FREE comedy class for the LGBTQ+ community being offered by Caleb Theodore Sherman, of Empire Comedy Club, in partnership with the Equality Community Center.
Duration: 5 Weeks (1 hour per week) + Showcase
Final Outcome: Public Showcase — Each participant performs their first 5-minute standup set
Cost: Free
Target Participants: Beginners are encouraged! LGBTQ+ community members
This class is designed as a welcoming, supportive space for queer people to explore their comedic curiosity, build confidence, and experiment with their voices.
This 5-week workshop introduces participants to the fundamentals of standup comedy writing and performance, guiding them step-by-step toward a polished first 5-minute set. Participants will learn how to generate material, structure jokes, edit efficiently, develop stage presence, and prepare for a live audience. The course culminates in a graduation showcase where each participant performs their completed 5 minute set.
Classes will be held on the following Tuesdays from 6-7pm at the Equality Community Center, located at 15 Casco Street in Portland. (March 24, March 31, April 7, April 14, April 21)
The graduation showcase will be held on Thursday, April 23 at 7pm. Location TBD.
Week 1 - Introduction to Standup Comedy & First Jokes
Week 2- Joke Mechanics, Editing & Expansion
Week 3 - Delivery, Timing & Stage Presence
Week 4 - Set Structure, Polish & Show Preparation
Week 5 - Dress Rehearsal & Mental Preparation for Performance
From the Instructor
My name is Caleb Theodore Sherman. I’m the Front-of-House Manager at Empire Comedy Club in Portland, Maine, where I regularly feature for nationally touring comedians and perform on local shows. I am also the host and producer of Gender Blender, Maine’s only all-queer comedy showcase. I’ve been making audiences laugh since 2018, and I went to my first open mic in 2016.
Stand-up comedy has taught me that when you allow yourself to tell the harder truths about who you are - your contradictions, insecurities, desires, and joys—you quickly discover you’re in very good company. So much of our private, internal experience is far more relatable to everyone than we realize. So much of what we assume is isolating turns out to be deeply, universally human.
Bringing your unique perspective to the craft of making a crowd laugh involves a commitment to being true to yourself which the LGBTQIA+ community has modeled for generations. In a socio-political moment that can make us feel divided or unseen, laughter becomes a powerful reminder of our shared humanity: a balm, a release, and a way back to joy.
This class is designed as a welcoming, supportive space for queer people to explore their comedic curiosity, build confidence, and experiment with their voices. My hope is to help amplify and introduce more queer voices into Portland’s already vibrant comedy scene.
You are funny. All your experiences, with the right tools and encouragement, can create audible joy in a room.
