What makes a good clown can make a better actor—and what makes a good actor can make a

better clown.

Come play with the tools that make comedy work.

We’ll put timing, progression, dynamics, status, and physical storytelling center stage, along with

a playful glossary of techniques and sayings gathered over decades of studying, performing,

directing, and teaching acting and physical theatre.

The goal is not simply to understand why something is funny, but to discover how to make it

happen—and happen again. We’ll work with a shared vocabulary for recognizing, creating,

sharpening, and repeating comedy onstage.

Come play. Come discover what your silly self already knows about being funny.

The series will culminate in a showing of the work.

Bio

Over several decades, Sheriden has acted under Actor’s Equity Contracts in the nation’s regional

theatres. Starting in the 70’s, playing ingénues for the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis to

Boston’s Moonbox Productions, garnering a Boston Critics Award for Kimberly in Kimberly

Akimbo.

Recently, in film, she played two Grandmas. One in Tiffany Paulson’s About Fate and another in

Eric Aronson’s Any Day Now. (Now available on Prime)

Sheriden has directed and taught acting at Cornell and Southern Methodist Universities.

Since arriving in Boston, she directed plays and readings for Another Country, Queer Soup

Productions, and Boston Playwrights' Theatre.

As Senior Lecturer Emerita, at Tufts University, she taught a variety of acting courses including

Advanced Acting Lab, Shakespeare, Mask, and Physical Comedy. She directed a dozen plays,

concluding with an edited video of Jeffrey Hatcher’s delightfully, silly adaptation of The

Government Inspector.

Sheriden has directed for the Shakespeare Festival of Dallas, Mother Jones in

Chicago, Company Theatre in Los Angeles, WOW Cafe in New York City and The Beauty

Queen of Leeanne for Theatre Uncorked here in Boston.

Her study and love of clown and foolishness remain an ongoing part of her everyday life.

DATES: Mondays Jan 11 – March 1, 2027

Times:

CHECK-IN: 5:45 PM

START: 6:00 PM

END: 9:00 PM

COST: $400/$450/$500

CAPACITY: #18

Age Limit: This workshop is 16+

Refund Policy: No refunds within 7 days of the workshop.

ADA Accessibility: The Rockwell is partially ADA Accessible with an elevator and restrooms in saloon wide enough for wheelchair use.