The Comedy Arena Training Center

A dynamic weekend crash course in the art of writing comedy sketches through improvisation. Led by The Second City’s Rich Talarico, an Emmy-nominated and Peabody award-winning writer who wrote for Saturday Night Live, Key & Peele, MADtv, and The Tonight Show. Learn brainstorming techniques, how to write blackouts and a variety of scene types. 

SAT 10am-1pm (one hour break) then 2nd half of day  -- 2pm-5pm 

SUN 10am-1pm (one hour break) then 2nd half of day -- 2pm-5pm

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Rich is a Peabody® Award-winning writer/producer with four Emmy® and four WGA Award nominations, best known for his work on Key & Peele. Rich was responsible for K&P fave Substitute Teacher, (“…Ay-ay-Ron?”) which in 2024 was added to The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum Of American History. Rich wrote dozens of K&P faves: Racist Zombies, Karim and Jahar, Hatz, Teaching Center, Obama Greets, Black Ice, and co-wrote many more. 

Other credits include: MADtv, The Tonight Show w. Jay Leno, Saturday Night Live, and the critically-acclaimed, Review. An alum of Chicago’s Second City and Improv Olympic, Rich also provided punch-up work on Mean Girls and Get Out. As an improviser, Rich teaches, coaches and performs with long-form group Dasariski, Rich played in the early casts of Chicago’s The Armando Diaz Show and co-created the shows, Close Quarters, Strap Heads and Trio. 

As an actor, Rich appeared on screen on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, MADtv, the feature film High Fidelity, and in A&W Root Beer’s classic TV ad, “Mr. Dumass.” Talarico’s extensive experience in the comedy industry has made him a sought-after teacher, writer and consultant. Rich is currently teaching and performing stand-up comedy around the US. 

QUOTES

“Rich's work on "Key & Peele" is nothing short of legendary.”
— Jordan Peele

“Rich Talarico is one of the all time great Caucasian Improvisers.”
— Tina Fey

“As a teacher, Rich Talarico brings Lakers legendary coach Phil Jackson to mind. A cerebral educator who brings out the best in people.”
— Keith “Lucky” Lehrer original drummer of “Circle Jerks”

“Rich is an absolute virtuoso in his understanding of his approach and how to deliver it in a classroom setting. A rare combination of both mastery in practice and in lesson delivery.”
— Eric Pederson, Student - Improv Cincinnati 

“ I seriously don't think I've had the chance to absorb that much good content in a small amount of time ever... even in college!”
— Jessica Christopher, Writing Student