Ages 9-13 and 14-18

Kids will learn the basics of comedy improv and creating a comedy revue for their friends and family! Great for listening, trust building, self confidence, and learning to work together! Jill Olson and Jessica Hardy have been instructors and directors in comedy improv and film for over 10 years. Their experience and expertise in youth programming and theater combined is extensive and well respected (see Jill and Jessica's biographies below).

Scholarship Opportunity: 1 student from each age group may receive full tuition reimbursement for the NWCC Youth Comedy Camp. More information can be obtained by calling (574) 834-1600 ext. 225

Program Structure:

Monday-Thursday

9am Check In

9:30am-12pm Comedy Improv

12pm Bring your own lunch

1pm-4pm Writing and Storytelling

4:00 Pick Up

Friday

9am Check In

9:30am-12pm Rehearsal

1pm Lunch

1pm-3:00pm Rehearsal

3:00pm Doors open

3:30pm Ages 9-12 Showtime

4:00pm Ages 14-18 Showtime

4:30pm Certificate Ceremony

5:00pm Pick Up

Kids will be instructed in separate age groups:

9-13 with Jill Olson

14-18 with Jessica Hardy

Kids will be either allowed to sign in and out with the camp assistant by themselves or parent will request to accompany the child into the building each morning and afternoon to sign in and out.

See an example of the NWCC Advanced Adult Improv Classes and Workshops:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzOtV10AKeo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJEABjiYI-w

Instructors:

Jill Olson studied improvisation at the iO Theater and Second City.
She went on to perform on Soundchek and AIRBOURNE! at the iO Theater. She is the producer of Storytown, a fully improvised, interactive story for children 3-10 years old and their families.  She has performed with The Moving Dock Theatre Company in Unsung Stars, Frugal Love, The Quiltmaker’s Gift, and Dear...Reply, Forward, Send.

Other Chicago credits include The Story of Francis and Wild Gil, The SAINTPlays, American Machine and Other Works, 365 Sketches, and 7 Deadly Plays. In addition to performing she has studied playwriting at The Chicago Dramatists. Writing credits include Left Unnamed as part of the 5th Annual Women's Performance Art Festival with Stockyards
Theatre Project, Eleanor in American Machine and Other Works, and
wrote and produced Mayfly: A Collection of Short Plays. Jill Olson has
served as Program Coordinator for This Is ME and currently handles
children’s programming for The Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival in
connection with Stage 773 Theater.  Before moving to Chicago, Jill
taught creative dramatics in the Baltimore School system

Jessica Hardy is the founder of the Chicago Comedy Film Festival and teaches improv comedy at the North Webster Community Center. She is a graduate of Indiana University and The Second City conservatory in Chicago. In Chicago she has performed at Donny's Skybox, Chicago Sketchfest, Apollo Theater, Viaduct Theater, with Storytown, and much more. Jessica is an actress and has appeared in industrials such as a spot for Dove, short, and feature films. Since 2007 she and her husband run Flowfeel Films. Their feature Welcome to Gentle Waters was shot in North Webster and was a semi finalist of the Feelgood Film Festival of Hollywood.

Educationally she worked for The Second City youth camp in Chicago for three years as well as taught Montessori education. Jessica's work can be reviewed at www.jessicahardy.org