Comedy Writing Crash Course

Service Description

COMEDY WRITING CRASH COURSE - w. RICH TALARICO (KEY & PEELE, SNL, MADtv, TONIGHT SHOW) Join This Is Improv as we welcome Rich Talarico, who shares insights and techniques from his years in comedy and late-night TV (SNL, MADtv, Key & Peele, The Tonight Show), as well as his experience co-writing five resident company shows for Second City in Chicago. Students will learn essentials: how to write jokes, how to identify and use comedic devices, and develop ideas. Class will learn how to write basic comedy staples as well as brainstorming & pitching techniques, and a variety of scene types. DETAILS Sunday, February 8th 10am-1pm Davie Woman's Club STUDENT GUIDES 12 Participating Students PG-13 Conduct and Content No Recording, please MORE ABOUT RICH TALARICO “Rich Talarico is one of the all time great Caucasian Improvisers.” — Tina Fey Rich Talarico is a Peabody® Award-winning writer/producer with four Emmy® and four WGA Award nominations, best known for his work on Key & Peele. Rich was responsible for K&P fave Substitute Teacher, (“…Ay-ay-Ron?”) which in 2024 was added to The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum Of American History. Rich wrote dozens of K&P faves: Racist Zombies, Karim and Jahar, Hatz, Teaching Center, Obama Greets, I Pressed It Already, Mr. Mahina, Killing An African Warlord, When The Cameraman Thinks You’re Gay, Black Ice, and many more. Other TV credits include: MADtv, The Tonight Show w. Jay Leno, Saturday Night Live, and the critically-acclaimed, Review. An alum of Chicago’s Second City and Improv Olympic, Rich also provided punch-up work on Mean Girls and Get Out. As an improviser, Rich teaches, coaches and performs with long-form group Dasariski, Rich played in the early casts of Chicago’s The Armando Diaz Show and co-created the shows, Close Quarters, Strap Heads and Trio. As an actor, Rich appeared on screen on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, MADtv, the feature film High Fidelity, and in A&W Root Beer’s classic TV ad, “Mr. Dumass.” Talarico’s extensive experience in the comedy industry has made him a sought-after teacher, writer and consultant. Rich is currently teaching and performing stand-up comedy around the US. — more at www.richtalarico.com