Punch It Up! The Variety Show Class
Punch It Up! The Variety Show Class
Punch It Up! The Variety Show class is a four-week, in-person creative workshop for writers, performers, and anyone interested in adding more humor to their work. Throughout the course, participants will explore different ways humor works, including exaggeration, specificity, surprise, point of view, character, timing, patterns, and finding the funny in their projects.
Through writing exercises, creative experimentation, feedback, and opportunities to test material in the room, participants will develop an original piece or strengthen an existing project. Participants may bring in a short story, personal essay, sketch, stand-up set, poem, song, monologue, or an idea that does not quite fit into any category yet.
No previous comedy or performance experience is required. The goal is to help each participant discover their own comedic voice and identify what makes their work funny.
At the end of the four weeks, participants will have the opportunity to perform or share their finished work in a live variety show featuring stories, sketches, stand-up, poetry, songs, and other original pieces developed throughout the course.
About the Instructor: Nikki Frias is a comedy teacher specializing in helping people find their voice in comedy. She’s the author of "Does This Divorce Make Me Look Fat?" and "Damn, You Still Single?" She teaches comedy writing at The Writer’s Center. Her work has appeared in PopSugar, Forbes, The Daily Beast, and Boardroom.
Classes will meet at The Festival Center in Adams Morgan. Thursdays, February 18 - March 11, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Graduation show at the DC Improv on Monday, March 15 at 7:30 p.m.
This is a four-week, in-person creative workshop for writers, performers, and anyone interested in adding more humor to their work. Throughout the course, participants will explore different ways humor works, including exaggeration, specificity, surprise, point of view, character, timing, patterns, and finding the funny in their projects.
Through writing exercises, creative experimentation, feedback, and opportunities to test material in the room, participants will develop an original piece or strengthen an existing project. Participants may bring in a short story, personal essay, sketch, stand-up set, poem, song, monologue, or an idea that does not quite fit into any category yet.
No previous comedy or performance experience is required. The goal is to help each participant discover their own comedic voice and identify what makes their work funny.
At the end of the four weeks, participants will have the opportunity to perform or share their finished work in a live variety show featuring stories, sketches, stand-up, poetry, songs, and other original pieces developed throughout the course.
All sales are final. Refunds and exchanges are offered only when a show is canceled or rescheduled.
Admission Policies
- Patrons must be 18 or older to attend events or classes at the DC Improv. Any exceptions are clearly noted in the event descriptions.
Punch It Up! The Variety Show class is a four-week, in-person creative workshop for writers, performers, and anyone interested in adding more humor to their work. Throughout the course, participants will explore different ways humor works, including exaggeration, specificity, surprise, point of view, character, timing, patterns, and finding the funny in their projects.
Through writing exercises, creative experimentation, feedback, and opportunities to test material in the room, participants will develop an original piece or strengthen an existing project. Participants may bring in a short story, personal essay, sketch, stand-up set, poem, song, monologue, or an idea that does not quite fit into any category yet.
No previous comedy or performance experience is required. The goal is to help each participant discover their own comedic voice and identify what makes their work funny.
At the end of the four weeks, participants will have the opportunity to perform or share their finished work in a live variety show featuring stories, sketches, stand-up, poetry, songs, and other original pieces developed throughout the course.
About the Instructor: Nikki Frias is a comedy teacher specializing in helping people find their voice in comedy. She’s the author of "Does This Divorce Make Me Look Fat?" and "Damn, You Still Single?" She teaches comedy writing at The Writer’s Center. Her work has appeared in PopSugar, Forbes, The Daily Beast, and Boardroom.