John J. Sweeney (professional speaker)
Encyclopedia
John Sweeney is an American keynote speaker, author
, and owner of the Brave New Workshop
Comedy Theatre in Minneapolis, Minnesota
.
. The is the longest running satirical
comedy theater in the United States. As executive producer of the Creative Outreach division, John and his team bridge improv
-based theatre skills and behaviors to business in the form of professional keynote speaking, experiential training, custom entertainment, message delivery, event consulting and cultural transformation programs. Sweeney has also partnered with training companies SkillSoft and MediaPartners to create video and online-based training
programs, titled Improvisational Leadership and Change and Innovation Through Brainstorming
Sweeney and the Brave New Workshop have written three books. A quote from Sweeney, taken from the book Innovation at the Speed of Laughter: 8 Secrets to World Class Idea Generation, appeared as cup quote #183 in Starbucks
"The Way I See It Program.". The quote read: "Improvisers don't look at change as an obstacle; we look at it as fuel. we know that the next great idea lies just on the other side of the change. We are constantly asking ourselves, 'What can I do to incite change?' Well?"
and spent his early years working on his family's dairy farm. He graduated Edgewood High School
in 1984 and then St. Norbert College
in De Pere, Wisconsin
in 1988. In 2005, Sweeney received the Distinguished Alumni Award in Business from the college.
Sweeney and his wife, Jenni Lilledahl, and family live in Deephaven, Minnesota
.
Sweeney, John (2005). The Art of the Laugh: A Handbook for Sketch Writers, Actors, and Directors. Aerialist Press. ISBN 0976218410.
Sweeney, John (2007). Return to Civility: A Speed of Laughter Project. Aerialist Press. ISBN 0976218429.
Sweeney, John (2007). Innovation at the Speed of Laughter: 8 Secrets to World-Class Idea Generation. (paperback) Aerialist Press. ISBN 0976218437.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, and owner of the Brave New Workshop
Brave New Workshop
The Brave New Workshop Comedy Theatre , located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has been writing, performing and producing live sketch comedy and improvisation performances for 50 years – longer than any other theatre in the nation...
Comedy Theatre in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
.
Career Life
In 1997, Sweeney and his wife, Jenni Lilledahl, along with Mark Bergren (who left in 1999) purchased the Brave New Workshop Comedy Theatre from founder Dudley RiggsDudley Riggs
Dudley Riggs is a noted improvisational comedian who created the Instant Theater Company in New York, which later moved to Minneapolis to become the Brave New Workshop comedy troupe. Riggs was born in Little Rock, Arkansas and joined the circus when he was five years old. His family performed...
. The is the longest running satirical
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
comedy theater in the United States. As executive producer of the Creative Outreach division, John and his team bridge improv
Improvisation
Improvisation is the practice of acting, singing, talking and reacting, of making and creating, in the moment and in response to the stimulus of one's immediate environment and inner feelings. This can result in the invention of new thought patterns, new practices, new structures or symbols, and/or...
-based theatre skills and behaviors to business in the form of professional keynote speaking, experiential training, custom entertainment, message delivery, event consulting and cultural transformation programs. Sweeney has also partnered with training companies SkillSoft and MediaPartners to create video and online-based training
Training
The term training refers to the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and competencies as a result of the teaching of vocational or practical skills and knowledge that relate to specific useful competencies. It forms the core of apprenticeships and provides the backbone of content at institutes of...
programs, titled Improvisational Leadership and Change and Innovation Through Brainstorming
Sweeney and the Brave New Workshop have written three books. A quote from Sweeney, taken from the book Innovation at the Speed of Laughter: 8 Secrets to World Class Idea Generation, appeared as cup quote #183 in Starbucks
Starbucks
Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
"The Way I See It Program.". The quote read: "Improvisers don't look at change as an obstacle; we look at it as fuel. we know that the next great idea lies just on the other side of the change. We are constantly asking ourselves, 'What can I do to incite change?' Well?"
Personal
Sweeney was born in Madison, WisconsinMadison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
and spent his early years working on his family's dairy farm. He graduated Edgewood High School
Edgewood High School of the Sacred Heart
Edgewood High School of the Sacred Heart is a Catholic high school located in Madison, Wisconsin. Edgewood has been sponsored since its inception by the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, WI...
in 1984 and then St. Norbert College
St. Norbert College
St. Norbert College is a private Catholic liberal arts college in De Pere, Wisconsin. Founded in October 1898 by Abbot Bernard Pennings, a Norbertine priest and educator, the school was named after Saint Norbert of Xanten. In 1952, the college became coeducational and today enrolls about 2,175...
in De Pere, Wisconsin
De Pere, Wisconsin
De Pere is a city located in Brown County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 20,559 at the 2000 census. De Pere is a suburb of Green Bay and is part of the Green Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Registered historic places:...
in 1988. In 2005, Sweeney received the Distinguished Alumni Award in Business from the college.
Sweeney and his wife, Jenni Lilledahl, and family live in Deephaven, Minnesota
Deephaven, Minnesota
Deephaven is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States, on the shores of Lake Minnetonka. It is 16 miles from Minneapolis. The population was 3,642 at the 2010 Census, down from 3,853 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
.
Books
Sweeney, John (2004). Innovation at the Speed of Laughter: 8 Secrets to World-Class Idea Generation. Aerialist Press. ISBN 0976218402.Sweeney, John (2005). The Art of the Laugh: A Handbook for Sketch Writers, Actors, and Directors. Aerialist Press. ISBN 0976218410.
Sweeney, John (2007). Return to Civility: A Speed of Laughter Project. Aerialist Press. ISBN 0976218429.
Sweeney, John (2007). Innovation at the Speed of Laughter: 8 Secrets to World-Class Idea Generation. (paperback) Aerialist Press. ISBN 0976218437.