Newsday.com: Comedy College teaches the funny

Comedy College teaches the funny

BY MEREDITH DANIELS
Special to Newsday

February 2, 2008

You won't earn a bachelor's degree in laughology from Governor's Comedy College, but you may work up the courage to perform onstage in front of a roomful of strangers.

The "college" is actually an eight-week workshop in stand-up comedy that's taught by a professional comic at Governor's Comedy Club in Levittown. For the next session, which begins tomorrow and costs $200, instructor Carrie Karavas (a comic with more than 20 years of experience) will take students through the process of writing jokes and performing on stage during three-hour sessions held at the club on Tuesday nights. She'll critique their cache of one-liners, counsel on timing and even teach them the proper way to hold a microphone.

To get a feel for performing in a true comedy club setting, students will get up on stage each week for short stand-ups and improv sessions. Fellow classmates -- typically eight to 12 people -- serve as the audience (and yes, heckling is encouraged).

"I'm like the 'Van Wilder' of the comedy class," jokes Terry McNealy of Farmingville, who has taken the course six times. But seriously: "You really learn a lot and your fellow students are so helpful. ... I went in there the first time and I had not one single joke and now I can do up to 20 minutes of time just by taking all those classes and getting the feedback."

The course culminates with a "graduation" of sorts -- students perform their polished stand-ups for an audience of their friends and family at a class show hosted at Governor's. From there, some decide to work the local circuit of open-mic nights or pursue work as professional comedians.

"I met some working comics who were teaching the class and now take me on the road with them where I can watch them doing their job," says McNealy, 35. He's even got an occasional guest performer spot on Karavas' shows at Governor's.

Not bad for a guy who's still learning how to be funny.

WHEN&WHERE Governor's Comedy College, 7-10 p.m. Tuesdays through March 25; 90 Division Ave., Levittown. Fee is $200. Bring pen, paper and recording device. Call 516-731-3358 for more information.