Charna Halpern
Charna Halpern | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 1, 1952 |
| Occupation(s) | Improvisation teacher, writer |
| Years active | 1980–present |
Charna Halpern (born June 1, 1952) is an American comedian who cofounded iO theater with Del Close.
In 2020, the company closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a targeted racial justice protests.
Early life
Halpern graduated from Southern Illinois University in 1974 with a major in English and Speech.[1] Following graduation, worked for a juvenile delinquency school.[1]
Career
Halpern moved home to Dixon, Illinois following university, where she worked for a McDonalds owned by her father and interviewed locals to promote the franchise leading to a job on a radio show.[2]
Halpern met Del Close in 1981 and they later held competitive improv tournaments under the iO brand and adapted a long-form improvisational style that Close had been creating over the years called the Harold.[3] In 1995, Close and Halpern decided to acquire a more permanent location in 1995 by Wrigley field.[4] iO West opened in 1997 in Los Angeles.[3] Following Close's death, the theater lost one of their largest assets.[5][6] By the Covid-19 pandemic, iQ was drowning debt including a $100,000 property tax.[7]
Halpern and iO also came under criticism after a student in California reported harassment by a director.[4] Others who had interacted with the theater, historically, had claimed instances of racism by the theater as an institution and individual racism by Halpern.[8] In 2020, Halpern listed the theater's building for sale.[9]
References
- ^ a b Badowski, Christine (March 31, 2002). "CHARNA HALPERN, FOUNDER AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, IMPROVOLYMPIC ; Class struggle". Chicago Tribune.
- ^ Davis, Deidre Ann (2012-04-25). "Talking to Charna Halpern About Working with Del Close to Create Longform Improv". Vulture. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
- ^ a b Bernstein, David (2005-09-03). "In Chicago, Honoring Athletes of Improv". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
- ^ a b Ryzik, Melena (2020-06-18). "Chicago Comedy Institution iO Theater Is Closing". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
- ^ Vitello, Barbara (August 19, 2005). "The revolution continues Improv Olympic broke new ground in comedy - 25 years later, they're still at it". Daily Herald.
- ^ Nunzio, Miriam Di (2020-06-18). "Chicago's iO Theater owner says comedy hub will not reopen". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
- ^ Nunzio, Miriam Di (2020-06-18). "Chicago's iO Theater owner says comedy hub will not reopen". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
- ^ Jones, Chris. "Chicago's iO Theater is hit by accusations of racism and a petition demanding change". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
- ^ Jones, Chris. "iO Theater of Chicago is for sale, a sad week for Chicago comedy". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2021-05-04.