The Sketch 22 series, a brainchild of Patrick Schmitz, is one example of a Milwaukee comedy phenomenon where only the tip of the iceberg appears to the audience. Sure, the paying public is the ultimate beneficiary of this show – an evening of spanking-new homegrown comedy sketches. But at its core, Sketch 22 is a bold project that builds creativity and community within Milwaukee’s comedy corps.
Here’s how it works:
- Friday night, exactly 22 hours before the performance, 10 groups of local writers get separate assignments for a situation and location for a comedy sketch.
- Saturday morning, each team delivers a finished script to one of 10 local directors.
- Each director works with a specified group of four local actors and actresses to learn, interpret and rehearse their sketch.
- Sketch 22 starts at 7 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 7, at 420 S. 1st St. Admission: $10. (Do the math. That’s $1 per sketch.)
From the comedians’ perspective, think of it as a final exam that’s part pop quiz, part take-home essay, part group project. And your entire grade relies on the response from a room full of strangers – some of whom are drinking.
(NOTE: To try to provide glimpses of the behind-the-scenes process, MilwaukeeComedy is embedding itself in one of the Sketch 22 writing teams. We’ll use Twitter and blog posts to document the development of one of the comedy sketches from suggestion through performance. Stay tuned.)