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Summer Theatre Conservatory: Comedy Performance
Become a Summer Trojan and earn college credit.
Program Overview
In this course, students will learn the foundations of improv comedy, stand-up comedy, sketch, sitcom and physical comedy.
The conservatory-style format allows students to collaborate closely with motivated peers to shape their comedic voices, generate original comedic material and expand their performance skills, culminating in a workshop show for family and friends.
From experienced drama students looking to tap into their playful side to students who have never performed at all, this course is for all levels of comedy-curious high schoolers to learn winning techniques for creativity, charisma and collaboration — on and off the stage.
Key Information
Topics of Study
- Improv
- Sketch
- Stand-up
- Scripted comedy
- Physical comedy
- Clowning
- Comedy writing
- Comedy analysis
Learning 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
Requirements
- Students must bring their own laptops
Weekly Highlights
| Week | Focus | Key Topics | Assignments and Activities |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Forming the Comedy Company | Explore what the “point” of comedy is; how to make people laugh; what is funny to you; finding your charm | Improv and stand-up training. Field trip to Sony Pictures Studios. |
| 2 | Playing the Crowd and Learning the Rules | Interacting with an audience; comedic characters and writing; creating comedy material | Sitcom acting training. Clown training. Sketch training. Field trip to professional improv comedy show. |
| 3 | Level Up and Get Tight | Refining your material; expanding performance abilities; preparing to put on a show | Field trip to professional sketch comedy show. |
| 4 | Let’s Put On a Show! | Intensive rehearsal and prep for a show entirely created by you | Perform a full comedy extravaganza show with the Comedy Company. Put yourself on tape in sitcom class. |
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