Now offered twice a year due to popular demand, Intro to Stand-Up Comedy is a crash course in the history and technique of the art form during which students develop their own five-minute comedy routines under the guidance of professional comic Mat Alano-Martin.
The next round runs Monday evenings Feb. 5 to 26, with a graduation performance for family and friends March 1 in the Studio Theater.
This class will serve both as a look at the history and evolution of stand-up comedy and as a practical course that will cover joke mechanics and writing for stand-up as well as performance theory and practice. Over the course of the class, students will write and practice a five-minute routine to perform for friends and family at the graduation show.
Prior to registering for this class, please make sure of your availability on March 1 as all class participants are expected to perform in the graduation show.
Click here to sign up. The cost is $125 per participant for the entire program, including graduation.
Class Structure
- Week 1: Participants examine clips of stand-up over the decades. Discuss its origins, how it has changed and grown to reflect societal changes.
- Week 2: Participants diagram the jokes viewed in week one and discuss writing techniques and joke mechanics.
- Week 3: Participants discuss performance theory and different ways of telling jokes, from deadpan to big act-outs. During the first three weeks, each student is developing their own five-minute comedy set.
- Week 4: Participants practice their sets in class and do peer review, give notes, and work on any big ideas or shifts they want to make to the set.
- Week 5: Participants perform in a graduation show for their friends and family.
Who should take this class?
Recommended for ages 17 and older, this class is perfect for anyone wanting to improve their presentation skills or those wanting to cross “performing as a stand-up comedian” off their bucket list. The class will be limited to 15 participants. A minimum of 10 students must be reached to hold the class.
About the Instructor
Mat Alano-Martin is the co-founder of the Limestone Comedy Festival and a full-time touring comedian performing at clubs, colleges, and festivals across the country. He has appeared on The Bob and Tom Show and Laughs on FOX, and his debut album Profiled As Such can be heard daily on Sirius/XM.
Cancellation Policy
While schedules can change, if you are no longer able to attend the class, please provide at least 14-day notice of cancellation. This allows time to fill your space with another student. Cancellations made within 14 days of the first day of class will not be refunded.