The Pattern Game
1980s-present · Chicago
Also known as Pattern Game Opening
The default Harold opening — word association from a suggestion, looped three times to generate scene premises before any scene is played.
Known for
- Original opening taught for Harold at iO by Del Close.
- Players free-associate away from the suggestion and return three times, producing a 'cloverleaf' of ideas.
- Uses the 'A-to-C' method — don't give the obvious first association (B), jump to the second-order association (C).
- Often dropped in modern Harolds in favor of organic openings or group games, but remains the baseline.
Connected to
Forms
Concepts
a to c method
People
Schools & Theaters
Notes
Note for merge: Pattern Game could arguably live under concepts/ rather than forms/ since it’s a component of Harold rather than a full show format. Keeping here because it’s treated as a named piece with its own history.
Sources
Referenced by
Forms