The Harold is a famous improv format pioneered by our inspiration Del Close. The Harold Interviews is an series following a similar format with some of Improv’s most notable performers from all over the world. Welcome our latest interviewee, Alexis Simpson!

THE NEW MOVEMENT: What’s the best improv show you’ve ever seen?
Alexis Simpson: The Reckoning, at DSIF 2005. Only show that has both made me laugh so hard I thought I’d pop an eye and left the hair on the back of my neck standing up. I remember most that their suggestion was Palindrome and that they ended the set chanting “it ends the way it begins.” Awesome.

TNM: Describe your experience watching your first improv show.
AS: The first show I actually remember was when the Upright Citizens Brigade came to my school. I was absolutely blown away. I remember a game they played reminiscing about where they were when John Lennon was shot and one of them said “I was running through Central Park with a gun in my hands…” I also faintly remember thinking “They don’t let the woman talk as much as they should.” Also, before he left the stage, Matt Walsh told us in the audience he wanted to leave us with just one word: Longform. That one word has changed my life.

TNM:What made you start doing improv?
AS: My entire life I acted silly because I felt so ridiculously uncomfortable in my own skin, it seemed the way to put myself at ease. In college, an upperclassman member of the sketch/improv troupe insisted I audition. I got called back, but did not make the final cut. A small band of us reject-ees decided to form our own group, and I’ve been doing it ever since

TNM: What’s the best improv show you’ve ever done?
AS: Extra Strength doing 3 Mad Rituals at iO West, 12/27/08. I rolled up in LA to visit my family for Christmas and my friend Brian O’Connell said “HEY! iO West has an empty slot and I’m putting a show together. Want in?” It was me, Brian, and 8 other dudes I had never met before. Our warm up consisted of meeting each other for the first time and then touching each other’s backs and saying “I’ve got your back.” Then we did an hour of the best improv I’ve ever been a part of. Amazing.

TNM: Describe the experience performing in your first improv show.
AS: I kind of don’t remember it entirely, except that it was terrifying. I think we played idiotic games in the lounge of some freshman dorm for like 25 people. I am SURE we warmed up with Crazy 8’s (also known as Wet Dog) for a half hour or so. We had NO idea what we were doing. The first 3 months of our existence as a group, we spent every rehearsal playing 6 rounds of Party Quirks (with everyone taking a turn hosting! Fair!). NO IDEA WHAT WE WERE DOING.

TNM: What makes you continue doing improv?
AS: It is like heroin that probably won’t kill you.

Alexis Simpon lives in Philadelphia and performs in lots of improv festivals with her group Rare Bird Show. Look her up! Have some fun!