James Elden's Playwright's Spotlight
Playwright Spotlight features a new playwright every episode to discuss the tools of the trade and solutions to the obstacles we face as writers in hopes of making us all better and more successful playwrights.
James Elden's Playwright's Spotlight
Sweating the Joke, Surprising Your Audience, and Fighting For Your Convictions - Playwright's Spotlight with Paul Greenberg
This was an absolute treat and a dream come true. Paul Greenberg from the sketch comedy troop The Vacant Lot honored me with ninety minutes of his time to come and talk shop. We discuss his pathway to success while performing onstage and then being cancelled in Canada as well as auditioning for SNL. We touch on what makes a good idea, how something always has to go wrong, and how a sketch must have a good ending. We also talk about the structure of sketch, the Canadien Dream, the history of Second City, doing your time and learning from the greats and how L.A. gets it wrong in the world of improv and sketch. Paul is chock full of knowledge and insight and shares his wisdom on how to be successful in the world of sketch comedy. I hope you have as much fun listening as I did recording this episode. Enjoy!
To view the video format of this episode, visit -
https://youtu.be/XSAXIIUHYs4
Links mentioned in this episode -
The Brill Building -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brill_Building
Rita MacNeil -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rita_MacNeil
Ryerson Polytechnic University -
https://www.torontomu.ca
The Groundlings -
https://groundlings.com
Second City -
https://www.secondcity.com
Nichols and May -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKL1tNv__kU
The Vacant Lot -
https://www.youtube.com/@thevacantlot137
Websites and socials for Paul Greenberg -
Hanging with Doctor Z -
www.hangingwithdoctorz.com
IG - @paulgreenberg1
@thesensationalrustysteele
Websites and socials for James Elden, PMP, and Playwright's Spotlight -
Punk Monkey Productions -
www.punkmonkeyproductions.com
PLAY Noir -
www.playnoir.com
PLAY Noir Anthology –
www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.html
James Elden -
Twitter - @jameseldensauer
IG - @alakardrake
FB - fb.com/jameseldensauer
Punk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir -
Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods
- @playnoirla
IG - @punkmonkeyprods
- @playnoir_la
FB - fb.com/playnoir
- fb.com/punkmonkeyproductions
Playwright's Spotlight -
Twitter - @wrightlightpod
IG - @playwrights_spotlight
Playwriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festival
www.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.html