Intro to Sketch Comedy 1

Course Description

Summary

This course is designed to teach you the basics of comedy writing, specifically using "the game of the scene" to create short comedic sketches. Each week students will be asked to write a 3–4 page sketch that will be read aloud in class and receive constructive criticism and suggestions (variations, alternate beats, alternate lines, etc.) from myself and your peers. You will also be asked to bring in 2-3 sketch ideas weekly that you will pitch in class - similar to a writer's room. We'll also be watching sketch comedy in and out of class which will run the gamut from old school to new. The shows I plan to assign include: The Richard Pryor Show, Chappelle's Show, Kids in the Hall, I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson, Monty Python's Flying Circus, Key Peele, Mr. Show, The Carol Burnett Show... and so on. Students will leave the class with an understanding of popular sketch formats and a portfolio of writing.  PLEASE NOTE: Some of the material in this course is provocative (sometimes deliberately so) and not for the faint of heart, so to speak. I believe in freedom of expression and not censoring an artist's impulses so if you are easily upset by content (or jokes), this may not be the class for you.