Comic Craft
The Second Meaning Waiting in a Punchline
Learn how a punchline’s second meaning can flip an earlier phrase, with a made-up everyday exchange and a week-long…
The reading room
All the pieces
Explore writing on comic craft, characters, performance, forms and history. Each piece follows one question about how comedy is made, shared or understood.
Performance
Deadpan or Big Reaction: Two Ways to Play the Same Joke
Deadpan or big reaction changes where an audience looks and listens. Learn how each performance directs attention…
Comedy History
When the Fool Became the Star of the Show
Trace how comic figures moved from supporting roles to leading characters, and see how the clown, trickster and…
Comic Craft
The Mistake of Explaining the Joke Too Soon
Explaining a joke too soon can drain its force. Learn when to cut a line, add a missing clue or let the audience make…
Characters
A Family Story Night Built Around a Comic Character
Plan a family story night around a comic character with gentle prompts and flexible turns, so guests can invent a…