Sketch Pad: Writing Sketch Comedy for Improvisers with Ken Robertson (#16-04-2315)

Schedule: 6 sessions, once a week for 6 weeks
Class times/dates: 7–10pm, Thursdays April 14, 21, 28, May 5, 12, and 19
Class size:16 students maximum
Class length: 3 hours (18 hours total)
Prerequisite: Foundation 2

Want to be the next Tina Fey? Or maybe you want to create the next Stefon or Portlandia? This class will get you on your way!

Sketch comedy and improv are natural companions, and in this class we’ll look at how they support each other. Students will learn the fundamentals of sketch comedy writing – generating ideas, developing premises, comedic characters, the genres of sketch (parody, satire, etc.), scene structure and the various types of scenes commonly created for sketches (fish out of water, list scenes, simple but impossible goal, inappropriate response, and many others).

We’ll focus on how improv and sketch work together – using sketch writing as tool to create stronger improv scenes and characters, and using improv to create unique and surprising sketches and work through trouble spots.

There will be weekly homework writing assignments, in-class exercises and table reads to help students develop strong writing habits and get comfortable with having their material performed.

BATS Improv Class Refund Policy:

Your class tuition includes a 20% non-refundable deposit.

If you have registered for a class and decide you want to drop that class AT LEAST 14 DAYS BEFORE THE FIRST CLASS SESSION, you may choose to receive a refund for the amount of the class minus your non-refundable deposit OR you may choose to reapply your payment IN FULL to another BATS class. Classes dropped 4-13 days before the start of the class are not eligible for the re-application of full payment to another class. You may either reapply your payment (minus the applicable deposit) or receive a partial refund. This option is not available for those enrolled in summer intensives or youth/teen camps. Regular classes/workshops dropped within 72 hours of the first class session, or summer intensives and youth/teen camps dropped within two weeks of the first session, are not eligible for either re-application or any refund.