“Who’s There?”
An Online Course for the Sketch and Improv Comedy Player
to learn
How to Conceive, Create and Develop Original Characters
“Who’s There?” is a highly personalized online course that provides eye-opening lessons to help sketch and improv students/players conceive, create and develop original characters through a series of systematic, yet interactive exercises.
Interactive, you say, online? All assignments will be personally critiqued to help students better define and refine their characters, through writing tasks and private video postings that demonstrate characters “in action.” By receiving personalized feedback every step of the way, each student will feel as though he/she is the only student being mentored by a private coach through this highly collaborative exchange. In the end, the student will learn to build his/her characters from the inside out!
Over the course of 16 intensive lessons that must be completed within a six-month period, students will be given the opportunity to create and develop four distinct characters. At the completion of each semester, students will have the option to bring their characters to the De Pietro Performance Center in Santa Ana, California, where they will have the opportunity to “present” them in a showcase.
This course is taught by Cherie Kerr, a founding member of the L.A. Groundlings (Phil Hartman, Jon Lovitz, Will Farrell, Lisa Kudrow, Chris Kattan, Cheryl Hines, Kathy Griffin, Kristen Wiig and many, many others). Kerr also is the mother of Drake Doremus (winner of the 2011 Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival for “Like Crazy”). Kerr taught and directed Doremus (from the age of six to 19 years of age) and many others, on the art of developing original characters. Her book, “Who’s There?” is used by many at The Second City in Chicago and also by members of the L.A. Groundlings and her troupe, the Orange County Crazies. She has been a writer/performer/director for more than 38 years. Kerr also starred in her own one-woman show, Out of Her Mind, which featured a number of original characters.
The Course Fee is $1495, which includes:
· An initial assessment that allows the instructor to get to know each student
· An intensive, 16-part lesson plan that enables the student to develop (4) distinct characters with the personalized guidance of an instructor. All lessons must be completed within six months of enrollment.
· Each lesson includes a writing and/or videotaped assignment that will be submitted electronically. Each assignment will receive customized feedback. Students may engage the instructor with follow-up questions to gain a full understanding of the critiques.
· Students who satisfactorily complete the course will receive a Certificate of Completion.
· Optional: Students may bring their characters to the De Pietro Performance Center in Santa Ana, California, where they will have the opportunity to “present” them in a showcase.
Sign up now!! Space is limited as only 10 students are enrolled at a time.
To request an application or to sign up for the course, please contact the program coordinator at 714 550-9890. Visa and MC are accepted* or students may pay through PayPal.
*Bank service charge applied to all tuitions