"I found myself taking risks and pushing myself more than I have in other areas of school because the intent wasn't merely to get through the grade and get the grade but to excel." - Buck LePard
Courses
All students admitted to Comedy Studies take the same full load of 16 credit hours during the 15-week semester and present their work in an end-of-term showcase.
Creating Scenes Through Improvisation
Credit Hours: 3 Course number: 31-3295
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 both 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
Course number: 31-3290
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
Course number: 31-3890
A broad overview of comedy writing explored through the pitching, writing, analysis, and rewriting of comic scenes for the stage, as well as the practical application of structure, characterization, and comic principles to longer forms such as television and film.
History and Analysis of Modern Comedy
Credit Hours: 3 Course number: 31-3190
An overview of the history of modern comedy-from its roots in ancient Greece and early vaudeville to the present day-is presented through lectures, readings, and recordings and active performance work. This course looks at comic traditions and periods, such as Commedia Dell'Arte, burlesque, clowning, vaudeville, cabaret, silent film, radio, standup, television, and film and provides students with a framework to analyze their work and that of others.
Context for Comedy
Credit Hours: 2 Course number: 31-2190
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 Course number: 31-2390
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.
