Program leadership

Bernie Furshpan has been teaching basic comedy writing and has written about the premise of humor in his book, A Joke is a Formula - Do the Math.  He is the lead instructor at The NY Hysterical Society School of Comedy and has now incorporated it into the virtual classroom on MetropolitanZoom.  He has been a Comedy producer, Comedy TV Pilot Executive Producer, writer, emcee and performer at many comedy shows.  He has presented and produced over 6,000 productions with professional entertainers and comedians since 2004.  He owned and operated Metropolitan Room in NYC (In association with Gotham Comedy Club).

Lois Beekman-Oliveira is a Promoter and Administrator at our Comedy Classes for Kids.  Lois has co-developed Parenting & Child Safety Programs, trained facilitators, and presented on media and at Education & Law Enforcement Conferences. A marketing professional and a former trustee of Barnard College Columbia U., The 92nd St NYC & Tampa Performing Arts Center, she received a Special Award from the ABA for her work to end Family Violence. Former Board Chair of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence & Child HELP Partnership, she is a kid at heart and loves to laugh!