SUMMER THEATRE CONSERVATORY: COMEDY PERFORMANCE

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USC Pre-College > Summer Programs > Summer Theatre Conservatory: Comedy Performance

Dreaming up your own Netflix special? Drawn to joining the cast of Saturday Night Live? Desiring collabs and creativity? Start or continue your comedy journey this summer in USC’s dynamic and unique Comedy Performance conservatory.

Working with the School of Dramatic Arts’s world-class comedy faculty of experienced professional comedians and comedy actor-writers, you will learn and practice the foundations of improv, stand-up, sketch, sitcom, and physical comedy. While developing partnerships with your comedy cohort, you will explore your own comedic voice, generate original comedic material, and expand your comedic performance skills, culminating in a workshop show for family and friends. This program provides essential training for actors, writers, and humans alike — whether you know you’re funny or not.

Summer Theatre Conservatory is also offered in Acting Intensive and Musical Theatre.

USC Summer Program Gallery: Comedy Performance
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PROGRAM DATES
June 15 – July 12, 2025

PREREQUISITES
None

COURSE DRESS CODE
None

DAILY SCHEDULE & ACTIVITIES
MONDAY – FRIDAY
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Classes in session
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Lunch
1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Classes in session

Evening rehearsals may be scheduled, as necessary

Tuition & Application
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COURSE OVERVIEW

Highlights

  • Learn from comedy professionals in a collaborative and interactive, conservatory-style environment
  • Participate in off-campus field trips to see professional comedy shows in Los Angeles
  • Culminate your summer experience with a workshop performance

Topic of Study

  • Improv
  • Sketch
  • Stand-up
  • Scripted comedy
  • Physical comedy

HEAR FROM OUR FORMER STUDENTS

Learning during class has been so much fun. I literally have abs now simply because I laugh so much every single day, mainly because of our class. I feel like a new person since this program started. I feel way more independent, outgoing, and happy. I’m so sad it’s over, but this has been probably the best experience of my life. I’m very grateful for everyone who taught me, it’s been a blast.
I am surprised how much I’ve grown…from being a very quiet student, to performing a whole stand up act in front of an audience. I am quite proud of everything I have done. I communicated and revealed my true self and what I am capable of.
This experience has enhanced so many attributes of my persona, including my comedic timing, improvisational skills, and my overall personality. Not only have I learned so much about comedy, my performance skills have grown exponentially too. I had such an amazing experience at this program, thank you so much!
This month, I really found a new love for comedy and I feel like my skills grew tremendously. Whether it was sketch, standup, or improv, I always felt excited to participate in class. I enjoyed all of our field trips and the overall commitment of each and every one of us to the class. I did not ever believe that I would experience this much growth to come from this class, but believe me, I was completely wrong.