Devised Comedy Intensive

Limited Availability, Apply Today!

“The world needs comedy, now more than ever.”
–Tom Oppenheim, Artistic Director

Led by program director Matt Gehring, this 5-week summer intensive provides students with an opportunity to make space for their unique comedic voices as writer-performers. Blending writing, performance, and collaboration, the program invites students to dive into the art of creating original comedy, on-stage and on-camera. Through a dynamic mix of classes—including improvisation, sketch, solo work, and physical comedy—students will engage with a variety of comedic forms while learning to connect their personal truth to today’s comedic landscape.

The program emphasizes creative risk-taking, ensemble work, and iterative feedback to refine each student’s process. With a key focus on the practice of de-centering the self and re-centering the writing, students will grow as thoughtful, versatile comedic artists. The intensive culminates in a final performance of their own writing and performing, showcasing each student’s artistic evolution.

Classes & Faculty:
Improv to Sketch: Chloe Troast
Devised Comedy: Matt Gehring
Improvisation for the Stage & Media: Mahayla Laurence
Character: Michelle Chan Bennett
Acting for Comedy: Haley Hepworth
Body & Comedy: Chet Siegel

Masterclasses:
Bowen Yang (SNL, Las Culturistas)
Andrew Neisler & Anna Morton (Co-Artistic Directors of Ars Nova)
Rick Crom (Comedy Cellar)
More TBA…