Kim Howard Johnson

Johnson's involvement with the ImprovOlympic during its founding period placed him at the epicenter of one of the most significant developments in American comedy. When he studied under Del Close in the early days of the ImprovOlympic, the Harold was still being refined and the idea that improvisation could sustain complex, interconnected long-form structures was revolutionary. As a founding member of the Baron's Barracudas, Johnson participated in the earliest performances of the format that would become the standard framework for long-form improv worldwide.

His decision to document Close's methods in Truth in Comedy had consequences that extended far beyond a single book. Before its publication, the Harold existed primarily as an oral tradition, passed from Close and Halpern to their students through direct instruction. By codifying the form's principles in writing, Johnson, Halpern, and Close made the Harold accessible to performers and teachers who had no direct connection to the Chicago scene. This democratization of long-form knowledge accelerated the spread of the Harold to cities and countries that had previously practiced only short-form improvisation.

Johnson's approach to improv education is rooted in the belief that documenting and codifying improvisational principles serves the art form as much as performing does. His work on Truth in Comedy reflected a conviction that the Harold's underlying logic, including pattern recognition, thematic connection, and the discovery of meaning through juxtaposition, could be articulated clearly enough for self-directed study. This perspective distinguished him from teachers who believed long-form improvisation could only be transmitted through direct mentorship. His teaching at iO Theater drew on his years of observing Close's methods firsthand, emphasizing the same principles of honest performance and ensemble awareness that Close championed. Johnson has described the essence of Close's teaching as the insistence that performers pursue truth over comedy, trusting that genuine human behavior onstage produces deeper and more lasting humor than manufactured jokes.

Johnson's authorship of Truth in Comedy and The Funniest One in the Room gave the improv community two of its most important texts. Truth in Comedy remains the most widely read introduction to long-form improvisation, and its articulation of the Harold's structure and philosophy has shaped how tens of thousands of performers understand and practice long-form improv. The book's influence extends to every major improv institution that teaches the Harold, from iO and UCB to independent theatres worldwide. The Funniest One in the Room provided the definitive biographical account of Del Close, preserving the history of one of improv's most important and complex figures for future generations. Together, these two books constitute an essential contribution to the documentation and transmission of improvisational art.