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Testimonials about Beth & Greg's teaching at
The Un-Cab Lab Comedy Writing & Performance Workshop
"I've taken the class 4 times and it literally changed my life!" - Ray Barnhart (performs at The Un-Cab Lab Show)
"The world would be calmer and funnier if everyone took the class... again (and again and again!)" - Scott King
"YOU HAVE HELPED ME SOOOOOOOOOO MUCH. I am much happier with my writing now. Your talk last week was like going to graduate school for authors. Seriously cleared SOOOOO much up for me and gave me confidence. I'm so excited. You're incredible." - Chayah M
"It's truly amazing to have Greg assisting me on my screenplay. He cuts right to heart of an issue, such as whether a scene is realistic, whether I'm squeezing all the friction and drama out that's available to me as a writer, and his criticism is always tempered with suggestions for improvements. I can't imagine rewriting without Greg a phone call away to advise me." - Dominique D
"Terrific! You are my great discoveries thus far
in 2008! And that's no horse shit." - Trino
"Greg is the most creative brainstormer, attentive editor, savvy listener, insightful dramaturge, supportive producer, inspiring cheerleader and effective publicist I've ever worked with." - Beth Lapides
"Thanks for some bad-ass consulting! It was great!" - Steven Memel, Voice Coach
"What fun! I feel like a completely different comedian with a whole new way of communicating in front of me!" - Richard Lucas, Comedian
"Thank you for an amazing experience. I've gotten so much out of the lab. you both are wonderful teachers. Thanks!" - Patty B, writer
"I've found the ability to spend more time living life and reflecting on it!" - Ray Schiel, Actor
"The time I spent with you and Greg was enormously helpful...I have since MC'd three big charity events, and trusted that I was entertaining enough if I just kept to my truth, and they all were huge successes...I think that is what the sessions taught me the most..to trust my own voice. Meanwhile, a parenting magazine from Canada, contacted me to write four humorous columns a year on parenting, and because of you, I SAID YES... I say yes to things that come my way now, instead of saying no because of fear. So thank you thank you!" - Andrea Martin, "SCTV", etc.
"Did your screenplay sell in 2006? Did it even get started? If you answered "no" to both these questions, then maybe you need The Un-Cab Lab. Alt-comedy swami Beth Lapides leads a writing and performance workshop to teach her proven techniques to wannabe creative types who want to develop something, so that they can experience artistic rejection like everybody else in this town!" - LA WEEKLY, "Hoopla Pick of the Week"
"I had an amazing experience! I really appreciate what you guys do at the Uncab lab...it felt very healthy and inspiring." - Mealnie Reno, Comedian
" I got a not guilty verdict in my murder case and my
closing argument had something to do with it I'm sure. I've never done a closing so strong and according
to the judge, 'eloquent' (can you imagine?). I owe
much of it to your classes because you've taught me to
get up there and "communicate." - Murray Meyer, Criminal Attorney
"Uncab Lab REALLY helped me with my book tour. And you can quote that!" - Melissa Clark, author of "Swimming Upstream Slowly"
"You had such great notes and such amazingly sharp insight. Thank you for being fabulous, insightful, supportive, brilliant. You two are always in my gratitude meditation." - Sarah Taylor, Actress/Comedian
"Since I've been taking this class I've been writing a ton of material and getting back to why I started doing standup!" - Johnny Walker, comedian
"i just want to say THANK YOU so very much to you both. i had the best best time the last few weeks in the un cab lab. first it was terrifying, and so incredibly challenging, and something i had never done before and SO SO SO good for me to leave my comfort zone, to hear my words outloud, to hear my voice! You and beth taught me so much in such a short time and i can't say thank you enough. You guys gave me faith in myself and what I'm doing, something i think i lost in the midst of nannying and assisting and worrying about the apocalypse.
[My boss] saw my writing was noticeably different and better in the last month. maybe even i've been different and better too. THANKS AGAIN!" - Jen, writer's assistant
"Beth Lapides zeros in like a laser beam on story and the person telling it. She is ultimately concerned with your authenic voice and does much to cultivate it. Everyone one in class improved like gangbusters. Low on snob facor, high on support - a seriously funny group!" - A Karno
"Better than therapy! I had such a great time!" - Brooke, Grade School Teacher
"I wanted you to know how great my last trial went. I've become so much better on my feet. I'm more confident than ever, more in control, able to express my thoughts clearly - important features when you're arguing for your client in front of a criminal jury. And I attribute it to the classes I've been taking with you! Thank you." - Murray Meyer, criminal defense attorney
"I loved the workshop this weekend. The Un-Cab Lab gave me so much food for thought and surgically removed a good dose of my personal obstacles to performance, writing, and the crux of it all, storytelling.
The next day I went to The Moth and signed up for the SLAM. It was absolutely terrifying and wonderful. They picked me 2nd!!! I got a respectable score, especially considering that the judges had not even begun drinking. My goal is to get past the terror and not overcompensate with adrenaline. And by the way - Tak [from class] did a great job and won the slam! He was much looser and seemed more comfortable in his skin.
Good luck with your truly spiritual work. Thank you for being on the same planet as me. - love, gabrielle/The House of St. Eve
"Thank you, thank you! When I signed up for your workshop, my expectations were relatively modest: I just figured it would probably be a life-changing experience that would help me find my long-strangled voice at last and free me from a paralyzing creative block that's made life barely worth living. Little did I know we'd also get bottles of water! [water not guaranteed - ed.]
Beth, Greg, you are extraordinarily gifted teachers who patiently helped each of us get to our truth and bring it out as performance. I'm so grateful for your insights, your critiques, your valuable guidance, and (perhaps especially) your kindness and encouragement towards someone who (as you correctly intuited) was scared shitless.
Watching the other people in the workshop find such splendid narratives within themselves in the space of only two days was amazing for me. I hope you get a rush out of it too, and that it never gets old." - xo, jo (ed: we do - and it doesn't!)
"Thank you for an incredibly insightful and provocative comedy workshop... it was a joyous, uplifting and educational experience...and tremendous fun, too! Your doublefold (and individual) uncanny uncab unmatchable ability to transform material from cold stone to warm mango was ingenious!" - Cheers, Randee Mia, writer/performer
"This is my favorite therapy ever!" - Jana, Sculptor
"Uncab Lab cleared my writing style. Thank god I learned the art of sharpening an idea thru this class. Gave me the clarity and motivation to finish writing my one man show 'Life's Short, But I'm Not'!" - Todd Sterling Brown
"I loved the work you and Beth did with the group. Really terrific. Dead on. Helpful. Supportive. So much more..." - Tom Jermain, yoga teacher
"I submitted one of my uncab lab pieces to Freshyarn.com. And they accepted it! My first ever thing that I submitted. I am quite excited, and I just wanted to thank you for all your support and encouragement." - Traci Mann, College Math Teacher
"Thank you for the amazing seminar last Sunday! It was extremely informative and inspiring. It was much more than I expected. I can't stress enough how outstanding it was. It took everything I learned in Uncab Lab (2003) and wrapped it up in a neat little package. Thank you. And thank you for the list of venues and for the forum access." - Julie Ness
"I had such a wonderful time in class today. I think I have finally found a class that will bring out what has been hiding!" - Kirsten
"This is my dojo!" - Brian Egan, writer "The Bernie Mac Show"
"I was totally impressed by you guys, and the blend of honesty and support you offered. Also, you pushed me (and everyone) in a smart direction, toward deeper authenticity and emotion. I really do feel the work broke through to a deeper, painful-funny place. And who doesn't like painful-funny? I didn't expect to be so intimidated by the glaring solo mic at first, so it was good to get over that, too. There aren't that many places in Hollywood that really make sense to me - except of course for Crazy Girls - but UnCab Lab is totally one of them. So thanks again! Oh yeah, now my girlfriend wants to take the Uncab Lab too. You're contagious!!" - George Melrod, Art Critic
"You guys are the greatest! I feel like I've learned so much as a performer over the past several months with you two. Thank you." - Tim Coyne, podcaster, "thehollywoodpodcast.com"
"You are the reason that I put up my one-person show - and it was a great success. If it weren't for your class, I wouldn't have found that thing that I wanted to write about - you helped me focus, organize and get my act together to do something for myself. Thinking back on our class, it was really amazing to see where everyone started and where they ended up. Everybody grew and everybody got better. Thank you so much for being excellent teachers and always knowing how to critique in a positive way! I'm still plugging away, but I'll tell you - putting up that show and getting out there really made a difference. So, thank you again.!" - Rachel
"I love this workshop.. Incredibly helpful. It's like a truth serum!" - Hyla Matthews, comedian/actress
"You really got my mojo going" - Sam
"I just want to let you know how much self-confidence and inspiration I've received from you and the class. I feel so much more focused, confident and empowered than I have in a long time. Thanks!" - John
"The comments and observations Greg and Beth have given regarding my performance and the content have been uncanny. Beth's comment in the first class about "life lived in the cracks" took me by surprise, as it's something someone who had known me for a while might've articulated, but I hadn't expected to hear first time out in a workshop setting." - Anthony
"I came in for panties and left with a ball-gown!" - Megan
"Just wanted to say "thanks" as I've had a couple pitch meetings recently and you were right, the uncab has helped so much with my pitches. I will see you at another class soon!" - Jason Kordelos, writer, Mad-TV
"THANK YOU for the great notes and the opportunity to take the class on Sunday. The "Rock" show went smashingly, THANKS TO YOU TWO. Every single note y'all gave turned out to be spot-on. It was almost spooky. Seriously, I am truly grateful to have found you guys, and I look so forward to continuing to learn from your sage teachings!!" - Christy Stratton, writer "King of the Hill"
"I love this class!" - Tracey
"What a learning experience this has been!" - Eddie
"Liberating! I just wanted to thank you for such a great class. You both gave such great advice and it was fun and interesting and really swell and groovy and all that jazz. It is the only performance or writing class I've experienced where the teachers actually were intensely focused on the students' work versus prattling on about their own achievments (considering how accomplished you both are yet gave someone like me your your full attention and respect). I will definitely spread the word. Thanks again!" - Audrey
I want to thank you for your workshop in NYC. I already have made use of what you said to me about mvt, my anger,... and changed around my whiney story into something much more alive - I used it in an audition and it felt great.Ê I am much more in tune with what I already knew but resisted.Ê Thanks and hope to see you soon." -Judith [2 days after taking the Lab]
"I won tonight's MOTH Slam! This was my third time on stage. Also I have been to many MOTH slams but tonight... the audience loved my act and had a collective ' You nailed it! ' applause. One editor seems interested in publishing my story." - Tak Gems
"I'm much looser and more real at work." - Laurel Lippert, PhD, "Survivor"
"I started taking the uncabaret workshops just for the joy of being in a group of people and talking about funny stuff. I started graduate school soon after, and I have found that uncabaret also contributes to my successful presentations. Uncabaret taches us to be comfortable speaking in front of others and it teaches us to make more effective use of the spoken word. Greg and Beth are trustworthy, bright, funny, and objective. I can't imagine there would ever be a time when I wouldn't gain something amazing from an uncab session." - Marcie Rich, Writer/Librarian
"Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the last four weeks with all of you in the Lab. Well worth the drive from San Diego!" - Mike
"Your class is so wonderful. What I admire the most is how you're able to extract the positive and give to each person a creative, non-negative way to proceed. I've been on the giving end of is for many years as a producer and story editor and I realize how absolutely difficult it is, and how the two of you use your sensitivity and positive energy to bring out the best in each person!" - Treva
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MORE ABOUT THE UN-CAB LAB writing and performance workshop.
REGISTER NOW
Call 323-993-3305 or e-mail us any questions.
If you're an alumni of the Lab, we'd love to hear your comments about how the workshop has specifically helped you in your work and/or life.
BETHLAPIDES.COM is the homepage for Beth, creatrix of the Un-Cabaret, alternative comedy guru and leader of the Lab.
UNCABARET.COM is the home page for Un-Cabaret, "the mother-show of alternative comedy" (LA Times).
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