307 W. 26th Street New York, NY 10001 (212) 366-9176

Join Our Mailing List
Switch to LA Site

Improv 301 — Harold Structure

Sundays 6:30-9:30pm starting May 11, 2008
Prerequisites: Completion of Improv 201
Cost: $325

This course introduces students to the long form improvisation structure known as “The Harold,” developed by Del Close.

In the first four weeks, students will study “Group Games”, scenes that involve multiple performers. Instruction will focus on teaching students a number of different ways to approach performing these group scenes. They will also study a variety of “Openings”, which are stylized methods of using an audience’s suggestion to generate enough content to support a half hour long improvised performance piece.

In the second four weeks of the course, students will put all of the techniques learned in Improvisation 101, 201, and the first four weeks of 301 into action by putting together fully formed Harolds.

This course meets for three hours a week for eight sessions. At the end of the course, students will take part in a class performance at the UCB Theatre. Graduation is also contingent upon students seeing at least two improvised shows at the UCB Theater before the end of the course.

Class Size: 14 Students

NO CLASS MAY 25th & JULY 6th.

Charlie Todd

todd, charlie
Charlie Todd has been performing, directing, and writing comedy at the UCB Theatre since 2001. He has studied improv under UCB founders Matt Besser, Ian Roberts, and Matt Walsh, among others.

He is the founder of Improv Everywhere, a New York prank collective that has been profiled by The New York Times, SPIN Magazine, Rolling Stone (Hot List), and both This American Life's radio and television programs. In 2007, Charlie executive produced and starred in a pilot for NBC based on Improv Everywhere.

Charlie has created many shows at the UCBT including PAID PROGRAMMING, FOUND ON CRAIGSLIST, and THE MP3 EXPERIMENT (all of which were Time Out New York critic's picks). He has been a part of many long running UCBT shows including RETRACED, MANDATORY LAME-ASS STAFF MEETING, THE REAL REAL WORLD, and CAGEMATCH NYC, for which he created the ridiculous wrestling league UCBW. He has made appearances on LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O'BRIEN, BEST WEEK EVER and VH1's 40 GREATEST PRANKS.

Charlie is a member of the UCBT House Team Reuben Williams. He has taught and performed at many festivals including the US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen and The Comedy Festival in Vegas. He was recently named one of the "10 Funniest People You've Never Heard Of" by New York Magazine.

Student Feedback

"Charlie was a fantastic teacher who really relayed the keys to learning intelligent, funny improvisational scenes."

"Charlie Todd was an amazing teacher. His friendly, yet professional manner put me immediately at ease and I learned a lot from his informative and encouraging teaching style."

"Charlie was fantastic, creating a focused & professional environment while maintaining the fun."

"Charlie is attentive and insightful. His comments were always spot on and helped me to understand concepts in new and different ways."

"Charlie was great. He was supportive, yet objective about our scenes. I'd take another class with him."