I Want to Be a Comedy Actor Where Do I Start?

5. Learn to break down comedy scripts Comedy is made up of two things: desperation and the unpredictable. These themes are found in story lines, jokes, and characters. And keep in mind that comedy consists of positive and negative forces that work against each other to create the humor in the script, especially in the dialogue. Breaking down comedy scripts will help you identify classic jokes like “the turnaround,” in which a character says something with 100 percent conviction, then turns it around with equal conviction. Try it yourself: “You’re going to Disneyland! (Beat.) Not.” There are also “triplets”: The character sets up with two simple and similar lines of dialogue, then on the third line hits the joke with something different and unpredictable.

Disclaimer: When performing comedy, you have to enjoy what you’re doing. You need to do your homework, find your character, perfect your technique, commit to the text, then go into class, an audition, or a job and have fun. Take some risks. Be confident and bring on the funny! If you’re having fun, you’ll feel a surge of energy inside you that will bring out your best, most positive, most energized performance. It will get you to the “louder, faster, funnier” that defines comedy. And if you’re having fun, the casting director, the writer, the producer, and ultimately the audience will have fun with you, and that will help you become a successful comedy actor.

April 6, 2025 | 5:29 am