Creating Scenes Through Improvisation
Credit Hours: 3
An introduction to the essential elements of scenic improvisation as practiced at The Second City, along with the concepts necessary to create improvisation-based sketch comedy and perform long form improvisation. Students create scenes through improvisation, both through pre-planned and spot improvisation, and explore concepts such as ensemble, relationship, character, status, wants
and objectives, scenic structure, beats, and editing.

Acting III: Sketch and Theatrical Comedy
Credit Hours: 3
A monologue and scene study course that focuses on the techniques specific to acting comic texts with special emphasis on sketch, revue, and modern American theatrical comedy.

Writing Comic Scenes
Credit Hours: 3
A broad overview of types of comic scenes for the stage is explored through the pitching, writing, analysis, and rewriting of comic scenes, as well as the practical application of structure, characterization, and comic principles.

History and Analysis of Modern Comedy
Credit Hours: 3
An overview of the history of modern comedy—from its roots in ancient Greece and Rome to the present day—is presented through lectures, readings, and recordings. This course looks at comic traditions and periods, such as Commedia Dell’Arte, Shakespeare, restoration, farce, burlesque, clowning, vaudeville, cabaret, silent film/slapstick, radio, standup, television, and film.

Context for Comedy
Credit Hours: 2
A forum for students to explore and delve deeply into current political and social issues, as well as their personal responses, in preparation for the creation of original satire.

Physical and Vocal Training for Comedy
Credit Hours: 2
An active physical and vocal training that provides a physical comedy vocabulary, prepares students for performance classes, and exposes them to topics such as clowning, slapstick, mask work, accents, and dialects.