Write Comedy Like the Pros: Sketch Class with Joe Guppy: Summer 2026

Ready to level up your comedy game? This 8-week sketch writing class is all about creating funny, original material with the help of improv games, writer’s room vibes, and major insperation from shows like Saturday Night Live, Key & Peele, and Seattle’s legendary Almost Live!

Led by Emmy-winning comedy writer Joe Guppy, you’ll learn the foundations of sketch writing—improv techniques, story structure, and how to turn a funny idea into a killer sketch. You’ll workshop at a supportive table of peers, rewrite with confidence, and explore what makes a premise actually work.

The class ends with a relaxed showcase, giving you the chance to see your work performed.

What you’ll get out of it:

• The fundamentals of comedy writing & sketch structure
• Improv tools that spark fresh ideas
• Practice rewriting and strengthening jokes
• A comedy community to bounce ideas off of
• The chance to see your sketches come alive

Date and Time: 8 Saturdays, Jul 18 to Sept 5, 10:30am to 1pm

Location: Unexpected Productions Georgetown Studio, 650 South Orcas St Suite 101, Seattle 98108. The last class will include a showcase performance in the last hour of class.

Maximum Students: 12

Cost: $295

Prerequisite: None

Age: 18+

Teacher Bio: Joe Guppy, M.A., won 8 Emmys and a Writers Guild award for comedy writing and performing. He’s a former head writer/cast member for the Seattle comedy show Almost Live, which ran for 15 seasons on KING-TV5, with two runs on Comedy Central. Joe is a founding member of Seattle TheatreSports and has written television scripts in Los Angeles for directors John Landis (Blues Brothers, Animal House) and Blake Edwards (Pink Panther). He’s taught fiction and scriptwriting at Seattle University and is an experienced group leader.

**Cancellation policy: If you must cancel before the first class, we offer credit only towards a future class. We are unable to offer refunds. You must cancel 72 hours before the class starts. If you cancel after the first class, we will not offer credit toward a future class. Again, we are unable to offer refunds.

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Host or Publisher The Improv School Unexpected Productions