Ridgefield Playhouse to Offer Comedy, Songwriting & TV Writing Classes in September

Want to learn how to polish your comedy routine? Or try your hand writing songs or TV shows? The Ridgefield Playhouse 8-week classes are just the ticket. Comedian Christine O'Leary is back with her wildly popular Comedy Writing Workshop, Mondays from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. beginning September 15 thru October 27. Emmy Award-winning Kevin Briody will lead his songwriting workshop on Thursdays, September 18 - November 6, from 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. For those who have the next Seinfeld or NCIS in their heads and need some professional coaching, Award-winning Writers Guild of America screenwriter/filmmaker Katie Torpey will coach on Tuesdays starting September 30 thru November 25 from 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.

With a good idea for a comedy routine, the inner comedic talents that are dying to be discovered can be honed with a little help from a pro. Award-winning comedienne Christine O'Leary will share her secrets for how to make people laugh at her Comedy Writing workshop, which has become wildly popular since it was first offered some six sessions ago. For the students, learning how to write comedy has offered stress-relief and inspiration. Newbies will learn the fundamentals of comedy writing and performance concluding with a comedy graduation show on the stage of The Ridgefield Playhouse in November. This class fills up fast.

In Songwriting with Kevin Briody, would-be composers will learn how to structure songs, create "hooks", or memorable lyrics-melody passages, craft lyrics, manipulate melody, rhythm and harmony, merge words with music and write toward a specific genre -- from pop, rock and hip-hop to R&B and country. This class is designed for students of all ages who will leave with a recording of their original song. Two-time Emmy award-winner singer/songwriter Briody was selected by the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism as a Master Teaching Artist. He has shared international stages with Art Garfunkel and Aimee Mann.

With a good idea for a TV series and a little help from award-winning TV/screenwriter Katie Torpey, students in her workshop will have a chance to write a new TV series, i.e. the next "Game of Thrones", "Breaking Bad" or "Modern Family". The 8-week TV screenwriting class for adults will focus on how to create, develop and an original TV show by creating a series bible and writing the pilot or first episode of the series. During the course, students will focus on how to develop a solid plot, structure the series so it has longevity, capture the theme of the show and create complex characters that will resonate with audiences so they'll be compelled to follow them. Students will also study great TV shows from over the years to understand why they were successful. The objective of this course is to help students create, develop and write original TV shows that they could potentially sell to Hollywood.

To sign up for these one-of-a-kind workshops ($300 tuition Comedy Writing & TV Writing; $240 Songwriting), call the box office at 203-438-5795, or go online to ridgefieldplayhouse.org. The Bruce Becker Scholarship fund has been established to subsidize classes that foster participation in the performing arts. To apply for a scholarship, email allison@ridgefieldplayhouse.org. The Ridgefield Playhouse is a not-for-profit performing arts center located at 80 East Ridge, parallel to Main Street, Ridgefield, CT, ridgefieldplayhouse.org.

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