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School of Comedy 2019
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The Jon Jon & Co. School of Comedy presents Denver's only short form improvisational curriculum... and is back for 2019!
The Jon Jon & Co. School of Comedy will feature an eclectic class offering in the realm of comedy, including improv, sketch, stand-up and writing. The short-form improv comedy series will led for its second year by improv veteran Jon Jon Lannen.
Jon Jon Lannen has performed short form improv comedy with Gay vs. Straight and Lipsync for your Laugh at Tracks Denver, On The Spot at the Bovine Metropolis Theater, Queerbots at Hamburger Mary's & The Clocktower Cabaret and The Second City at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. He is also the owner of Jon Jon & Co.
Jon Jon & Co. has partnered with The Clocktower Cabaret, located on the bottom floor of Denver's legendary D&F Clocktower Building in the heart of 16th Street, for the location of the School of Comedy. Classes will be held on select Saturdays from 2:30pm to 4:30pm & 5pm. The short form 101-301 courses are four weeks and cost only $99. The one day elective courses are only $50. Finally, the 401 courses are four weeks and $99, as well.
Short Form Improv 101
Short Form Improv 101 is class one of three of the Jon Jon & Co. School of Comedy Improv series. No prerequisite required.
101, level one of the three level program, is for anyone interested in improv comedy! This course will focus on the 'yes-and' philosophy, basics of improv, pantomime practice, scene work, and an introduction to short-form improvisation games, as seen on Whose Line Is It Anyway?.
All class participants receive an autographed copy of Jon Jon Lannen's best-selling book about improv, The Giraffe That Taught Me How To Laugh.*
Session 4 begins February 2nd, 2019! Registration open - enroll now!
*Must pay full price for additional incentive, not redeemable with discount code and/or groupon.
Short Form Improv 201
Short Form Improv 201 is class two of three of the Jon Jon & Co. School of Comedy Improv series. Prerequisite is Short Form Improv 101.
201, level two of the three level program, continues lessons from 101. The course will dive deeper into improvised scene work and short form games! The class navigates participants through ensemble, character and advanced scene work.
Session 4 begins March 9th, 2019! Registration open - enroll now!
Short Form Improv 301
Short Form Improv 301 is the final course and class three of the Jon Jon & Co. School of Comedy Improv series. Prerequisite is Short Form Improv 101 & 201.
301, the final level of the program, is the culmination of levels 101 & 201. The 301 Short Form improv Course will focus heavily on short form improv comedy games to prepare participants for the Short Form Improv Graduation Showcase.
Session 4 begins April 6th, 2019! Registration open - enroll now!
Short Form Improv Graduation Showcase
Short Form Improv Graduation Showcase is the culmination of all three courses of the Jon Jon & Co. School of Improv series.
The Short Form Improv Showcase for Grad Class #4 is scheduled for April 27th, 2019! RSVP now! RSVP LINK COMING SOON!
Elective 401 - In Deep Sh*t
The 401 Elective offering is available to graduates of the Jon Jon & Co. School of Comedy Short Form Improv series. Prerequisite is Short Form Improv 101, 201 & 301.
The In Deep Sh*t improv workshop will dive into the deeper meaning of the traditional improv scene. In this workshop, Jon Jon will be focusing on the importance of honesty, relationships and intention. Jon Jon hopes to inspire actors to explore dramatic, intense scenes, without comedy being the primary objective; rather, authenticity. Workshop attendees will understand and want to always be In Deep Sh*t... at least when it comes to improvisation.
Session 2 begins August 3rd, 2019! Registration open - enroll now!
Elective - Improv Refresher
The Jon Jon & Co. School of Comedy presents the Improv Refresher drop-in workshop! No prerequisite required. Improv Refresher is a workshop drop-in for any level of improviser. This course is designed to be different each time. The primary focus can range from monologues, duologues, scene-work, pantomiming and character development. Get refreshed with a little improv.
Session 2 begins June 8th, 2019! Registration open - enroll now!
Elective - Improv Comedy for Queens
The Jon Jon & Co. School of Comedy presents Denver's only workshop for Drag Queens! No prerequisite required. Improv Comedy for Queens is a workshop designed for Drag Queens, Kings, Burlesque Performers, Pageant Queens & their allies. The focus of Improv for Queens is to guide class attendees through warm-ups, develop on-the-spot characters and work through the traditional improv scene. Participants will learn the basics of improvisational comedy!
Session 2 begins September 21st, 2019! Registration open - enroll now!
Jon Jon & Co. is thrilled to have you join the family and jump into the wonderful world of improvisation!
If you have any questions, please click here to contact us.
Press Release: Jon Jon & Co. joins Grafenberg
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For immediate release:
Denver, CO- Jon Jon & Co. recently signed a deal to join the newly opened Grafenberg Theater in an education and production capacity. Jon Jon & Co. will be presenting a new LGBT+ Bingo Improv Jam and Jon Jon Lannen will be officially joining the Grafenberg faculty, teaching Acting & Character Development. Jon Jon, owner of Jon Jon & Co., and Justin Franzen, owner of Grafenberg Productions, have been actively involved in the improv comedy community for 30 years collectively.
Jon Jon & Company has had a major impact on queer comedy in the Denver community. With recent shows such as Lipsync for your Laugh, Jon Jon is at the helm of this push for improv comedy in the gay community. Combining his love for improvisation and the vibrant LGBTQ+ community, he created the show, aptly named, Improv's Gay. Improv's Gay is an Improv Bingo Jam catering to the LGBTQ+ Community hosted by Jon Jon Lannen. Improv's Gay is both a bingo game and a night of improvisational theater. Improv performers select their respective numbered balls upon entering and are selected at random in a lottery-style improv jam, with the host pulling numbers at random to create a never created or re-created improv ensemble. Audience members not interested in joining the jam are given bingo cards, playing along during the show, with a chance to win prizes, such as movie tickets, classes and more. Improv's Gay will be presented every third Saturday at 7pm at Grafenberg Theater in Denver, Colorado. Improv's Gay will have the award-winning LGBT improv comedy ensemble, Queerbots, headline the first three shows.
"I am elated to join Grafenberg!" says Jon Jon Lannen. He continues, "The new show is going to be a comfortable, fun and inspiring show that brings funny people together in a safe environment."
Along with the recent show announcement at Grafenberg, Jon Jon has also decided to join Grafenberg Theater's school of improvisation. With an extensive background in the study of improvisational theater, Jon Jon will be taking on the role of Grafenberg's level 201 instructor, teaching acting and character development. Jon Jon will continue to teach short form improv at The Clocktower Cabaret.
Jon Jon & Co. and Grafenberg Productions have partnered up to let everyone know that Improv's Gay; and Jon Jon is just the OG improv gay to show everyone just how gay.
About Jon Jon Lannen: Jon Jon Lannen is a writer, actor & director living in Denver, Colorado. Jon Jon has been performing improv comedy for over fifteen years and wants everyone to fall in love with the art of improvisation. More on Jon Jon here.
About Justin Franzen: Justin lives and breathes improv. He has been improvising for 19 years. From humble beginnings in highschool speech and debate in Denver, to studying at iO Chicago and Annoyance Theater, Justin has spent his adult life absorbing improv theory and learning production. He has been a part of groups and shows such as Go-Go Manifesto, Weather Report, and Ginger's Improv Ale House. Justin moved back to Denver to found his own production company and began teaching and coaching Chicago-style improv in 2013. Offering a unique and experienced perspective to the Denver improv scene, Justin continues to lead Grafenberg Productions with an insightful eye, a strong voice, and one really fat cat named Panda Pie; she has lost weight but is still fatter than her sister, Bama.
About Grafenberg Productions: Grafenberg Productions is one of Denver's top long-form improv and sketch comedy production houses. Founded by Justin Franzen in 2013, Grafenberg aims to offer high-quality long-form improv and sketch comedy shows, as well as classes taught by highly trained and experienced performers, to all members of the community. Adapting the iO Chicago and Annoyance styles of play to a unique curriculum, Grafenberg offers Denver a niche in the improv and sketch art forms not available elsewhere in the community. Through its meticulously trained teachers, coaches, and performers, Grafenberg produces shows with consistently high value and turns out grounded, patient improvisers and polished sketch writers. Grafenberg's training center offers 5 levels of long-form improv classes, as well as 4 levels of sketch comedy classes. You can also see shows five nights a week, Tuesday-Saturday, at their theater.
About Jon Jon and Company: Jon Jon & Co. is a boutique style firm specializing in coaching, comedy and consulting. Jon Jon & Co. is owned by Jon Jon Lannen.
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Jon Jon and Co. School of Comedy Commercial
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That Podcast #38 - RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, The Holi-slay Spectacular & Thanksgiving Topics
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That Podcast #37 - Bright Futures Pageant, RuPaul's Holi-Slay Spectacular & Denver Fashion Week
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That Podcast Article - Critic's Corner: Bohemian Rhapsody
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By Jon Jon Lannen
Bohemian Rhapsody is a foot-stomping celebration of Queen, their music and their extraordinary lead singer Freddie Mercury. Freddie defied stereotypes and shattered convention to become one of the most beloved entertainers on the planet. The film traces the meteoric rise of the band through their iconic songs and revolutionary sound. They reach unparalleled success, but in an unexpected turn Freddie, surrounded by darker influences, shuns Queen in pursuit of his solo career. Having suffered greatly without the collaboration of Queen, Freddie manages to reunite with his bandmates just in time for Live Aid. While bravely facing a recent AIDS diagnosis, Freddie leads the band in one of the greatest performances in the history of rock music. Queen cements a legacy that continues to inspire outsiders, dreamers and music lovers to this day.
- Jon Jon Lannen is the owner of Jon Jon & Company, author of the Giraffe Book Series and one half of That Podcast with LPiddy and Jon Jon. More on Jon Jon here.
That Podcast #36 - RuPaul's DragCon, A Star Is Born & Bohemian Rhapsody
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That Podcast Article - Critic's Corner: A Star Is Born
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By Jon Jon Lannen
The official A Star Is Born synopsis:
'In “A Star Is Born,” Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga fuse their considerable talents to depict the raw and passionate tale of Jack and Ally, two artistic souls coming together, on stage and in life. Theirs is a complex journey through the beauty and the heartbreak of a relationship struggling to survive. In this new take on the iconic love story, four-time Oscar nominee Cooper (“American Sniper,” “American Hustle,” “Silver Linings Playbook”), makes his directorial debut, and also stars alongside multiple award-winning, Oscar-nominated music superstar Gaga in her first leading role in a major motion picture. Cooper portrays seasoned musician Jackson Maine, who discovers and falls in love with struggling artist Ally. She has given up on her dream to become a successful singer, until she meets Jack, who immediately sees her natural talent. The film also stars Andrew Dice Clay (“Blue Jasmine”), with Dave Chappelle (“Ch-Raq”) and Sam Elliott, whose nearly 50-year career includes standout performances in such films as “Mask,” “Tombstone” and, most recently, “The Hero.” In addition to playing Ally, Gaga—who earned an Oscar nod for the song “Til It Happens to You” from the film “The Hunting Ground”—performs original songs in the film with Cooper, which they wrote with a handful of artists, including Lukas Nelson, Jason Isbell and Mark Ronson. The music is original and all vocals for the movie were recorded live during filming. “A Star Is Born” was produced by Bill Gerber, Jon Peters, Bradley Cooper, Todd Phillips and Lynette Howell Taylor. Ravi Mehta, Basil Iwanyk, Niija Kuykendall, Sue Kroll, Michael Rapino and Heather Parry served as executive producers. The screenplay was written by Oscar winner Eric Roth (“Forrest Gump”) and Bradley Cooper & Will Fetters. Cooper’s behind-the-scenes team included Oscar-nominated director of photography Matthew Libatique (“Black Swan”), production designer Karen Murphy (“The Light Between Oceans”), three-time Oscar-nominated editor Jay Cassidy (“American Hustle,” “Silver Linings Playbook,” “Into the Wild”), and costume designer Erin Benach (“Loving”). Warner Bros. Pictures Presents, in association with Live Nation Productions, in association with Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures, a Jon Peters/Bill Gerber/Joint Effort Production, “A Star Is Born.” The film is slated for release on October 5, 2018, and distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures. It is rated R for language throughout, some sexuality/nudity and substance abuse.'
- Jon Jon Lannen is the owner of Jon Jon & Company, author of the Giraffe Book Series and one half of That Podcast with LPiddy and Jon Jon. More on Jon Jon here.
That Podcast Article - RuPaul's DragCon New York City 2018
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By Jon Jon Lannen
To listen to the special Rucap episode of #ThatPodcast covering RuPaul's DragCon, see below:
- Jon Jon Lannen is the owner of Jon Jon & Company, author of the Giraffe Book Series and one half of That Podcast with LPiddy and Jon Jon. More on Jon Jon here.
