Screening:
Each potential student undergoes a screening interview to make sure he or she
meets the criteria for participation in Stand Up For Mental Health. Participants
must
• Have a mental health illness or mental health issues
• Have stable housing
• A support system of both peers and professionals
• Be stable on any medication they are taking
• Have a reasonable command of written and spoken English
• Have the motivation and desire to create healthy change
• And above all else, have a desire to do stand up comedy.
Initial Three Month Course And Showcases
Classes:
Classes take place once a week on Tuesday afternoons from 1-4 p.m. Students learn how to write, perform, structure and edit a comedy act of between 3-6 minutes.
Coaching:
Each student receives one-to-one coaching with the instructor as needed.
Materials:
Each student receives the Stand-Up Comedy Clinic workbook and CDs. This workbook is adapted from the Stand-Up Comedy Clinic course David Granirer has taught at Langara College for the past nine years.
Warm Up Shows:
After approximately three months of classes, the students do their first shows. We choose venues where we know the audience will be super supportive.
SMH is proud to work with Ella Amir, Diana Verrall and the Team at AMI-Quebec. AMI-Quebec, Action on Mental Illness is "a grassroots organization committed to helping families manage the effects of mental illness through support, education, guidance and advocacy".
AMI-Quebec's strong presence in the Community made them a natural partner for SMH as we inaugurate or very first SMH Montreal Program. These community roots are helping Stand Up For Mental Health give a powerful and empowered comedic voice to our AMI-Quebec students.
We are excited to be performing at the Montreal Fringe Festival on Sunday June 13, 2010. Montreal is embracing SMH and we love it back.
