Details:
Workshops: Saturday, September 13th at 12:00pm - "From Improv to Sketch" | Sunday, September 14th at 12:00pm - "One Line Premise" Saturday: From Improv to Sketch Time: 12PM - 4PM • Max 15 Students Get on your feet, get inspired, and get sketching! In this hands-on workshop, you'll learn how to transform improvised scenes into fully realized comedy sketches. After a brief talk on sketch writing through improv, you'll jump into the action—improvising in small groups while I guide you in real time. We’ll explore how to: Build comedic ideas from spontaneous scenes Develop characters and heighten situations Shape raw improv into tight, funny stories Each improvised scene is followed by a group discussion (led mostly by me), where we break it down and rework it into a comedy sketch. By the end of the class, you’ll be creating and performing your own sketches—with personalized feedback from me to help you improve. This is an energetic, collaborative workshop—come ready to play! --------------- Sunday: The One Line Premise Workshop Time: 12PM - 4PM • A Focused Writing Intensive If you've ever had a great sketch idea but didn’t know where to start, this workshop is for you. Bring a one-line premise (like: “What if a guy was $10 short of being a millionaire?”), and we’ll spend the day turning those ideas into comedy gold. We’ll dive deep into: What makes a strong sketch premise How to structure scenes for maximum laughs Finding the comedic “game” within your idea This is a sit-down writing workshop—no performing or improv. You’ll leave with a clear plan to write your sketch at home. Afterward, you'll submit your sketch by email (via the organizer), and I’ll personally send back detailed feedback to help you sharpen and shape your work. No distractions. Just you, your ideas, and the tools to turn them into great comedy. Doors at 11:30 AM ~About the Teacher~ Comedian, actor, writer and director Kevin McDonald founded “The Kids in the Hall” with friend Dave Foley, after they met in Toronto at Second City, and the television series ran from 1988-1995. In the troupe's television series and stage shows, he portrays several popular recurring characters, such as the King of Empty Promises, Sir Simon Milligan, and Jerry Sizzler. McDonald went on to appear in a variety of films including Boy Meets Girl, Lilo & Stitch, “Lilo & Stitch: The Series”, and Epic Movie. On television, he has appeared on “The Martin Short Show,” “Ellen,” “That '70s Show,” “Seinfeld,” “Friends,” “NewsRadio,” “MADtv,” “Arrested Development,” and “Corner Gas.” McDonald has also done voice work for various animated series, including Nickelodeon's “Invader Zim,” “The Angry Beavers,” “Catscratch,” and “Clerks: The Animated Series.” He also played an imaginary friend named Ivan in the episode ‘Sight For Sore Eyes’ on “Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends,” appeared in the music video for "Roses" by Outkast, and made an appearance in “Tim and Eric's Awesome Show.” In 2006 McDonald hosted a CBC Television special, featuring several of Canada's best-known sketch comedy troupes. "Sketch with Kevin McDonald" won a Canadian Comedy Award (Best Taped Live Performance - The Minnesota Wrecking Crew). He was recently at the Just for Laughs Festival with the reunion of Kids in the Hall, and also with his show "Hammy and the Kids" with Craig Northey, based on his two dysfunctional families, his father ("Hammy") and the Kids in the Hall, as well as “Death Comes to Town” on CBC. Along the way, Kevin was also in the movies, Sky High and Galaxy Quest. He did his podcast from 2016 to 2020. Just recently, he and the Kids in the Hall did another season of their sketch show for Amazon Prime. He has also done a bunch of things that he forgets. And the world is better off for that.
