Acting help: how can I be better at comedy?

One of the keys is that each character takes him/herself very seriously. In other words, they act as if what they are doing is normal. Watch some of the greats (Keaton, Chaplin) for great physical comedy.

Focus is the key in comedy, when your saying something funny give it A LOT of personality and make it over the top also stay in character.

Hmm...comedy was something I struggled with for a long time, and still do. Try practicing keeping a straight face with jokes you tell your friends. Not breaking character is a very key point in comedy, as with all acting, so deadpan, deadpan, deadpan. Also, toss in little things to spice up the character. For example, when I played the Wizard in The Wizard of Oz (for the record, my only transgender role ever--I was 11), I threw in several nervous tics such as an upper lip twitch--those got big laughs. When you're working with good material, focus on highlighting that--and when the material is lousy, rely on your own personal flair. Hope to costar with you in a few decades!

Since you have more experience playing straight roles, why don't you try being the "straight man" in a comedic show to start? One trick I've found to help with playing a comedic role is to find out what the character really wants and to take that to heart as seriously as any dramatic role. The character has to be believable before they can get a laugh. Often times a comedic character is not walking around making funny expressions, but making serious expressions funny by exaggerating them a little in the right way.