LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD BELLY LAUGHS; STUDENT COMEDIANS EXCITED ABOUT SHOW.

Byline: Kevin F. Sherry Daily News Staff Writer

The kids in Colina Middle School's Comedy Club credit Peggy Albrecht with developing their coming show - helping them with their stage skills and, well, putting up with them.

``She's like a big kid,'' said student Evan Hess.

The club members - all sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders - are scheduled to perform their second annual show next week. In June, the group will perform its first engagement at the Civic Arts Plaza's Forum Theatre.

The young performers think there's one good reason for the community to come to the show.

``It's just so hilarious,'' student performer Mark Cowart said.

Albrecht, a parent and longtime actor and writer, started the Comedy Club last year after she realized the middle school had no outlet for drama.

``There are a whole lot of kids out there who aren't into sports,'' Albrecht said. ``It's truly based on every experience I've had in television.''

The Comedy Club features song parodies, acting, skits and improvisational comedy, using the talents of 33 performers and 10 crew members.

During the two-hour show, an ``I Love Lucy'' sketch becomes a live rerun, and two real-life friends play fictional pals who argue over gossip. A song parody features a two-headed girl singing a duet of Sonny and Cher's ``I Got You Babe.''

Cowart was in a musical showcase at Westlake Elementary last year, but the current show has much more original material, he said.

``It was not nearly as creative as this one,'' he explained.

The club is made up of a wide range of personality types, said Margaret Callahan, Colina's assistant principal.

``She has a real breadth of kids,'' Callahan said. ``I would not have pegged maybe a third of them to be confident enough.''

Austin Brannan said that the experience of being on stage gives people more confidence.

``I think I've become a lot more open,'' he said.

Introverts and extroverts alike take the stage, and their hard work shows, Callahan said.

``Comedy is something that develops over time,'' she said.

For example, students had to learn how to improvise to fill the dead air when someone misses a cue.

``You're not going to find something like this at many middle schools,'' Callahan said.

The Colina Comedy Club '98 is scheduled to perform at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Colina Middle School, 1500 E. Hillcrest Drive. The troupe also will perform 7 p.m. June 18 at the Forum Theater at the Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd.

For ticket information, call [phone].

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3 Photos

PHOTO (1--Color in Conejo Edition only) Cynthia Ward rehearses a skit in which she plays a cheerleader as Steven Augustyn listens for his cue at Colina Middle School in T.O.

(2--Color in Conejo Edition only) Club members Nick Salyers, Aubrey Elson, Archana Jairam, Whitney Kirk, Brittany Raffill, and Taylor Anderson rehearse a musical skit.

(3--Color in Conejo Edition only) Daniel Adams, center, tells a joke during a rehearsal for a show that several Colina Middle School students will put on next week.

Michael Owen Baker/Daily News