CYT Comedy Class Benchmarks
Comedy 1 for kids (9 - 11)
Whether you feel like you are a natural comedian or enjoy telling puns, embark on the rules of comedy. Come play with us as we learn what makes something funny on stage…and what doesn’t. Learn the classic bits and gags and how to execute them. Experiment with a variety of comic characters, discover your individual attributes and strengths, and create your own unique repertoire of characters within the context of various comedic monologues. So come join the club, and let’s “make ‘em laugh”.
Benchmarks:
Identify a comedic monologue from a dramatic monologue
Describe what a comic bit is
Incorporate the general rules of comedy (such as the rule of threes) into their physical moments in a comedic monologue
Perform a memorized 30-60 second comedic monologue with specific character choices and at least three comic bits
Comedy I (12-18)
It's all in the timing: come fine tune your comedy skills in this energetic, invigorating class. We will strongly emphasize the give and take between scene partners on stage in this class. We will learn new partner and group exercises that will keep you sharp and quick on your feet, as well as strengthen your on-stage relationships. We will experiment with bits and gags within the context of two and three-person scenes and learn how to make them…well, funny. And we will focus on pace, tempo, and timing in order to nail those moments just right. It's time to get serious about comedy!
Benchmarks:
Respond consistently and actively to their scene partners on stage within the context of exercises as well as scripted scenes
Demonstrate a solid grasp on appropriate pacing, tempo, and rhythm within a comedic scene
Determine the effectiveness and execution of comic bits within other students’ scenes and make appropriate suggestions for improvement
Incorporate the general rules of comedy into their physical moments within comedic scenes
Perform a memorized 3-5 minute, 2-3 person comedic scene that includes specific character choices and comic bits
Comedy II (for Stage and Screen) (14-18)
Pre-requisite: 2 classes of improv and/or comedy
This class is not for the faint at heart. We're going to get down to the nitty-gritty details of comedy and learn how to play up our individual strengths and better our areas of weakness. We will explore different periods and styles of comedy for both the stage and screen. We will explore such styles as Musical Theatre Comedy, Shakespearean Comedy, Commedia Dell'Arte, Contemporary Comedy, Sit-Com, and Naked Gun. Our material will consist of monologues as well as two-person scenes. Get ready to be under the microscope as we evaluate one another work and finesse our skills in this advanced workshop. Come ready to play hard!
Benchmarks:
Identify many different styles of comedy and what their main characteristics
Apply the characteristics of each specific style of comedy covered in class within the context of a monologue or scene for stage or screen
Observe a monologue or scene performed live or on screen and identify what style or combination of styles it exhibits
Demonstrate control of physical exaggeration verses simplicity and make appropriate adjustments for either the stage or the camera depending on the material
Perform two memorized contrasting comedic monologues and two memorized contrasting comedic scenes of choice