Comedy, we may say, is society protecting itself with a smile." (J.B. Priestly)  Actors have often assumed the guise of surrogate for society's concerns; by creating physically and vocally outsized characters in sometimes outrageous situations they say and do the things we cannot.  In this class we will embrace the physical and vocal challenges that comedy presents us with as actors by exploring a range of comedy styles including the use of masks in Commedia dell'arte, the verbal sparring of Comedy of Manners, the existential comedy of the Absurdists, the American tradition of improvisational comedy, and story telling through stand-up comedy.  

Some previous acting classes and/or improvisational experience preferred, but not required.

Comedy, we may say, is society protecting itself with a smile." (J.B. Priestly)  Actors have often assumed the guise of surrogate for society's concerns; by creating physically and vocally outsized characters in sometimes outrageous situations they say and do the things we cannot.  In this class we will embrace the physical and vocal challenges that comedy presents us with as actors by exploring a range of comedy styles including the use of masks in Commedia dell'arte, the verbal sparring of Comedy of Manners, the existential comedy of the Absurdists, the American tradition of improvisational comedy, and story telling through stand-up comedy.  

Some previous acting classes and/or improvisational experience preferred, but not required.