Classes on THE JOY OF IMPROV and on CLASSIC POLITICAL NOVELS taught by Bob Lamm.

 Bob Lamm--a member of the class of 1969 and a Visiting Lecturer at Yale in 1978 and 1980--will be offering two classes this fall and winter at the City University of New York Graduate Center (34th St. and 5th Ave.)

THE JOY OF IMPROV: Join in the fun of doing improvisational comedy in a relaxed, supportive atmosphere. No performing experience is necessary--just a willingness to experiment, play, and laugh with others! No student is forced to do an exercise or game, but everyone is encouraged to participate. (Four Thursday nights, September through December. You can attend on a single-session basis. This class ran at the Grad Center for 13 semesters from 2001 through 2007.)

CLASSIC POLITICAL NOVELS: We will read and discuss five political novels--among them, John Steinbeck's THE PEARL (which students must read for the first session), Chinua Achebe's THINGS FALL APART, and Carson McCullers' THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER. These works are "political" not because they examine politics or government but because they richly illuminate power relations--including dynamics of gender, race, and class--while telling memorable, moving stories. Students will be expected to read each novel and participate actively in class discussions. (Five Tuesday nights, September through January.)

INSTRUCTOR: Bob Lamm's political articles, personal essays, interviews, and profiles have appeared in more than 40 periodicals--among them, the New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and Ms. Magazine--and in six anthologies. He has taught "serious" classes at Yale, Queens College, and the New School. He has run improv classes and workshops for the CUNY Grad Center, the HOPE Program, the Jewish Theological Seminary, the NYSTEA Drama Power Conferences, Friends in Deed, the Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company, and many high schools.

Course dates, fees, and registration information can be found at   http://web.gc.cuny.edu/cepp/  or by calling (212) 817 8215. If you have questions, please feel free to contact Bob Lamm directly at  This email address is hidden from email harvesters via JavaScript   or (212) 874 3959.