Event

The Women Comediennes: From Mabel Normand to Wanda Sykes

3 Mondays
May 5th, 12th and 19th
7:00-9:30pm
Tuition fee: $15/lecture, $35 for all 3
Where: Schkapf
6567 Santa Monica Blvd,
Los Angeles, CA 90038

This series will examine the history of female comedians. Beginning with the silent era, we will move through the early talkies to screwball comedies to the post-war baby boom era and end finally in modern examples of current comic actresses. Some key topics that will be addressed are: archetypes and models for today's female physical performers, the current trend of limiting women comediennes to television over film, the distinction between actresses who can do comedy and comediennes who can act. Part lecture / part screening / part demonstration, the series also aims to create space for current female comedians to network, share and discuss potential future workshops to test out routines! Come for one, two or three session(s) to laugh, learn and make history!

First session (May 5th)
Silent Funny Women: Great Archetype Models!

Second session (May 12th)
Screwball Comediennes and the Physical Women of the Talkies

Third session (May 19th)
The Modernist Emergence: From WWII to today

Bio:
John Achorn is a Master Teacher of commedia dell'Arte as well as an acclaimed actor, writer and director. Founding member and faculty of Dell-Arte International, John is currently making a movie about its founder Carlo Mazzone-Clementi as well as practically passing on his knowledge within the framework of Studio Zanni. Moreover, he has taught workshops and classes for over 35 years at such institutions as UCLA, UC Santa Cruz, UC Riverside, University of Redlands, UC San Diego, USC, The Children's Theatre Company of Minneapolis, ARTEL, and the Antaeus Company here in Los Angeles.