Long Form Improvisation and American Comedy

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-ix

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • Matt Fotis

   Pages 1-22

3. Before the Harold: How Did We Get Here?

   • Matt Fotis

   Pages 23-47

4. The Training-Wheels Harold

   • Matt Fotis

   Pages 49-80

5. The Flexible Harold

   • Matt Fotis

   Pages 81-108

6. Reactions, Transformations, and Combinations

   • Matt Fotis

   Pages 109-145

7. Improv beyond the Theatre: The Harold’s Influence on Television and Film

   • Matt Fotis

   Pages 147-177

8. Back Matter

   Pages 179-218

   PDF

Long form scenic improv began with the Harold. The comic philosophy of this form started an era of comedy marked by support, trust, and collaboration. This book tells of the Harold, beginning with the development of improv theatre, through the tensions and evolutions that led to its creation at iO, and to its use in contemporary filmmaking.

• comedy
• film
• television
• theatre

"I remember my late partner, Del Close, telling me years ago that someday our work in long form improvisation would change the face of improvisational comedy. And while we struggled for years to convince anyone that improvisation was an art form unto itself, he promised that someday someone would study our work and its importance to the world of comedy. Del was always right. Matt Fotis has done an incredible job of looking at the rich history that I am so proud to be a part of. The depth of his study is unbelievable; he covers the history of improvisation and the work itself. I don't know how he did it - but he got it right. Somewhere above, Del is jumping in the air and clicking his heels together. Del and I brought the Harold to the stage, but Matt Fotis is bringing the Harold to the rest of the world." - Charna Halpern, iO Theatre

'Matt Fotis has done a great job researching in detail exactly what Long Form is, how it started, and (most importantly) the impact it has had on American Comedy, which is substantial.' - Jeanne Leep, Professor of Theatre Arts, Edgewood College, USA and author of Theatrical Improvisation: Short Form, Long Form, and Sketch-Based Improv

Matt Fotis is Assistant Professor of Theatre at Albright College, USA.

Policies and ethics