Laughter goes to college

By JOHN ANASTASI
Bucks County Courier Times

In more ways than one, Morrisville’s Bill McLaughlin has improvised his entire life. “I don’t know what’s around the next corner, but this is something I’ve been in love with for a long time,” he said of improvisation comedy. McLaughlin has turned his talent and training in the art of improvisation into a collection of jobs — including teacher, corporate entertainer, sketch comedian and actor — that constitute a career in laughter.

“I know I can’t survive in a regular workaday world,” said McLaughlin, who is starting his seventh semester as Bucks County Community College’s improvisation comedy teacher.

McLaughlin, 54, who grew up in Bensalem and attended Archbishop Ryan High School in Philadelphia, realized early on that he liked being on stage and making people laugh.

“I did the standard musicals, but I thought they were boring,” he said.

He preferred variety shows that allowed him the freedom to rapidly change characters and situations. He took some theater classes at Bucks County Community College and moved to Chicago in the late 1970s. After his sister took him to his first improv show, he said he was hooked.

McLaughlin landed an audition and became one of the founding members of a comedy troupe called Chicago City Limits. He also studied under improv legend Del Close in workshops held at Second City, where Bill Murray, John Belushi and a number of other “Saturday Night Live” cast members got started.

He said he enjoyed the exhilarating feeling of being part of a team that made comedy without a net.

“You need the ability to take a risk; you have to be fearless,” he said. “The minute you feel self-conscious, 90 percent of your intelligence is gone. You can’t be selfish, because when you are, you’re not listening. Your goal is to feed your partner and make them look good. You can’t worry about yourself.”

He spent most of the 1980s and 1990s performing in New York City and touring with various groups. He also started McLaughlin Creative Services, through which he provides comedy for corporate events like sales conferences, product launches and even teambuilding seminars. He has also done a few commercials and some voiceover work.

While in New York City, he met his wife, Luanne, who is a clown, an actress and a stilt-walker. When their daughter Madeline reached middle school age in 2004, the family relocated to Bucks County.

McLaughlin said he has really enjoyed teaching his craft at BCCC. He also runs the school’s improvisation comedy show at the end of each semester. All of his students take part.

“It’s a blast because you get to watch people get it,” he said, referring to the moment a lesson clicks with a student.

September 11, 2007 8:24 AM