Find your voice and own the stage!

Our Stand-Up Comedy Workshop is your crash course in crafting a killer set. Learn the art of joke writing, a skill applicable to both comedy and everyday life, and develop your unique comedic persona. Our instructors will guide you through structuring your material, finding your stage presence, and perfecting your timing. Whether you want to perform on stage or just improve your public speaking skills, this workshop will give you the confidence to be yourself—only funnier. Get ready to turn your life experiences into laughter and discover the comedian within you!

Your Instructor:

LAUREN KINCHELOE

Lauren  is a writer, teacher, and raconteur. After two decades working in comedy and theater both in NYC and LA, she relocated to Kingston, NY. In 2021,  Lauren founded the Squalid Gold Comedy School, where she teaches stand-up to students of all ages. Her alumni regularly pack local venues, and some have gone on to open for nationally touring acts.

Do you have a story to tell but don't know where to start?

Join our Storytelling Workshop and learn how to captivate any audience! We’ll teach you how to find the narrative in your own life experiences and turn them into powerful, engaging stories.

Discover the secrets of dramatic structure, character development, and emotional connection that make a story truly unforgettable.

Whether you want to share a personal memoir, a funny anecdote, or a fictional tale, this workshop will give you the tools and confidence to speak from the heart and be heard. Your story matters—let us help you tell it.

Your Instructors:

CHRISTINA THYSSEN

Christina is a writer, teacher, and story coach with a Ph.D. in American literature. She teaches at the University at Albany and in correctional facilities. As a story coach, she works with individuals and organizations to craft compelling narratives. She’s the co-founder and producer of On The Fly, a monthly Moth-style story slam in Catskill, NY, and is currently writing a memoir about raising a daughter with special needs.

CAITLIN LANGSTAFF

Caitlin is an actor, director, story coach, and teacher with an M.F.A. in theatre. A member of Actors Equity and The Actors Studio, she’s created original stage and radio work, including The Mosquito, the Outer Cape’s only story slam. She also produces site-specific theatre in unexpected places—cars, delis, elevators. A former Suffolk University professor, Caitlin now co-produces On The Fly Story Slam in Catskill, NY.

Want to discover the secret to making people laugh without saying a word?

Join our Physical Comedy Workshop, a fun and dynamic course where you'll learn the fundamentals of physical humor. We'll explore how to use your body, facial expressions, and timing to create hilarious and memorable characters and scenes. Whether you want to improve your comedic timing, boost your stage presence, or just have a blast learning a new skill, this workshop is for you.

Your Instructor:

PETER DANIEL STRAUS

You may know Peter as "Pierre the Mime" from Impractical Jokers and Keeping Up With The Kardashians. A lifelong physical comedian, he began juggling on the streets of Georgetown at 14, later training at Sarah Lawrence, the British American Drama Academy, and Ringling Bros. Clown College. Peter has performed everywhere from The Late Show with David Letterman to the Metropolitan Opera, as a Clown Doctor in New York hospitals, and on stages across the globe — from Norway to Japan. He now lives just across the river from Catskill.