Born on June 1, 1952, Charna Halpern graduated from Southern Illinois University in 1974 and began her career in radio before turning to improvisation in 1981 with Del Close. A pioneer of long-form improvisation, she co-founded iO Theater (improvOlympic) in Chicago with Del Close. She directed iO Theater for over 30 years, training SNL stars such as Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Mike Myers, and Chris Farley.

She and Del Close invented the “Harold” format, a long-form improvisation structure that revolutionized comedy, moving from short sketches to full-length narrative pieces. Their book, Truth in Comedy, published in 1994, is a global reference for improvisers, actors, and comedians, used in universities and workshops worldwide.

The iO had to temporarily close in 2020 due to the pandemic and protests, but reopened in 2022; Halpern remains active, teaching international seminars and workshops, including in Latin America.

Sources: en.wikipedia | inc.com