the threads come together. It could be one scene or three; this beat seeks to close wherever it needs to. It brings the characters together, the themes together and the tone from the group game that has followed the path laid before it.

So this is a broad look at the format, it is based on the institution that began the format. If there is anything you have from iO that is relevant that you've found, then feel free to comment. If it seems like a correction, it may be added to the blog with attribution.