Comedians to teach comedy writing Sept. 15

Comedians Chris Champagne and Mike Strecker will talk about comedy writing and how to write effective humor at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15, at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon, Metairie. This event occurs as part of the regularly scheduled meeting of the South Louisiana Chapter of Romance Writers of America. It is free of charge and is open to the public.

During the presentation, Champagne and Strecker will talk about the following.

·         Voice

·         How to use comedy with conflict

·         How to be humorous in a meaningful way that promotes the plot

·         The rule of three

·         Misdirection

·         Using funny anecdotes and stories

Chris Champagne is a graduate of the Orleans Parish School System and of the University of New Orleans where he earned a BA in History. He is a writer, performer, poet, comedian, political satirist, radio show host and columnist who has performed on stages throughout the Greater New Orleans area.

He was voted one of 144 New Orleans Characters in 2012 and also was voted best comedian in New Orleans in 2013 and 2014. He was a member of National Poetry Slam teams in San Francisco in 1993 and Chicago in 1999. He received artist residencies from the Alliance of Artists in 2006 and The College of Santa Fe in 2008. Champagne is the author of the poetry book Roach Opera, and The Yat Dictionary, a book on the dialect spoken by many native Orleanians. He is also the author ofSecret New Orleans, published in 2017.

Mike Strecker has performed at comedy clubs throughout the United States, including The Improv in Los Angeles, HA! Comedy Club in New York, and the House of Blues in New Orleans, where he was billed as one of the top acts of the New Orleans Comedy Festival. He has won numerous comedy contests. He is a regular performer with Heffron Talent, Ken-Ran Entertainment, Summit Comedy, Running Funny, and other booking agencies throughout the country. Going to the grocery store, buying a car, or trying to make a relationship work provide the basis for Strecker’s humor.

Strecker is the author of Jokes for Crescent City Kids which includes more than 600 jokes as well as advice for kids about delivery of punch lines. It also includes a “Who Dat” glossary of local terms and their pronunciations.

For more information regarding this presentation, contact Chris Smith, Manager of Adult Programming for the library, at 504-889-8143 or wcsmith@jefferson.lib.la.us.

Louisiana Book News is written by award-winning author Chere Dastugue Coen, who writes Louisiana romances and mysteries under the pen name of Cherie Claire. Her first book in each series is FREE to download as an ebook, including "Emilie," book one of The Cajun Series, "Ticket to Paradise," book one of The Cajun Embassy series and "A Ghost of a Chance," the first Viola Valentine mystery.