Thursday, NOVEMBER 6th 2025, 6 - 10 pm
Description:
Rich shares insights and techniques from his years in comedy and late night TV (SNL, MADtv, Key & Peele, The Tonight Show) and from having co-written five resident company shows for Second City in Chicago. Students will learn essentials: how to write jokes, how to identify and use comedic devices, how to brainstorm, and develop ideas. Class will learn how to write basic comedy staples as well as brainstorming & pitching technique. The comic techniques can be applied to Stand-Up, Pilot Writing, Fillm, Social Media, Journal and Novel writing.
Perfect for:
Anyone SERIOUS about storytelling, stand-up comedy, sketch comedy or writing in general.
Bio:
Rich is a Peabody® Award-winning writer/producer with four Emmy® and four WGA Award nominations, best known for his work on Key & Peele. Rich was responsible for K&P fave Substitute Teacher, (“…Ay-ay-Ron?”) which in 2024 was added to The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum Of American History. Rich wrote dozens of K&P faves: Racist Zombies, Karim and Jahar, Hatz, Teaching Center, Obama Greets, Black Ice, and co-wrote many more.
Other credits include: MADtv, The Tonight Show w. Jay Leno, Saturday Night Live, and the critically-acclaimed, Review. An alum of Chicago’s Second City and Improv Olympic, Rich also provided punch-up work on Mean Girls and Get Out. As an improviser, Rich teaches, coaches and performs with long-form group Dasariski, Rich played in the early casts of Chicago’s The Armando Diaz Show and co-created the shows, Close Quarters, Strap Heads and Trio. As an actor, Rich appeared on screen on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, MADtv, the feature film High Fidelity, and in A&W Root Beer’s classic TV ad, “Mr. Dumass.” Talarico’s extensive experience in the comedy industry has made him a sought-after teacher, writer and consultant. Rich is currently teaching and performing stand-up comedy around the US.
— more at www.richtalarico.com
“Rich Talarico is one of the all time great Caucasian Improvisers.”
— Tina Fey
“As a teacher, Rich Talarico brings Lakers legendary coach Phil Jackson to mind. A cerebral educator who brings out the best in people.”
— Keith “Lucky” Lehrer original drummer of “Circle Jerks”
“Rich is an absolute virtuoso in his understanding of his approach and how to deliver it in a classroom setting. A rare combination of both mastery in practice and in lesson delivery.”
— Eric Pederson, Student - Improv Cincinnati
“ I seriously don't think I've had the chance to absorb that much good content in a small amount of time ever... even in college!”
— Jessica Christopher, Writing Student
Thursday, NOVEMBER 6th 2025, 6 - 10 pm
Description:
Rich shares insights and techniques from his years in comedy and late night TV (SNL, MADtv, Key & Peele, The Tonight Show) and from having co-written five resident company shows for Second City in Chicago. Students will learn essentials: how to write jokes, how to identify and use comedic devices, how to brainstorm, and develop ideas. Class will learn how to write basic comedy staples as well as brainstorming & pitching technique. The comic techniques can be applied to Stand-Up, Pilot Writing, Fillm, Social Media, Journal and Novel writing.
Perfect for:
Anyone SERIOUS about storytelling, stand-up comedy, sketch comedy or writing in general.
Bio:
Rich is a Peabody® Award-winning writer/producer with four Emmy® and four WGA Award nominations, best known for his work on Key & Peele. Rich was responsible for K&P fave Substitute Teacher, (“…Ay-ay-Ron?”) which in 2024 was added to The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum Of American History. Rich wrote dozens of K&P faves: Racist Zombies, Karim and Jahar, Hatz, Teaching Center, Obama Greets, Black Ice, and co-wrote many more.
Other credits include: MADtv, The Tonight Show w. Jay Leno, Saturday Night Live, and the critically-acclaimed, Review. An alum of Chicago’s Second City and Improv Olympic, Rich also provided punch-up work on Mean Girls and Get Out. As an improviser, Rich teaches, coaches and performs with long-form group Dasariski, Rich played in the early casts of Chicago’s The Armando Diaz Show and co-created the shows, Close Quarters, Strap Heads and Trio. As an actor, Rich appeared on screen on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, MADtv, the feature film High Fidelity, and in A&W Root Beer’s classic TV ad, “Mr. Dumass.” Talarico’s extensive experience in the comedy industry has made him a sought-after teacher, writer and consultant. Rich is currently teaching and performing stand-up comedy around the US.
— more at www.richtalarico.com
“Rich Talarico is one of the all time great Caucasian Improvisers.”
— Tina Fey
“As a teacher, Rich Talarico brings Lakers legendary coach Phil Jackson to mind. A cerebral educator who brings out the best in people.”
— Keith “Lucky” Lehrer original drummer of “Circle Jerks”
“Rich is an absolute virtuoso in his understanding of his approach and how to deliver it in a classroom setting. A rare combination of both mastery in practice and in lesson delivery.”
— Eric Pederson, Student - Improv Cincinnati
“ I seriously don't think I've had the chance to absorb that much good content in a small amount of time ever... even in college!”
— Jessica Christopher, Writing Student
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