Discover the art of writing comedy through engaging improv games, instructed by the Emmy-award-winning comedy writer Joe Guppy. This course teaches fundamental improv techniques and how to create a comedic foundation. Students will gather around a writer’s table of support and encouragement, where they’ll learn to rewrite with a focus on story structure. Additionally, we’ll examine scenes from popular TV shows like Saturday Night Live, Key & Peele, and Almost Live. This course is ideal for aspiring and experienced improv performers, actors, comedy and screenwriters, and playwrights. The class concludes with a writer’s showcase.

Skills offered in class: Fundamentals of comedy writing, basic scene improvisation, story structure, rewriting, and how to create a comedy premise.

Date: 8 Saturdays 9/21 – 11/16 (no class 10/19)

Time: 10:00 – 1:00

Location: Unexpected Productions Georgetown Studio, 650 South Orcas St Suite 101, Seattle 98108 The last class will include a showcase performance in the last hour of class.

Maximum Students: 12

Cost: $300.00

Prerequisite: None

Age: 18+

Teacher Bio: Joe Guppy, M.A., won 8 Emmys and a Writers Guild award for comedy writing and performing. He’s a former head writer/cast member for the Seattle comedy show Almost Live, which ran for 15 seasons on KING-TV5, with two runs on Comedy Central. Joe is a founding member of Seattle TheatreSports and has written television scripts in Los Angeles for directors John Landis (Blues Brothers, Animal House) and Blake Edwards (Pink Panther). He’s taught fiction and scriptwriting at Seattle University and is an experienced group leader.

**Cancellation policy: If you must cancel before the first class, we offer credit only towards a future class. We are unable to offer refunds. You must cancel 72 hours before the class starts. If you cancel after the first class, we will not offer credit toward a future class. Again, we are unable to offer refunds.