Work samples

  • Helen Keller is the Ghost of Christmas Past

    When you allow the audience to cast the Ghosts in A Christmas Carol, you have to be ready for the occasional curveball. From a performance of Bah Humbug: A Christmas Carol (Mostly) Improvised.

  • Michael Jackson Takes the Stand

    Michael Jackson reveals his true voice as a witness for the prosecution in a performance of Law & Order SIU: Special Improv Unit.

  • Sarge Says Farewell

    A dying Sergeant makes a series of, increasingly unreasonable, last requests from a comrade. Performed as part of Too Hip for the Room at the 2018 Charm City Fringe Festival.

  • Webster Defines: Y'all

    Joseph Alastair McKinsey’s History Channel series reveals the surprising Hebraic origins of the word: Y’all.

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About Michael

2024 OTW Artist   Baltimore City  

Michael Harris is a Smart Ass Texan with a Shakespearian sensibility. Currently in the midst of a lifelong experiment to determine what happens when half the people you love are Redneck Christians and the other half are Artsy Progressives.

An actor/improviser and screenwriter, Michael has lived in Baltimore for almost two decades. He has created a number of full play length, genre based, improv shows including: Bah Humbug--A Christmas Carol (Mostly) Improvised, Law & Order SIU--… more

View Michael's Resume
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Bah Humbug: A Christmas Carol (Mostly) Improvised

Every Christmas, every theater in America is contractually obligated to mount a production of A Christmas Carol. But, what it you want a take on the Dickens’ Classic that is both familiar and new?  Simple.

You CHOOSE YOUR OWN SCROOGE!

In Bah Humbug, a team of Maryland’s best improvisers turn your suggestions into a Never Seen Before, Never to Be Seen again reboot of A Christmas Carol. Hilarious, unpredictable and full of audience participation, Bah Humbug is everything you remember, and everything you never knew, from the Story of Scrooge.

If you love A Christmas Carol, if you hate A Christmas Carol, then Bah Humbug is for you!

Bah Humbug is celebrating its 5th Season in 2025. The show has played the Baltimore Theatre Project, New Spire Arts in Frederick, BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown, and the DC Improv Comedy Club (DC & Arlington).

  • Bah Humbug Sizzle Reel

    A sample of Bah Humbug taken from a performance, set in New Orleans, with Scrooge as a Cajun Air Traffic Controller.

  • Bah Humbug Logo
    Bah Humbug Logo
  • Scrooge & Marley

    Scrooge balances his microwave shrimp dinner with the warnings given by his ex-partner (and pre-ghost) Jacob Marley.

  • Scrooge Faces His Death
    Scrooge Faces His Death

    Scrooge stands in a dimly lit graveyard with The Ghost of Christmas Future. In the show, an audience member chooses Scrooge’s new catchphrase to replace “Bah Humbug.” In this case it was “Aw, Rats.” The audience also chooses Tiny Tim’s illness, and, in this show, they chose one that no one in the cast could spell.

  • Scrooge & the Charity Workers

    Our cajun Scrooge is confronted by two Charity Workers (audience volunteer & a cast member) about the needy in New Orleans. 

  • Old Scrooge Witnesses his Younger Self Falling in Love w/Belle
    Old Scrooge Witnesses his Younger Self Falling in Love w/Belle
    •

    • Law & Order SIU: Special Improv Unit

    Duh-DUN! Welcome to a full episode of Law & Order, fully improvised! 

    Law & Order SIU: Special Improv Unit is a never seen before, never to be seen again episode of the classic procedural, created from audience suggestions before their very eyes.

    From the discovery of the victim (played by a volunteer) to cynical quips from an aging detective to lawyers berating every witness on the stand, you get the complete Law & Order experience right down to a verdict decided by the audience. 

    Law & Order: SIU--These are Your Stories.

    • Lawyers Melt the Arctic Snow

      When the prosecutor & defense attorney have a, not quite finished, romantic past, sexual tension trumps justice.

    • Law & Order SIU Logo
      Law & Order SIU Logo
    • Racist Hat Lady Goes on Trial

      In this episode on Law & Order SIU, old time WB characters on a hat worn by the victim, lead to the murderer, also known as, The Racist Hat Lady.

    • The Closing Argument
      The Closing Argument
    • Pierre’s Style of Lovemaking

      A scrap of paper leads two detectives to the victim’s lover, Pierre. They grill Pierre about the relationship, and where their passion rates on the “Freddy Jackson” scale.

    • Conflict on the Courthouse Steps
      Conflict on the Courthouse Steps
    •

    • Dad Asses -- A Feature Length Screenplay

    Over 24 hours, a recently divorced accountant gets fired, gets his Jeep stolen, and becomes an accidental drug trafficker. The only escape from these problems is to become a beige pants badass--aka a Dad Ass.

    Dad Asses (then titled, Premium Economy) won the 2023 Baltimore Screenwriting Competition in the Full Length Feature Category. It also finished second in the 2024 Screencraft Virtual Pitch Competition and in the Final 25 of the 2023 Roadmap Writers Jumpstart Writing Competition.

    The Under 5 minute pitch is attached to this portfolio. If you are interested in reading the full script, please contact me directly.

    • DAD ASSES (5 MINUTE PITCH).pdf

      This pitch includes the logline and writer’s bio as well as an approximately two page pitch of Dad Asses. 

      If you are interested in reading the full screenplay, please contact me at [email protected] 

       

    • The Siegfried Olsson Band (We're not technically a band)

    The Sigfried Olsson Band is a sketch duo created by myself and Zach Brewster-Geisz. Over the course of three years we shot two seasons of short films with actors from all over the Baltimore/DC area.

    The included films range from a Telenovela actor who is addicted to churros to a History of Standup in the U.S. to a Fit Bit for your sex life.

    • Ricardo's Sizzle Reel
      A long time Telenovela star attempts to restart his career as a VoiceOver artist after 15 years of churro addiction has ruined his once svelte body.
    • F***Bit (SFW)
      The F***bit takes FitBit technology into the bedroom to give your sex life exactly what its been missing: Statistics!
    • Shakespeare and Burbage
      Shakespeare tries unsuccessfully to convince his white lead actor to play Othello.
    • Death & the Maiden Sitcom
      Game night with Death and his wife ends . . . predictably.
    • Standup Through History
      The History Channel takes us through the role of standup comedy in U.S. History, featuring Crispus Attucks, Susan B. Anthony, and Jeremiah Seinfeld.
    •

    • Too Hip for the Room

    A sketch & monologue show produced by the Siegfried Olsson Band for the 2018 Charm City Fringe Festival. Featured performers included Ti Malik Coleman, Alex Hewitt & Kelly Lloyd. The show combined stage adaptations of some of our short films and new material. 



     

    • Charm City Fringe 2018.png
      Charm City Fringe 2018.png
    • Sunset

      A man finds peace reminiscing with the ghost of his wife. This video is not from the Charm City Fringe Festival, but an earlier performance produced by the Baltimore Improv Group. Starring Christopher Jones & Chris Enoch Kemmerer.

    • HALFTIME MOTIVATIONAL SPEECH.pdf

      At halftime of a state championship football game, the head coach inspires his players and confesses his love for his defensive coordinator.
    • Anti-Semitic Chicken.pdf

      A BBQ judge faces up to her compromises under the pressures of "Big Sauce," and, with a friend's help, repents and returns to the true BBQ.
    • One Date, Two Tables.pdf

      Two shy neighbors, each in love with the other, both miss an opportunity to admit their feelings. After each acts out a first date alone, these two timid people find the courage to connect.

    • Choose Your Own Election (w/KAL)

    American elections have been ridiculous since men in wigs ran as Whigs. It’s time to dump the rage & tears and get back to the laughs.

    In Choose Your Own Election, the audience picks the candidates, the parties, the city, the low level political office—everything. You take a hilarious journey from nomination to ads & debates to scandals. All of it ending with a fair, honest and, most of all, funny election. This show is performed in collaboration with Kevin “KAL” Kallaugher, the longtime political cartoonist for the Baltimore Sun & The Economist magazine.

    Choose Your Own Election: No matter the result, Comedy Wins!

    WIth the exception of 2020 (for some reason), Choose Your Own Election has been performed in Baltimore as part of every two year election cycle since 2008. The purpose of the show is not to rehash exhausted jokes about Democrats & Republicans. Instead we focus on low stakes offices in small towns (for example, Head Librarian of Missoula, Montana), in order to gently mock the absurdities of our political process, including we the people. 

    • Phil Davison Promo Video

      Phil Davison gave one of the greatest, most horrible, political speeches of all time. Our cast honored that speech in one of the original promo videos of Choose Your Own Election.

    • Choose Your Own Election 2024
      Choose Your Own Election 2024

      KAL’s promo drawing for the 2024 run of Choose Your Own Election.

    • Creepy Steve Attack Ad
      Creepy Steve Attack Ad

      Creepy Steve, according to the attack ad, is who will be waiting for you in the stacks, if you elect my opponent, Head Librarian of Missoula, Montana.

    • Gusfina Wins the Debate
      Gusfina Wins the Debate

      Gusfina wins the librarian nomination by promising to put the party back in Library.

    • Incumbent Speech
      Incumbent Speech

      Missoula incumbent librarian, Heather, explains how she lost 24 lives when her boat sank in a foot and a half of water.

    • Library Recipes w/Tex
      Library Recipes w/Tex

      Tex, a 7th generation Missoulan, explains why, in his library, every cookbook will have one recipe. 

    • Shut Your Hole!
      Shut Your Hole!

      Shut Your Hole! is Montana Public Television’s home for sophisticated political debate. Gusfina’s campaign manager explains to the show host why an open bar is vital for a modern library.

    •

    • Evan the Loyal & Other Improv Collaborations

    During my time in the Baltimore Arts (and particularly Improv) Scene, I have had the good fortune to collaborate with brilliant creators in a variety of disciplines.

    Over the course of 8 years, I performed in an Improv duo with Prescott Gaylord called Evan the Loyal. We began by doing shows where we would find an audience member who had never performed improv or even taken a class, and then we would do the entire show with them. We experimented with a variety of formats including: Wordy & Wordless (Only one of us could talk for the whole set), Wordless (entirely mimed/clowned shows), and doing Music based shows with guitarist, Luke Chohany. Evan the Loyal was an invited troupe at the Chicago Improv Festival (2x), Duofest in Philadelphia (5x), the District Improv Festival in DC (4x), the New York Improv Festival, and Austin Improv Festival, as well as annual performances at the Baltimore Improv Festival.

    In addition, I have produced, directed and performed in numerous interdisciplinary improv shows including, Anyone Can Draw with Baltimore Sun/Economist cartoonist, Kevin "KAL” Kallaugher;  The Movement with dance troupe, the Collective; Skinesthesia with body painter, Patricia Tamariz; “27” with local band, Umami; and a musical show with Beatbox legend, Shodekeh.


     

    • The Movement Show w/The Collective
      The Movement Show w/The Collective

      In The Movement, improvisers and dancers use their bodies to, not only, create the characters & scenes, but also, props, costumes & sets. 

    • Evan the Loyal w/Luke Chohany

      An improvised comedy show punctuated by sudden songs, including the legendary, “Got Me a Vasectomy” Blues.

      Time Stamps

      0:00-0:50=Intro & Inputs

      :51-9:32=Jesus & Napoleon in a Sanitarium

      9:37-14:52=Brainstorming the “Come on Down to St. Agnes Hospital” Ad        Campaign

      14:57-22:45=Two Buskers Discuss Surgical Nightmares

      SONGS

      2:55-4:33= “It’s Not Easy"

      5:27-7:20= “No Compliments"

      10:23-11:40= “Self Diagnosis Rap"

      15:15-17:05= “Got Me a Vasectomy Blues"

       

    • Evan the Loyal at the Baltimore Improv Festival
      Evan the Loyal at the Baltimore Improv Festival

      Evan the Loyal tests their strength & flexibility at the Creative Alliance.

    • Evan the Loyal Presents: Wordy & Wordless

      One performer speaks. The other doesn’t. Beginning with a Creation Myth based on audience suggestions, this set includes a marriage born on a Bud Light Party Cruise and the truth about Papa John’s use of conflict pepperoni.

      Time Stamps

      0:00-1:47=Intro & Inputs

      1:48-8:16=The African Yogurt Pizza Creation Story

      8:23-14:50=Lurlene is Cheatin’ with the Trickster God

      14:59-19:05=Papa John’s Conflict Pepperoni Pizza

      19:10-23:53=AAA Dance & the End of A Relationship

      Wordless Story

      10:57-13:20=Don’t Stop Believin’ Bud Light Party Cruise

    • Improv Karaoke at the Creative Alliance
      Improv Karaoke at the Creative Alliance

      Improv Karaoke where the audience chooses from a dozen instrumental tracks of various music styles, and the improvisers invent the lyrics on the spot. Created by Laura Hall of Whose Line Is It Anyway? fame. 

    • Evan the Loyal at the District Improv Festival

      In this set, the duo finds mental health through metaphors, uses the world’s deepest pizza oven and reveals the secret of perfect foreplay. 

      Time Stamps

      0:00-1:26=Intro & Inputs

      1:27-3:58=Couple Fights over Metaphors & “I Only Have One Rule"

      4:02-6:39=Need to Pee Political Debate

      6:40-7:50=Anderson Cooper Has the World’s Deepest Pizza Oven

      7:56-9:21=Talking Crap, Playing Checkers

      9:26-12:45=Therapeutic Metaphors v. Godzilla (Feat. The Optimism Rap)

      12:49-19:00=Deer Hunting Misogyny & the Inner Demon

      19:08-24:17=Couple Gives Sex Talk & Foreplay Instructions

    • Improv Karaoke w/Laura Hall
      Improv Karaoke w/Laura Hall

      Improv Karaoke performance at the Creative Alliance with Laura & Rick Hall.

    • Skinesthesia: Improv meets Body Painting
      A group of improvisers create scenes and characters while a body painter draws on dancers. The dancers give the painted "puppets" movement, while improvisers voice them.
    • Anyone Can Draw w/KAL
      Anyone Can Draw w/KAL

      Anyone Can Draw w/KAL combines cartooning and improv at a show at the Baltimore Shakespeare Factory.

    • Evan the Loyal & BIG featured in Baltimore magazine
      Evan the Loyal & BIG featured in Baltimore magazine

      Magazine article featuring Evan the Loyal and the Baltimore Improv Group (BIG).

    •

    • How to Steal Dimes from 7 Year Olds -- Novel

    Xavier Martin makes his living on the tent revival circuit, separating the devout and desperate from their money with charisma, humor and feigned miracles. But when he is hired by an elderly preacher who seems to actually perform the miracles Xavier fakes, the con man finds his disbelief shaken. His situation becomes more dire when an adulterous fling results in an accusation of murder. His only ally? An old man who might actually be touched by God.

    A comic mystery novel set in 1960 in Texas.

    • How to Steal Dimes from 7 Year Olds First 3 Chapters Sample.pdf