Coached Longform Ensemble (Harold)

About our Curriculum

Do you want to learn the Harold but feel intimidated by all its rules? Have you learned the Harold in the past but the beats got you stuck in your own head? This is the class for you.

Four three months and three class performances we’ll be learning the classic improv form, The Harold, while focusing in on what makes it a roadmap for a good show. This session will combine longform classroom instruction with stage time over a 10-12 week period. For this session we will focus on performance of Harold which focuses on character and relationship heightening, and interweaving those to explore themes. Our Harolds will have space for performers of all types to showcase what they are great at and feel like truly ensemble performances.

Our mission is to provide committed performers over 18 with a deep interest in comedy and collaboration an opportunity to rehearse and perform with like-minded peers. Our coaches and teachers are working comedians who have trained at Second City, Improv Olympic and Upright Citizen Brigade and beyond.

The coached ensemble format is ideal for players that have taken improv classes and are interested in diving deeper into longform. A minimum of 6 players will be required to enroll and no more than 14 performers will be assigned to the ensemble.

Rehearsal Schedule

The Harold class will meet Thursdays 9/26-12/12 (ten total classes, with Halloween & Thanksgiving off) from 7:00-9:00. There will be a class show every month in October, November, and December.

Student Profile and Info

Prospective troupe members should know the fundamentals of improv and demonstrate good listening and collaboration skills. Class experience can be from The Lab or another school of acting/comedy.

Coach for this session: Nicholas Elmer

Nick has performed improv comedy in Philadelphia for nine years and can currently be seen with The N-Crowd, No Diggity, Breeders, and the indie team Sizzler Hour. Besides teaching at The Lab and Philly Improv Theater (PHIT), he has years of experience coaching and directing independent improv projects, the recent Lab bunker team 1235, and the PHIT harold team Main Dog.

More than anything, he is excited to help new improvisors find what they are great at and fall in love with the art form of improv comedy!

Host or Publisher The Lab (Ambler, PA)