Level 2 – Writing & Performing a Show

6-Week Advanced Stand-Up Comedy Course + Student Showcase

Already built your first routine? Now it’s time to fine tune your performance and get it ready for the stage! In this immersive 6-week course, you’ll refine your material, punch up your jokes, and learn how to truly connect with your audience—on stage or on screen.

Using the proven Greg Dean Method, you’ll:

• Strengthen your joke structure and timing
• Add tags, callbacks, and funny stories
• Learn how to read the room and adapt in real time
• Build confidence and overcome stage fright
• Get personalized feedback from Greg or Gayla
• Perform in a final Student Showcase—either live at the Improv or online via Zoom

What You’ll Learn:

• Writing jokes, tags, and punchlines that land
• Editing and rewriting for clarity and impact
• Adding jokes to stories—and stories to jokes
• Defining and mastering your joke premise
• Pulling the audience into your “comedy movie”
• Being authentically yourself on stage
• Reading and interacting with the audience
• What to do when you go blank
• Tag timing and rhythm

Course Format:

• 🏛️ In-Person: Greg Dean at Santa Monica Playhouse
  Wednesdays, 7–10 PM PT
• 💻 Online: Gayla Johnson via Zoom
  Mondays, 4–7 PM PT

Performances:

• In the final week (week 6) In-Person students will perform live at the Hollywood Improv.  Your guests can get tickets here.
• Zoom students will perform in their final week live over zoom. Your guests can get tickets here.

Prerequisite:
Completion of Level 1 – How to Build a Stand-Up Comedy Routine is required.

Bonus:
Optional video review of your showcase by Gayla Johnson in a supportive zoom setting. Get the video review here.