Workshop:  Honesty in Comedy

“Honesty in Comedy.”
 
Go for more than the laugh.
 
GreenMan Theatre Troupe will be offering a one-time class called “Honesty in Comedy,” in anticipation of auditions for their next show, the world premiere comedy “The Angle of Mercy” by Carl Howlett.
 
The class meets on Saturday, February 29th at noon.  Class size is limited to 14.  If the noon class fills up, another will open up at 2:30.  Cost is only $20 for GreenMan members and $25 for non-members.  Beginners and experienced actors are welcome.  The class will meet at GreenMan’s performance space in First United Methodist Church, 232 S. York Street, Elmhurst.
 
The class will be taught by Craig Gustafson, winner of the Best Director Award (Non-Equity) for 2019 from Broadway World – Chicago for August: Osage County, and director of The Angle of Mercy.  The process will involve assigning short comedy scenes to actors, then critiquing them and working through how to accomplish getting the laughs by relating to the person you’re working with.  “If you’ve ever seen a typical 1970s sitcom like ‘Welcome Back, Kotter,’ an actor will deliver a punchline and their eyes will go dead while holding for the laugh,” says Gustafson.   “They completely shut down communication.  We’re going to work on how to avoid that.  On how to work with your partner, not against him/her.  Comedy is more fun when it’s a team sport.”
 
The basic precept is the one acting lesson given to Jack Lemmon by James Cagney: “You make it so difficult – acting is easy.  You walk in; you look the other fella in the eye; you say the words.  But you have to mean them.”
 
For more information and to register for the class, please contact Carolyn Thomas-Davidoff at thomdav@comcast.net or call GreenMan at (630) 464-2646.

Check back soon for information on the next special event happening at GreenMan