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Improv 301 — Harold Structure

Wednesdays 7-10pm starting Jun 04, 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

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

Joe Wengert

wengert, joe
Joe Wengert has been improvising for over ten years. After performing as a founding member of the first improv troupe at the University of Delaware, he came to New York City and studied at the UCB Training Center under Michael Delaney, Armando Diaz, Kevin Mullaney, Billy Merritt, Matt Besser, Ian Roberts, Matt Walsh, and many others. He has been a regular performer at the UCB Theatre since 2002 in shows such as Game Face, Your Favorite Thing, the Dark Side of the Moon Show, Krompf, Instant Cinema, Dillinger, and more. He can currently be seen performing every Saturday night at the UCBT with house team Reuben Williams. He has also performed at improv festivals in Chicago and Toronto, and he currently tours the country with the UCB Touring Company. He has appeared on VH1 and in national commercials. He is currently a writer for the Onion News Network.

Student Feedback

"Joe was one of the best teachers I ever had. He is fierce and patient and gave wonderful advice."

"Joe is focused and professional, his notes were dead on. He took something that could have been scary, and just made it exciting and fun."

"Joe's emphasis on playing to the top of my intelligence helped my improve dramatically over the eight weeks. Joe is a great, funny and inspiring teacher."

"Joe fostered an environment of support, where you felt free to take risks and try new things and everybody came together to support each other."