Rich Talarico Workshops, Nov 2026

Rich Talarico is a Peabody® Award-winning writer/producer with four Emmy® and four WGA Award nominations, best known for his work on Key & Peele. Rich was responsible for K&P fave Substitute Teacher, (“…Ay-ay-Ron?”) which in 2024 was added to The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum Of American History. Rich wrote dozens of K&P faves: Racist Zombies, Karim and Jahar, Hatz, Teaching Center, Obama Greets, I Pressed It Already, Mr. Mahina, Killing An African Warlord, When The Cameraman Thinks You’re Gay, Black Ice, and co-wrote many more.

Other TV credits include: MADtv, The Tonight Show w. Jay Leno, Saturday Night Live, and the critically-acclaimed, Review. An alum of Chicago’s Second City and Improv Olympic, Rich also provided punch-up work on Mean Girls and Get Out. As an improviser, Rich teaches, coaches and performs with long-form group Dasariski, Rich played in the early casts of Chicago’s The Armando Diaz Show and co-created the shows, Close Quarters, Strap Heads and Trio.

As an actor, Rich appeared on screen on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, MADtv, the feature film High Fidelity, and in A&W Root Beer’s classic TV ad, “Mr. Dumass.” Talarico’s extensive experience in the comedy industry has made him a sought-after teacher, writer and consultant.

Currently, Rich is performing stand-up comedy around the US. He recently headlined the Uptown Theater, Utica NY, The Waco Civic, Waco TX, Oops All Headliners show in Austin, TX, headlined at the Frog Rock Brewery in Austell, GA and performed featured sets at Nashville’s famed Bowery Vault and Scruffy City Hall in Knoxville, TN. This fall Rich performed at Dick’s Last Resort in Panama City Beach, FL and opened for Kevin Nealon at Kellar’s Magic and Comedy Bar, Erie, PA.

More at richtalarico.com

“Rich Talarico is one of the all time great Caucasian Improvisers.”
— Tina Fey

“Rich’s work on “Key & Peele” is nothing short of legendary.”
— Jordan Peele

“As a teacher, Rich Talarico brings Lakers legendary coach Phil Jackson to mind. A cerebral educator who brings out the best in people.”
— Keith “Lucky” Lehrer original drummer of “Circle Jerks”

“Rich is an absolute virtuoso in his understanding of his approach and how to deliver it in a classroom setting. A rare combination of both mastery in practice and in lesson delivery.”
— Eric Pederson, Student – Improv Cincinnati

“ I seriously don’t think I’ve had the chance to absorb that much good content in a small amount of time ever… even in college!”
— Jessica Christopher, Writing Student

“Rich knows how to write sketches — that much is obvious. But it was clear that he loves helping people get better too. Don’t wait to find a better sketch class. It might not come along.”
— Tim Marks, The KC Improv Company

WORKSHOPS

Saturday, November 21st – SKETCH

#1 JOKES, JOKE STRUCTURE, WRITING SHORT BITS
11am-2pm, $75
Rich shares insights and techniques from his years in comedy and late night TV (SNL, MADtv, Key & Peele, The Tonight Show) and from having co-written five resident company shows for Second City in Chicago. Students will learn essentials: how to write jokes, how to identify and use comedic devices, and develop ideas. Class will learn how to write basic comedy staples as well as brainstorming & pitching technique and a variety of scene types. Also good for students writing stand-up comedy.

#2 CHARACTER PIECES + MORE
3-6pm, $75
Rich shares insights and techniques from his years in comedy and late night TV (SNL, MADtv, Key & Peele, The Tonight Show) and from having co-written five resident company shows for Second City in Chicago. Students will learn how to develop original characters, story structure and how to come up with endings for character pieces. If time allows, Rich will share a couple of other scene types in this session.

Sunday, November 22nd – IMPROV

#3 LONG FORM IMPROV – GETTING OUT OF YOUR HEAD
9am-12pm, $75
Improvisers, have you ever said of your improv performance, “I was in my head up there?” W hen an improviser says, “I was in my head,” what they are really saying is that they were in their LEFT brain on stage. We practice improv in our LEFT brain and we ideally perform in our RIGHT. Kenny Werner, the Jazz piano giant says that the worst question a jazz piano player can ask themselves in performance is: “Am I cookin’?” This three hour session will teach performers how to thrive in their RIGHT brains, through LEFT brain exercises. Join Rich Talarico, alumnus of Chicago’s The Second City and Improv Olympic, as he leads this workshop that will help players find an organic flow.

#4 IMPROV – INITIATIONS & GIFTING
5-8pm, $75
Students will learn how to start scenes, use object work, and emphasize discovery over intention. Giving and using gifts allow players to build characters while focusing on relationships (over situations) and to dig further into characters and story. Join Rich Talarico, alumnus of Chicago’s The Second City and Improv Olympic, as he leads this workshop that will leave you with many tools to instantly create organic characters and worlds.