WORKSHOP: Sketch - Brainstorm to First Draft

All Day Sketch Workshop

Learn how the most simple ideas and random wonderings can be turned into undeniable sketch comedy scenes. This class will show you how to wring the most out of that first flash of an idea so you are able to explore possibilities you didn't know were there. You'll also learn how to contribute to other's ideas in a writers room. The morning session will teach you how to brainstorm, how to cultivate and store your ideas and the afternoon session will teach you how to take your crafted idea and share it with others in a sketch context. Learn to find ideas anywhere and never fear pitching again. We’ll also look at how to layout the first draft of your idea.

About Rich Talarico

Rich Talarico is an Emmy nominated and Peabody Award winning writer and producer best known for his work on Comedy Central’s “Key & Peele.“ Additionally, Rich has written/produced “The Key & Peele Superbowl Special”, “Review” for Comedy Central, FOX’s “Mad TV,” NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” “The Tonight Show w. Jay Leno”, and the 2-hour TV Special “Must See TV: A Tribute to James Burrows.” “ NBC New Year’s Eve Special” and “Red Nose Day” Rich also produced and wrote “Frank TV“ for TBS, “The Sketch Pad” for HBO and co-produced The Naked Trucker and T-Bones Show for Comedy Central. Rich also served as an improv coach on the first “Anchorman” and did punch-ups on “Mean Girls” and the Oscar-winning “Get Out.”

Rich took his first improv class from Stephen Colbert at Chicago’s Second City Theater back in the 1900s. Rich went on to tour with Second City’s National Touring Company and later co-created five original sketch comedy revues with SC’s Etc., and Main Stage Companies. While in Chicago, Rich was also involved at Improv Olympic (Now iO) under the direction of Charna Halpern and the late, Del Close. Rich played on the Improv Olympic house teams “Mr. Blonde” and “Faulty Wiring” – co-created the long-form improv shows “Strap Heads”, “Trio”, “Close Quarters” and “Dasariski“ and played with the early casts of Chicago’s longest running improv show: “The Armando Diaz Experience, Theatrical Movement and Hootenanny.” Rich has also studied with renowned writing teacher Robert McKee.

On camera, Rich has appeared in a number of TV commercials, most notably A&W Rootbeer’s— “Mr. Dumass.” Rich also appeared in small roles on “Review”, “SNL”, “Late Night With Conan O’Brien”, “Early Edition”, “What About Joan?” and the feature film “High Fidelity”. Rich runs comedy writing and improv work-shops in Los Angeles and around the US. Rich can juggle, plays chess and drums.

About the Workshop
Must be 18 yrs or older and have taken at least Improv 101

$125 early bird price until 2/17 at midnight
$150 regular price