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IMPROV, STAND-UP, SKETCH WRITING TO BE TAUGHT IN SUMMER CAMP
(Norfolk, Neb.) It’s called a youth comedy camp, but it doesn’t mean the students who participate necessarily have their hearts set on becoming a stand-up comedian.
Part of the inaugural Great American Comedy Festival in Norfolk this summer, the camp is designed to help students develop their creativity through writing and performing.
"All people are born creatively equal . . . but we lose that side and don’t always tap into our abilities," said John Haynes, director of the Minneapolis-based Brave New Institute.
The camp — set for June 15-21 at Northeast Community College in Norfolk — will serve students well in almost any career they ultimately choose to pursue, Haynes said.
One of the focuses of the camp, for example is, improvisational comedy. Individuals who end up working in sales, who make presentations or who work with the public may not realize it, but they use improv skills.
"They will lean how to "take an idea from start to finish . . . to speak in the moment . . . to pitch ideas," he said. "It’s amazing how our students have utilized those skills."
Haynes will be among four representatives of the Brave New Institute serving as instructors at the camp. Joining them will be Dave Reinitz, a stand-up comedian and instructor from Los Angeles.
LuAnn Schindler of Ewing, a longtime speech and drama teacher in Northeast Nebraska, is serving as the camp director.
The Brave New Institute is the educational arm of the Brave New Workshop, which offers comedy theater and corporate entertainment. In its 50th year of teaching and performing, the Brave New Workshop is the nation’s longest-running comedy troupe and workshop.
Haynes said he hopes many Northeast and North Central Nebraska high school students will consider registering for the camp in order to develop their writing, improvisation and stand-up comedy skills along with stage presence and related skills. The participating students will end the camp with a performance. www.greatamericancomedyfestival.com or contact the Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau at 371-2932.
And at a cost of $399, the camp is a bargain, said Kent Warneke, chairman of the festival’s board of directors.
The registration fee covers a week’s worth of classes in stand-up, sketch writing and improv comedy, room and board at Northeast Community College in Norfolk, four tickets to the Comedy Youth Showcase, admission to one of the stand-up competitions during the festival and other activities during the week.
The registration fee recently was reduced thanks to a grant provided to the festival from the Nebraska Humanities Council.
"The council recognized the uniqueness of what this camp has to offer to high school students in Northeast and North Central Nebraska. They felt it was something important to offer speech and drama students and others — and we do, too," Warneke said. "And now we’re pleased to be able to reduce the registration fee to make it more affordable."
The camp is for anyone 19 years old or younger, but they must be at least a high school freshman. A limited number of partial scholarships to help with registration costs are available, Warneke said.
During the camp's sketch-writing classes, students will create "political and social satire" from the news of the day.
"We’ll look at world events, social culture, social news . . . we’ll look at those things through satire," Haynes said.
Students will learn how to trust their instincts when creating impromptu scenes during the improv workshop. And they will sharpen their writing and performing skills during the stand-up comedy classes.
The festival is designed to pay tribute to the legacy of the late Johnny Carson, who gave many young comedians their first big break by inviting them to appear on "The Tonight Show." The idea for the camp was to continue that Carson tradition by giving high school students a chance to learn about the skills that made Carson a comedic legend.
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Want to learn more?
For more information on the youth camp, students, teachers and parents can go the festival’s Web site at
CONTACT:
Kent Warneke, Comedy Festival chairman (402-371-1020)
Lora Young, Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau (402-371-4862)