In today's diverse entertainment landscape, standup comedy has emerged as a unique form of personal expression and storytelling. This experiential course guides students through the process of developing their own comedic voice and crafting a 3-minute standup performance. Recognizing that comedy is both an art form and a learnable skill, this course emphasizes that talent is not a prerequisite – rather, genuine curiosity and dedication to improvement are the key ingredients for success.
Throughout the course, students will work on transforming their everyday observations and experiences into structured comedic material. The learning experience will be enriched by workshops led by professional comedians, attendance at a live comedy show, and practical exercises in joke writing and performance techniques. This hands-on approach not only builds tangible skills in comedy creation but also fosters creativity, public speaking ability, and self-confidence in a supportive environment.
Course overview and expectations
Understanding setup and punchline structure
Genres, Styles and Themes
In-class exercise
Comedy History
Industry insights
Group writing exercises
1-min test performance and feedback
Attending a live comedy show
Structural analysis of successful jokes
2-min set performance and feedback
Sharing your favorite comedian performance
Guest workshop with acting coach
Persona development exercises
Crowd work with dummy audience
Final set rehearsal performance
Photoshoot and performance recording
Additional Individual Consultation for Cohort 2
@ Comedy Remedy or @ Bund31
Contact cw3715@nyu.edu to get more information on the course