LONG BEACH - The Theater Arts Department at Cal State Long Beach has announced the inaugural session of Summer Comedy Academy, an intensive, two-week long series of classes aimed at bringing out the comedian in local high school students.Students will have an opportunity to take classes in Stand Up, Improvisation, Clowning, Mime, Sketch Comedy and Comic Variety. "Training in the comedy arts builds confidence, spontaneity and community skills...and, it is great fun," said academy director Jerry Prell, a longtime performing artist and arts educator. The academy's faculty of professional comedians and teachers designed a curriculum that they say encourages each student to find their own comedic voice. "Everyone is different and everyone finds different things funny," said Lucy Craig, a stand up and improv coach. "[The academy] works with each teen comic to hone their individual talents." The Summer Comedy Academy will offer two sessions open to high school-age students. Tuition will include full-time classes, practices and rehearsals, culminating in a comedy showcase on the main stage of the Studio theatre at Cal State Long Beach. Cost is $425 for the two-week academy and $75 for an "after academy." To register, e-mail Jerry Prell at summercomedyacademy@gmail.com or visit www.csulb.edu.

********** Published: February 03, 2011 - Volume 9 - Issue 42