Humber College Comedy: Writing and Performance
The Humber School of Comedy (Comedy: Writing and Performance program) was founded in 1999, at Humber College in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Humber's Comedy: Writing and Performance program helps talented students hone their craft while gaining an understanding of the commercial side of the industry. Students learn stand-up, improvisation, scriptwriting, sketch comedy, and all other aspects of the craft. The program features many mainstage class shows, a weekly Humber student show at Yuk Yuk's Comedy Club and an organized showcase at Second City, Toronto for scouts, directors and agents with students included on the basis of merit.
Graduates are ready to embark on an exciting career in one of North America's fastest growing industries – arts and entertainment. In addition, the program's strong alumni network supports graduates through reunion shows, business opportunities and continued coaching.
Contents
Faculty
Humber's comedy faculty is composed of seasoned, award-winning professionals who are still active in the comedy industry, including: Shawn Campbell, Humber's Comedy Program Director and Canada's foremost comedy historian Andrew Clark, SCTV's Robin Duke, Linda Ellis, Anne Fenn, Deb Filler, Allan Guttman, Comedian Larry Horowitz, multiple Dora Award-nominee Melody A. Johnson, Bruce McCulloch, Bruce Pirrie, and Mike Sacks.
Former faculty members include SCTV's Joe Flaherty, Dora Award-winner Linda Kash, Andy Massingham, Paul O'Sullivan, CTV executive producer of drama Martin Lager, Allan Guttman, Cindy Block, Frank McAnulty, Shawn Campbell, Nick Johne, Robert Trick Johnston, Mike Kennard, Mark Schoenberg, and Yuk Yuk's founder Mark Breslin.
Guest Speakers and Industry Show Hosts
- 1998: Seinfeld's executive producer George Shapiro and former co-producer and lead writer Carol Leifer
- 1999: Anne Beatts, Joe Flaherty, Beth Lapides
- 2004-05: Andrea Martin (SCTV), Colin Mochrie, Joan Rivers, The Smothers Brothers, Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara
- 2005-06: (incomplete) Billy Crystal, Eugene Levy
- 2006-07: Colin Mochrie, Mark Breslin, Russell Peters
- 2009: Don Ferguson
- 2010: Colin Mochrie, Deb McGrath
- 2011: Dave Foley and Kevin McDonald (Kids in the Hall), Andrew Martin
- 2012: Mike Reiss (The Simpsons), Alan Zweibel (SNL, books), Tom Green, Dave Foley
- 2013: Jim Downey (SNL), Scott Thompson
- 2014: Dave Thomas
- 2015: Jon Dore
In addition, Maria Bamford, Andy Kindler, Mike Macdonald, Gilbert Gottfried, Kenny Robinson have all given guest lectures.
Advisory Committee
Chaired by Mark Breslin, the committee consists of David Goodman, David Himelfarb, Jae Ten, Jake Labow, Michael Hirsh, Marlene Smith, Martin Waxman, Louise Parent, Don Ferguson, and Lindsay Leese
