Using improvisation students create original comedic personas from their own research. The course focuses on the solo performer in the creation of in-depth comedic personas. It explores the boundaries of comedy through research, exercises and improvisations designed to identify the essence of why people laugh. As players recognize and develop comedic skills and techniques they look into special areas of themselves, meeting up with their own personal comedian(s). It builds on the universality of comedy tempered by character choices and the character’s particular way of experiencing their surroundings. The course involves exercises and improvisations to refine the senses, to foster authenticity and spontaneity, to strengthen concentration, to improve confidence, and to play with rhythm, tempo, aesthetics, and the qualities of movement. Course requirement: screen, stage, or live improv performance experience and the strong desire to communicate through humor. Students are responsible for finding and developing their own individual costumes.