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Founded in 1985, the Purple Crayon is Yale's longest continuously-running improvisational troop. Our name is taken from the classic children's book Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson, published in 1955. The story tells of a young boy, Harold, who sets off to have an adventure, using his purple crayon to bring his imagination to life.

Harold is also the name given to a long-form improvisational structure, created by the legendary Del Close. Long-form improv comedy has always been a prominent facet of the Purple Crayon's repertoire. The Purple Crayon is the only troop that performs long-form improv at Yale.

In addition to performing shows on the Yale campus during the school year, the Purple Crayon goes on a fall and spring tour to a different city around the country. Some of the hot locale's the Crayon has toured in previous years include Boston, New York City, Los Angeles, Orlando, Seattle, Philadelphia, and Tuscon.

Several members of the Purple Crayon have moved on to display their talents on film and television. You can see Crayon alumni in Beverly Hills 90210, Renegade, and Dead Poets Society. One of the Crayon's founders, Phil LaMarr, has gone on to help create MadTV and to get his head blown off in Pulp Fiction.

Each fall, coinciding with the beginning of the semester, the Purple Crayon will tap a handful of students to join the troop. To find out information about this process, check out our auditions page.