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Sketch 101 — Sketch Comedy Writing

Thursdays 7-10pm starting Jul 16, 2009
Cost: $350

This course is an introduction to the UCB philosophy on sketch comedy, specifically using “the game” to write short comedic scenes. Each week students will engage in writing exercises that will explore different sketch formats. Students will be exposed to different methods for turning funny ideas into even funnier written sketches. Students will leave the class with an understanding of popular sketch formats and a portfolio of writing.

No prior sketch writing experience is necessary – the only requirement for this class is a desire to write and learn. Students should be prepared to work outside of class, preparing sketches for presentation in every class. Students will be required to see two live sketch shows before the end of the course.

Class Size: 12 Students

NO CLASS AUGUST 13.

Ari Voukydis

voukydis, ari

Ari Voukydis has been performing improv, standup and sketch comedy in New York City since back when there were hookers in Times Square. He has been a member of the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater since 1997 and has been teaching improv and sketch comedy there for nine years.

He is a founding member of the house team DeCoster, half of the comedy duo “Mark and Ari” and has produced, created and performed in countless shows including “Wicked F***in’ Queeyah,” an annual salute to his home town of Boston, MA.

Ari is a regular on all those VH-1 shows your niece watches, like The Best Week Ever and All Access, and has also appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and Comedy Central’s The Upright Citizens Brigade.

He has written for GQ, Entertainment Weekly, SPY, Esquire, and many other magazines. Mark & Ari’s short, “Small World,” was directed by John Landis and featured on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

www.markandari.com

Student Feedback

"I thought Ari was an exceptional instructor- he was professional, organized and adept at teaching- while also enthusiastic, relaxed, and fun (a pretty difficult combination to pull off)."

"As a non-actor, I found this class to exceed my expectations. Ari Voukydis was a large part of that. Not only was he a great instructor but his passion for the exercises and the craft really inspired me."

"Ari! He is so energetic and full of passion for this artform. I couldn't help but be excited to go to class every week. He's an AMAZING teacher and I feel really lucky that I got to study with him."

"Ari was extremely intelligent, very quick, and frickin funny as hell. I actually hope that along the way, I'll have the opportunity to take another class with him."