writing & acting Fellowships

Killing My Lobster’s New Voices in Comedy Fellowships is a program designed to amplify diverse comedic voices to represent our Bay Area communities. If you identify as a BIPOC or LGBTQIA+ artist who has an interest in honing their comedy skills, we want to hear from you!

KML’s Sketch Comedy Writing Fellowship

Applications for 2026 are now closed.

We expect to re-open applications in Spring 2027.

Please read ALL the sections below carefully before applying.

  • Recipients of KML’s New Voices In Comedy Fellowship will receive the following:

    • A complete course of Sketch Writing 1 (7 Weeks)

    • A complete course of Sketch Writing 2 (7 Weeks)

    • Placement on a show writing team once training is complete

    Both classes include individual feedback from experienced KML writers/teachers, and culminate in class readings open to invited guests. Writing 2 includes workshopping sketches with professional KML actors.

    The recipient will then be placed on a show writing team (show to be determined by Artistic Director) and have the full KML show writing experience. Being on a show team includes collaborating with actors and other writers, writing to the theme of a show, executing necessary rewrites, a ticket to see the show, as well as payment for their writing.

    IMPORTANT: SHOW PROCESS UPDATE

    Killing My Lobster is currently on a hiatus from offering longer-form productions. Currently we offer Sketch on Speed shows (sketch shows that are written and performed in a single day). There are currently 6 Sketch on Speed offerings per year.

    • Fellows who complete their training before we are able to resume our longer-form productions will be eligible for a paid writing position on a Sketch on Speed show.

    • There will be opportunities for additional practice and training ahead of show placement.

    • If your preference is to be placed on a longer-form production, you may wish to wait for an application period after we’ve re-expanded our programming; however, we cannot guarantee a timeline on when that will happen.

    Classes and writers’ meetings will take place at KML headquarters at 2101 Folsom St in San Francisco, unless they need to be conducted online due to COVID-19, in which case they will be held via Zoom. Applicants should have access to a device on which they can participate in a Zoom based class.

    • KML’s New Voices In Comedy Fellowship is open to BIPOC writers and LGBTQIA+ writers in the Bay Area 21 years or older interested in sketch comedy writing.

    • Though Killing My Lobster is located in San Francisco, applicants need not live in the city, but must be able to provide their own transportation to our writing and rehearsal space at 2101 Folsom St in San Francisco -- a 7 minute walk from the 16th St. BART station. 

    • Classes and writers meetings tend to take place at 7-10pm on weeknights, although occasionally they are held in the daytime on weekends.

    • The Writing Fellowship is open only to writers who have not already taken KML's writing classes.

    • Even if classes and production are conducted via Zoom/remotely, fellows should still be Bay Area residents, as the goal of this program is to invest in our local communities.

    • “New Voices” in reference to these fellowships means anyone who is early-career when it comes to writing sketch comedy and does not pertain to the actual age of any applicant — all ages over 21 are eligible and you will not expected to divulge your age at any time.

    • This also means if you’re an experienced writer in areas other than sketch comedy, you may still apply!

    • By applying to our Fellowship program, applicants agree to adhere to all COVID policies and procedures. Find our COVID policies HERE. We reserve the right to change these policies at any time.

  • During the application window, interested applicants Should submit:

    • Cover letter stating why you would like this fellowship, and what you hope to get from it. Please include your full name, email address, and phone number.

    • A writing and/or comedy resume (Applicants who do not have fancy, lengthy, impressive resumes will still be considered. We’re interested in what you can do, more than what you have done. Just send what you have.)

    • A comedic writing sample. It can be as simple as a page of jokes. It can be a sketch. It can be a short play. Whatever it is, it should be no more than 3 pages, and should be sent as a PDF. *If you have applied in the past, please send a different writing sample to reapply.

    • The entire packet should be sent with the subject line “Writing Fellowship, Your Name” to submissions@killingmylobster.com 

    • Candidates will be contacted within 2 weeks of the application window closing. All candidates will be informed of whether or not they are finalists.

    • Finalists will be scheduled for an interview with the Artistic Director and the Co-Director of Writing Education & Fellowship Advocate.

    • All finalists will be notified either way if they’ve received the Fellowship.

    • Recipients will be notified by Artistic Director, who will then confirm the recipients' upcoming class schedule. 

KML’s Sketch Comedy Acting Fellowship**

our acting fellowship is currently on haitus. Sign up to the newsletter below for updates!

Please read ALL the sections below carefully before applying.

  • Recipients of the Diversity in Comedy Acting Fellowship will receive the following:

    A complete course of Sketch Acting 1 (7 Weeks)

    A complete course of Sketch Acting 2 (7 Weeks)

    Placement on a show acting team

    Both classes include individual feedback from experienced KML actors/instructors, and culminate in class performances open to the public.

    Once training is complete, the recipient will then be placed on a show acting team (production to be determined by Artistic Director) and have the full KML show acting experience, including being a part of the collaborative writers meeting process, throwing out ideas, creating original characters, as well as payment for the process.

    Classes and rehearsals will take place at KML headquarters at 2101 Folsom St in San Francisco.

    • KML’s Diversity in Comedy Fellowship is open to actors of color and LGBTQIA+ performers in the Bay Area 21 years or older, interested in sketch comedy performance.

    • Though Killing My Lobster is located in San Francisco, applicants need not live in the city, but must be able to reliably provide their own transportation to our rehearsal space at 2101 Folsom St in San Francisco -- a 7 minute walk from the 16th St. BART station.

    • Classes and rehearsals often take place on weeknights, although occasionally may take place on weekends during the day.

    • The Acting Fellowship is open only to actors who have not already taken KML's writing classes.

  • Interested Applicants Should Submit:

    • Cover letter stating why you would like this fellowship, and what you hope to get from it. Please include your full name, email address, and phone number.

    • An acting and/or comedy resume (Applicants who do not have fancy, lengthy, impressive resumes will still be considered. We’re interested in what you can do, more than what you have done. Just send what you have.)

    • A headshot. If you do not have professional headshots, please send a photo of just you with your face clearly visible.

    • The entire packet should be sent with the subject line “Acting Fellowship, Your Name” to submissions@killingmylobster.com

    Candidates will be scheduled to audition for the Artistic Director & invited KML directors on a date TBD. Finalists will be contacted within two weeks of the audition by Artistic Director for a final interview, after which, applicants will be notified either way whether they are awarded the Fellowship. Recipients will then be contacted to coordinate their class schedule.

    By applying to our Fellowship program, applicants agree to adhere to all COVID policies and procedures. Find our COVID policies HERE. We reserve the right to change these policies at any time.