*This workshop takes place on December 16th & 17th at 11am-2pm*

“Honest is Funny and Funny is Honest.”-- Me just now.

Trying to be funny isn’t very funny.  But oh my word is it funny to be authentic. The clown, above all, seeks to be one hundred percent purely authentically (even overly and embarrassingly) committed to the truth in the moment. And hence, the ha-ha. 

In this 2-day workshop, explore how chasing beauty, depth and vulnerability on stage can lead to comedy on a level that hits harder than you could have ever imagined.  Find the funny through the not-so-funny and be amazed by the hilarity in truth.  

We will use writing and performance prompts and exercises designed to reveal and break down beliefs about what is and isn’t funny, what should and shouldn’t be shown on stage, and what is and isn’t the fourth wall.  The clown doesn’t adhere to (or even understand) the societal constructs around us, so embodying our clowns gives us permission to dissolve made-up rules and connect with ourselves and the audience to find the ha-ha and boo-hoo in truly profound ways.  

 A safe (but deep) dive into the parts we don’t want to show, where we can find the power of clowning, guided by Claire Woolner, an award-winning absurdist comedian and clown who has earned her accolades by crying on stage so much that the audience laughs and sometimes even tell her she has changed their lives (lol). 

There is no pressure to be, do or make anything funny–we will just explore the depths and see where they lead.  But my gut tells me we’re gonna find some pretty absurdly hilarious shit.  

Instructor: Claire Woolner has trained and performed with Cirque du Soleil’s John Gilkey, runs the clown incubation theater PDA and her solo clown show ‘A Retrospection’ has been awarded Top of the Fringe (HFF ‘23), Platinum Medal (HFF ‘23), Encore Producer’s Award (HFF ‘23) and lotsa stars and sold out houses.  

RISE COMEDY TERMS & CONDITIONS