Online SKETCH & COMEDY WRITERS ROOM CLASS w. Rich Talarico
ONLINE - WEDNESDAYS 6:30PM-9:30PM EST / 6 WEEKS / ADULTS 18+ / JUNE 24 - JULY 29
Mile End Improv and Theatre VME present comedian, writer and producer, Rich Talarico's 6-Week Online Sketch & Comedy Writers Room Class
Peabody Award winning and 4-time Emmy nominated writer and producer, Rich shares insights from working years in late night TV (SNL, MADtv, Key & Peele, The Tonight Show) and from his experiences having co-written five resident company shows for The Second City in Chicago. Students will learn joke structures, blackouts, runners, desk pieces, brainstorming and pitching techniques, a variety of comedy devices and sketch types (Character Pieces, Satire/Parody, Slice of Life Scenes, Scenes From Real Life Experience), as well as sketch formatting and screenplay software will be introduced. Students will also learn how to come up with endings and how to contribute to others’ ideas and pitches, valuable writer's room skills.
PRICE
$350 +taxes for full participants / 10 STUDENTS MAXIMUM (Intermediate to Advanced)
$175 +taxes for auditors / unlimited auditors (observation only)
SCHEDULE
JUNE 24, July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
MORE INFO
HOMEWORK GIVEN WEEKLY
PG-13 Content and Conduct
No Recording
RT available for questions during week through group email should participants have simple questions.
No make up classes, if students miss a class, they can bring their homework to the FOLLOWING class and RT will stay late to review with them.
Online links and more will be sent to you via your welcome email.
ABSOLUTELY NO REFUNDS FOR ANY REASON WHATSOEVER.
“What I appreciate about Rich is how positive he is with everyone.”
- Daniel Duff, Student
"Rich knows how to write sketches -- that much is obvious. But it was clear that he loves helping people get better too. Don't wait to find a better sketch class. It might not come along."
— Tim Marks, The KC Improv Company
"I seriously don't think I've had the chance to absorb that much good content in a small amount of time ever... even in college!"
— Jessica Christopher, Writing Student
“I learned more about sketch writing in this class than any other class I’ve taken in the past."
— Mirejah Cruz, Student
“Rich's care for his craft and his students shines through.”
— Stefanie Jewett, Student, Atlanta, GA
"I really enjoyed this class with Rich Talarico. He has a knack for teaching and was a great group moderator. He gave all the participants equal time and offered feedback and encouragement that felt very genuine. If you have an opportunity to take a workshop of his, you definitely should!"
— Caroline P., Writing Student, Orlando, FL
“This was a really great environment to step out of my comfort zone and see how these pieces are really done in real time. Helps break through the mystique and feel like, ‘I can do this.”
— Adrian Barrera, Writing Student
“I’ve loved this class. It was clear with relevant progressive steps and struck a great balance of theory and practice.”
— Kara Williams, Writing Student
“Rich's work on "Key & Peele" is nothing short of legendary.”
— Jordan Peele
“Rich Talarico is one of the all time great Caucasian Improvisers.”
— Tina Fey
“As a teacher, Rich Talarico brings Lakers legendary coach Phil Jackson to mind. A cerebral educator who brings out the best in people.”
— Keith “Lucky” Lehrer original drummer of “Circle Jerks”
RICH TALARICO BIO
Rich is a Peabody® Award-winning writer/producer with four Emmy® and four WGA Award nominations, best known for his work on Comedy Central’s Key & Peele. He wrote Substitute Teacher (“…Ay-ay-Ron?”), which in 2024, was added to The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum Of American History. Rich also wrote Racist Zombies, Karim and Jahar, Hatz, Teaching Center, Obama Greets, Black Ice, and many more. Other TV credits include: MADtv, The Tonight Show w. Jay Leno, Saturday Night Live, HBO’s The Sketch Pad, and Comedy Central’s critically-acclaimed Review. An alum of Chicago’s The Second City and Improv Olympic, he’s also provided punch-up work on the films Mean Girls and Get Out. Rich’s latest screenplay The Widow Daredevil was an Official Selection of the 2020 Beverly Hills Film Festival.
Rich took his first improv class from Stephen Colbert at Chicago’s The Second City in 1992. He went on to tour with Second City's National Touring Company and later co-created five original sketch comedy revues with Second City's Etc., and Main Stage Companies. As an actor, Rich has appeared on screen on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, MADtv, the feature film High Fidelity, and in A&W Root Beer’s classic TV ad, Mr. Dumass. Talarico’s extensive experience in the comedy industry has made him a sought-after teacher, writer, coach and consultant.
Currently, Rich is performing stand-up comedy around the US. He recently headlined the Uptown Theater, Utica NY, The Waco Civic, Waco TX, Oops All Headliners show in Austin, TX, headlined at the Frog Rock Brewery in Austell, GA and performed featured sets at Nashville’s famed Bowery Vault and Scruffy City Hall in Knoxville, TN. This fall Rich performed at Dick’s Last Resort in Panama City Beach, FL and opened for Kevin Nealon at Kellar’s Magic and Comedy Bar, Erie, PA.
More at richtalarico.com
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LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE
Once you register, you will wait to receive an invoice or an email requesting an etransfer payment, you will have 24 hours to make your payment to secure your spot.
Payment is made by sending an e-transfer to: variationsmileendimprov@gmail.com and using the password improv26 (AFTER YOU HAVE RECEIVED THE INVOICE/EMAIL)
We cannot accept credit cards or cheques, if you’d like to pay by cash, please let us know and we will arrange an appointment.
Mile End Improv is a safe space. Absolutely no abusive behaviour of any kind will be tolerated.
This is a commitment, and we expect those who register to attend the classes they’ve signed up for. Please be considerate; missing a class will affect the other participants and the delivery of the class material for everyone. There are no refunds or credits for missed classes.
Being a student at Mile End Improv allows you to attend the Every Thursday Improv Show for free during the weeks you are taking classes (if space allows!)
If your schedule permits, register using the form below. You will receive an email, and then you will send payment to variationsmileendimprov@gmail.com
Please use the password answer: improv26