Truth in Comedy: The Manual for Improvisation

Who would have ever thought that learning the finer points of improvisation could be such fun? The "Harold," an innovative improvisational tool, helped Saturday Night Live's Mike Myers and Chris Farley, George Wendt (Norm on "Cheers") and many other actors on the road to TV and film stardom. Now it is described fully in this new book for the benefit of other would-be actors and comics. The "Harold" is a form of competitive improv involving six or seven players. They take a theme suggestion from the audience and free-associate on the theme, creating a series of rapid-fire one-liners that build into totally unpredictable skits with hilarious results. The teams compete with scoring based on applause. The "Harold" is a fun way to "loosen up" and learn to think quickly, build continuity, develop characterizations and sharpen humor.

• Improvise: Scene from the Inside Out
• Upright Citizens Brigade Comedy Improvisation Manual
• How to be the Greatest Improviser on Earth
• The Serious Guide to Joke Writing: How To Say Something Funny About Anything
• Improvisation at the Speed of Life: The TJ and Dave Book
• Improvisation for the Theater: A Handbook of Teaching and Directing Techniques (Drama and Performance Studies)
• The Comedy Bible: From Stand-up to Sitcom--The Comedy Writer's Ultimate "How To" Guide
• How To Write Funny: Your Serious, Step-By-Step Blueprint For Creating Incredibly, Irresistibly, Successfully Hilarious Writing
• Impro: Improvisation and the Theatre
• Behind the Scenes: Improvising Long Form