Workshops at the 2011 TOSketchFest

TOsketchfest is offering a series of panels, workshops and classes focussing on the art of sketch comedy.  Many of our workshops are open to the public and are absolutely free of charge. So get yourself to the venue on time and pull back the curtain on the best live scripted comedy in North America!

LOT Lounge Series

Join us in the Lounge at the Lower Ossington Theatre for a special series of public panels looking behind the scenes of the Festival’s funniest.  This is your chance to get up close to our comedic stars, while you sip delicious drinks.  You never know who may show up!  Actually you will, because we’ll tell you in advance.  SPOILERS!

These events are FREE and open to the public. No registration required.

• Tuesday November 8th – 6:00 pm – TOsketchfest Survival Guide: Catch the debut of a new lecture by Deadpan Powerpoint profiling the sketch comedian, watch sketch comedy Family Feud, and enjoy a sneak preview of the week ahead!
• Wednesday November 9th – 6:00 pm – Cat Videos, or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Web Shorts: Comedy has exploded on the web – and vids have launched sketch comedians into the public eye.  We’ll watch some comedy videos, and chat with some of the artists and directors who made them.
• Friday  November 11th – 6:00 pm – Picnicface: The Making of a Multi-Platform Sketch Sensation: We profile and chat with Picnicface about how they turned success in live shows and web videos into total comedy domination with a feature film, television series, book deal, and multiple Canadian Comedy Award nominations in 2011 alone!

Sketch Writing with Kevin McDonald – Sold Out

Join Kevin McDonald of Kids in the Hall for a unique, on-your-feet sketch writing workshop. Sketch writer/performers will work in groups to create new material through a process of improvisation. The groups will be mixed and matched throughout the session for maximum variety. This is a great opportunity for experienced sketch/improv comedians to work with new people, jam new ideas and take risks under the guidance of one of Canada’s sketch comedy legends.

• Friday November 11th – 1:30 – 5:30 pm – Lower Ossington Theatre (100a Ossington Ave)
• Registration fee: $40 (plus HST & processing)
• Sketch or improvisation experience required
• This workshop is sold out

Falcon Powder: Playing the Scene Inside the Premise

Last year’s Best of the Fest winners Falcon Powder teach a workshop on taking scenes past their premise by focusing on dialogue and the creation of characters with clearly defined opinions, wants and needs. The emphasis will be on moving away from sketches that simply state their premise and execute it, towards discovering and playing internal beats that ground even the craziest scenes in realistic and relatable emotional arcs. Taught by Jim Annan, Scott Montgomery and Kurt Smeaton.

• Sunday November 13th – 12:00 – 3:00 pm – Second City Training Centre (70 Peter St)
• Registration fee: $60
• Sketch comedy/improv experience required (minimum Second City Level E or comparable experience/training)
• To register, contact The Second City Training Centre – 416-340-7270 / training.to@secondcity.com

Sketch 101 with Eric Toth

Whether you’re a beginner seeking to write successful sketch comedy or an experienced comic wanting to take your writing to another level, this workshop fits the bill. Eric Toth (Faculty, Humber School of Creative and Performing Arts, and member of 2010 Canadian Comedy Award winning troupe, The Imponderables) will take you on a journey from the idea to the final draft in this 2-hour, hands-on workshop. No need to bring scripts, just bring something to write on.

• Sunday November 13th – 4:00 – 6:00 pm – Comedy Bar Side Stage
• Free!