Are some people just born funny? Can a sense of humor be taught? What does being funny even mean? Join moderator Sarah Austin Jenness (The Moth) as she sits down with comedy professionals to ponder these deep and important comedy questions. Panelists include: Eddie Brill (Late Show w/David Letterman), Kevin Scott(Improvisor), Tim Dunn (UCB), Lauren Kincheloe(Stand-up Instructor).
SARAH AUSTIN JENNESS joined the staff at The Moth in 2005, and as Executive Producer, she has worked with hundreds of people to craft and hone their personal stories. She is one of the hosts of the Peabody Award-winning The Moth Radio Hour, and launched The Moth's Global Community Program -- coaching storytelling workshops in the US and Africa to highlight world issues including family homelessness and public health. Moth stories she has directed in the past decade have been told during the UN General Assembly and as far afield as the Kenya National Theatre. She believes stories have power and can change the world by creating connection.
Eddie Brill is a writer, actor, producer and stand-up comedian. He spend years as the warm-up comic/ Standup Comedy Coordinator for The David Letterman Show. Eddie was the architect and former creative director of the Great American Comedy Festival. Eddie is on the board of advisors for TCCFEST.
Timothy Dunn is a performer, writer, and director who spent over a decade as a Company Member at New York City’s Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, creating and performing in hundreds of original live comedy shows and shorts. Now the Assistant Artistic Director at Bridge Street Theatre in Catskill, NY, he’s thrilled to bring his directing, choreographing, and performing chops, along with all of his weirdness, to this amazing little corner of the world!
LAUREN KINCHELOE
Lauren is a writer, teacher, and raconteur. After over two decades in comedy and theater in NYC and LA, she relocated to Kingston, NY in 2019. In 2021, she founded the Squalid Gold Comedy School, where she teaches stand-up to students of all ages. Her alumni regularly pack local venues, with some going on to open for nationally touring acts.
Kevin Scott began performing and creating comedy while at the legendary Harry S. Truman High School in Levittown PA (profiled in Drama High and the inspiration for NBC’s Rise). He received his comedy training in Chicago in the 1990s from the Second City. He then performed with Bang Bang (which also featured Tracy Letts, Kate Walsh and Michael Shannon). In New York he has performed with Burn Manhattan and Centralia t
He’s also been a regular performer and teacher for The Peoples Improv Theater since it was founded. He’s taught continuously since the ’90’s for the Second City, Gotham City Improv, The People’s Improv Theater and for various other groups and organizations. His students have gone on to work in TV and movies (Saturday Night Live, The Daily Show, The Office and more) Kevin is also a filmmaker and director and has had his work shown on the Sundance Channel and Comedy Central.