Storytelling in Standup Comedy

If you’ve been doing standup for a while and find yourself drawn to longer-form material, personal narratives, or storytelling standup comedians, this is your workshop. We’ll look at how storytelling structure can make your standup sharper, funnier, and more memorable (without turning it into a TED talk).

Over four hours, we’ll cover:

• The difference between a story and an anecdote, and when to use each intentionally
• How to embed jokes within a narrative structure
• How to develop longer story-telling material (10-15 minutes or more) when you only have 5 minutes of stage time at a mic to work with
• Pacing and tension considerations
• Writing and workshopping a story-based bit in the room

Details:

• Experience required: Some standup experience (you’ve performed at open mics before or taken a class, like Standup 101, and have written at least 5 minutes of material)
• Location: Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Avenue, Durango CO 81301
• Date: Saturday, May 16, 2026
• Time: 1:00–5:00 PM
• Price: $65
• Class limit: 10 (2 scholarship slots available; email helloandrearossi@gmail.com directly)
• Instructor: Andrea Rossi