Forum: Art & Science
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(Next to the Tempe Library on the SW corner of Rural & Southern)
It’s June, the AG is almost upon us, and it’s time to relax and get in a good mood before our guests arrive! The June Forum is about the “Art & Science of Humor”. Our presenters will be Dee Ann Kinkade and Maria Patte, who teach a very popular “Stand-up Comedy Workshop” offered at Scottsdale Community College (SCC). They have also agreed to judge a 30 minute “mini” joke-off, so we will have a 45 minute presentation and a 30 minute Q&A during this Forum.
These two met in 1996 while taking the same screenwriting class at SCC. They also took several private classes together where their instructor informed them about an LA Comedy Workshop that was being offered. They had an interest in how to do stand-up comedy, so off they went to take this workshop. Out of this successful and exciting adventure, Maria and Dee Ann explored the idea of offering a workshop at SCC. It was so successful that they had to add three additional sessions in one semester due to the demand! All of the jokes the students come up with have to be original. They teach them how to construct jokes, build a routine and how to edit.
As a result of all that they are doing with this new venture, they have formed their own company “Electric Shadows”. Dee Ann is the writer, producer and director for the company, while Maria serves as the performer. Through this company they teach private classes in sketch comedy writing and develop a number of film projects where some of their students are used as talent.