Festival Workshops

Check out our upcoming sketch comedy workshops from local Chicago Instructors.

Friday Workshop

Top Sketch: Idea Generation to First Drafts, Overcoming Perfectionism (with Cooking Show Inspired Challenges)

Taught by: Sage Huston & Riley Woollen

When: Friday, October 2 @ 12:00pm

Where: Stars and Garters Theater (3914 N Clark St)

Length: 3 hours

Cost:
- $65 (general)
- $50 (festival performers & 4-day pass holders)

Lemme guess-- you're running around in circles, writing sketches the same way as always, caught in a rut and terrified of failure? Oh... you're not. Umm, well, there are definitely different workshops being offered. Good on you. BUT, if that does apply to you! Heck yes. Riley Woollen (current Second City ETC Member) and Sage Huston (Annoyance Bad Girl and LSI Heart Throb) have been there and know all the tricks to get out of your head and just start writing. Join them for a series of Top Chef-inspired challenges that will give you both tools to inspire that legendary first draft  idea and also some killer feedback on how to make it shine even more in future drafts. Plus there will be points and a prize will be given to the winner. No other workshop would ever think to do that! Honestly, it's probably a bad idea. But hey, that's what first drafts are for. 

RILEY WOOLLEN (he/him) is a comedian and playwright from Brooklyn, New York. He’s currently a core ensemble member of Second City’s ETC 50th Revue. Riley is also a founding producer and ensemble member of “The Orbit,” Chicago’s only improvised show in the round. You can follow him on instagram (@Riley_Woollen)

SAGE HUSTON (she/her) is a sketch comedian and writer who has lived in many places and enjoys the road most of all. She loves local eats, hanging with good people and writing silly things. She has appeared at Portland Sketchfest/Omaha Comedy Fest/San Francisco Sketch Fest and co-writes the scripts for The Derek Begrudgingly cinematic universe. Please do not follow her on Instagram @sage_of_innocence.

Saturday Workshop

Independent Show Production -
A Producer’s Perspective!

Taught by: Andrew Lemna

When: Saturday, October 3 @ 12:00pm

Where: Stars and Garters Theater (3914 N Clark St)

Length: 3 hours

Cost:
- $65 (general)
- $50 (festival performers & 4-day pass holders)

In this workshop, we’ll discuss the process of creating a show, from idea inception to a live production. Topics include crafting show pitches, show production essentials, and when doing it all on your own may be the best path forward. 

ANDREW LEMNA (he/him) has been producing shows in Chicago since 2018. He has put up comedy shows and workshops in bars, conference rooms, backyards, churches, and theaters! He is the co-founder of Logan Square Improv, a 501(c)3 nonprofit theater in Chicago.