Intro To Sketch Writing: Character, Game, and the Absurd (6 WEEKS)

In this 6-week course you’ll learn the essentials of sketch comedy that will sharpen your writing skills and help you find your own distinctive comedic voice. You will finish this coures with the tools you need to develop characters, premise, Game, and relationship dynamics that get your audiences laughing early and will leave them wanting more!

WILL CLEVELAND brings 20 years of theatre experience into his class. He has served as Artistic Director of ColdTowne since 2016 and trained in improv and sketch writing at New York's Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. He wrote and produced works for UCBComedy.com as well as produced for Above Average, Funny or Die, Official Comedy and more. His show "One Hour Til Air" received the B. Iden Payne award for best Improv Cast in 2019.

Sketch 2: Discovering Your Voice

Prequisite: must have taken Sketch Level 01 at ColdTowne

In this 6 week course, you'll build upon the core of level 1 sketch and learn more about writing towards the goal of a show and/or specific types of comedy. This deeper dive into the process emphasizes finding your voice and using it to write for specific performers. It's a collaborative setting, so we'll be offering feedback and exploring concepts together.

ANTHONY ELLISON spent 9 years in Chicago writing, performing, teaching, etc. After dozens of sketch shows at Second City, Annoyance, CiC, he earned an MFA in Playwriting, and won the Scott McPherson Playwriting Award. His plays have been produced in Chicago, NYC, Austin, Liverpool, Athens OH, Muncie IN, and many more.