The Harold research

Improv theatre:
The Harold
This is long form if improvisation, started by Del Close in the 60’s.
It can take anywhere between 10 and 45 minutes, and follows a certain structure.
1.    the “moderator “(about.com), a person selected to run the Harold, asks someone in the audience a question with a one word answer like: “What is you favourite activity?” or “Name one thing that you are wearing.” The whole Harold will be based on this. Then there are several options for the opener:
-a speech by the moderator
- the actors talking about their experience with the word
- play a word association game
- the actors perform a dance based on the word

2.    Three short improvs based on the word
3.    An improv game
4.    Three more short improvs either sticking to the same word or making it more specific
5.    Another improv game
6.    Some more improv scenes to wrap up and tie together the several themes and characters

Bradford, Wade. "Long Form Improv Game - The Harold Improv Game." Plays / Drama. Web. 12 Sept. 2010. <http://plays.about.com/od/improvgames/a/harold.htm>.

Summary of source: This source was very informative and detailed; outline the structure of the Harold. It is a valid source as it is owned by a major newspaper company, New York Times.

Each scene has 2-4 actors in it but about 12 people, not all of them in the scene, could play the Harold. It is also not important if you stick to three rounds, as long as all of the scenes are loosely tied together. 
"Harold." Improv Encyclopedia. Web. 12 Sept. 2010. <http://improvencyclopedia.org/games//Harold.html>.
Summary: This was a more concise account of the Harold. It explained the main rules of the Harold and briefly the structure. It was also a very valid source, as it’s an encyclopedia of improvisation.

The Harold was invented by a improv actor, Del Close in Chicago working at the “Improv Olympic” theatre in the early 1980’s. It’s an alternative for Theatre sports and short form “Who’s line is it?”
"Who Is Harold...or Rather What Is Harold?" NYU NYUHome Homepages. NYU. Web. 12 Sept. 2010. <http://homepages.nyu.edu/~bvc202/tools.html>.
Summary: This source was rather brief but very clear on the structure of the Harold and it’s origins. It’s a valid source because it is the site is by the NYU.