Summer 2025: Intro to Stand-Up Comedy

• Develop Comedy Writing and Performance Skills
  Practice writing and performing stand-up with a focus on social impact.
• Understand the Role of Comedy in Social Change
  Explore how humor and comedy have been historically used to critique societal issues and drive social movements. Identify current social issues (e.g., inequality, justice, climate change) and learn how to frame them in comedic narratives that engage and inform audiences.
• Learn to Write Six Different Types of Jokes for Standup
  We’ll demystify different styles of joke writing such as absurdity, understatement, the rule of three, the double down, misplaced sincerity, and observational joke writing.
• Balance Humor and Sensitivity
  Learn how to use humor responsibly, balancing humor with sensitivity, to avoid reinforcing stereotypes or causing harm while delivering a meaningful message.
• Explore Diverse Voices in Stand Up Comedy & Find Your Comedic Voice
  Study diverse comedians from various backgrounds who use humor to address social issues, expanding perspectives on comedy’s role in activism. Work on identifying your unique comedic voice and perspective, especially as it relates to social issues you’re passionate about.

Cycle 1

• 2 pair sessions per month
• Attend all live Journey Meetings (see the Engagement Dates section below)
• Complete all lessons provided in the course Spring 2025: Intro to Stand-up Comedy
• Submit your 5-10min stand-up set (see the Submissions section below)
• Participate in 1 stand-up comedy showcase

Cycle 2

• 2 pair sessions per month
• Attend all live Journey Meetings (see the Engagement Dates section below)
• Complete all lessons provided in the course Summer 2025: Stand-up Comedy: Cookin’ & Poppin’
• Submit your 5-10min stand-up set (see the Submissions section below)
• Participate in 1 stand-up comedy showcase

Complete each lesson in the the following course. As you progress through each lesson, make sure to press complete before moving on to the next.

• Intro to Stand-Up Comedy
  This course teaches the fundamentals of joke writing, comedic structure, and crafting punchlines. Aspiring comedians will be guided through the art of writing and performing stand-up comedy.

Courses that will become available in Cycle 2, beginning July 2025 :

Stand-Up Comedy: Building a Stronger, Longer Set
This course is designed to build on the foundational skills of stand-up by focusing on refining material and delivery.

Participants will attend two Journey Live Meetings each month as part of the course for that cycle. Additionally, you can schedule 1:1 office hours with the Journey Instructor for individual assistance as needed.

Each cycle will conclude with Stand-Up Comedy Shows, where participants can perform their sets for a live audience. There will be one in-person show and one virtual show per cycle.

Spring Cycle Journey Meetings:
March 8th & 22nd
April 5th & 26th
May 10th & 31st

Spring Cycle Stand-Up Comedy Show:
June 8th

Summer Cycle Journey Meetings:
July 12th & 26th
August 9th & 23rd
September 6th & 20th

Summer Cycle Stand-Up Comedy Show:
September 27th

For the first course, you’ll submit a 5-minute stand-up comedy set that incorporates the techniques, structure, and insights you’ve learned. In the second course, you’ll build upon this initial set, expanding it to 10 minutes by refining your material, pacing, and delivery. The final submission for the second course will be your full 10-minute set, showcasing your growth and mastery of the skills developed throughout both courses.

Submission instructions are within each course.