Comedian Profile: Mary Carpenter

Editors Note: In celebration of The 2010 ComedySportz World Championship, this week we’ll be profiling comedians from the local ComedySportz roster…

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MARY CARPENTER

Might have seen her in: ComedySportz Philly (going on 18 years), Dangerous Fools, 24 Hour Improv Marathon

Hangs her hat in: Mt Airy, PA

Stomping Grounds: Villanova, PA

Pays the Bills: Theatre Jack of all trades

Projects: Writing, producing & performing original one-woman show “the New & Improved Stages of Grief” for 2010 Philadelphia Fringe Festival

Other Hobbies: Writing, knitting, crosswords, pretending to be a mother

Why Improv?

Never boring, You’re never done, and it still curls my toes

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If you know someone who you think should be profiled, we’d love to hear about them.

Comedy for the Weekend Warrior: Early Edition

Thursday

7:00pm – CSz World Championship: UK vs Philly & Milwaukee vs Portland | World Cafe Live

8:30pm – Laff Away Thursdays | Laff House

9:30pm – CSz World Championship: Indianapolis vs Austin & New York vs LA | World Cafe Live

10:00pm – King Friday + Boys Don’t Cry | Studio 34

Friday

7:00pm – CSz World Championship: Chicago vs Philly & Houston vs New York | World Cafe Live

7:00pm – Accidental Circus w/ Whipsuit | O’Neals Irish Pub

8:00pm – Sebastian Maniscalco | Helium

8:00pm – N Crowd | The Actor’s Center

8:30pm – Hamburger | Laff House

9:00pm – Accidental Circus w/ Whipsuit | O’Neals Irish Pub

9:30pm – CSz World Championship: Provo vs San Antonio & All Star East vs West | World Cafe Live

10:00pm – Sebastian Maniscalco | Helium

10:45pm – Hamburger | Laff House

Saturday

7:00pm – CSz World Championship: Buffalo vs Minneapolis & DC vs San Jose | World Cafe Live

8:00pm – Sebastian Maniscalco | Helium

8:00pm – Hamburger | Laff House

9:30pm – CSz World Championship: Championship Match – World Cafe Live

10:00pm – Sebastian Maniscalco | Helium

10:00pm – Hamburger | Laff House

11:55pm – Hamburger | Laff House

Sunday

7:00pm – Philly’s Phunniest | Helium

7:00pm – Improv Incubator | Community Education Center

Comedian Profile: Jason Stockdale

Editors Note: In celebration of The 2010 ComedySportz World Championship, this week we’ll be profiling comedians from the local ComedySportz roster.

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JASON STOCKDALE

Might have seen him in: ComedySportz, The Ones Your Moms Warned You About

Hangs his hat in: Chestnut Hill

Stomping Grounds: Neptune, NJ

Pays the Bills: Hotel Reservations Manager/Baseball Stadium Hot Dog Launcher and Birthday Greeter/All Around Swell Guy

Projects: Director of Ladies And Gentlemen, fresh off of Rodgers And Hammerstein Are Dead.

Other Hobbies: No time, must keep working and improvising! (Actually, I enjoy comic books, video games and bouncing erratically around between different kinds of music – currently ensconced in nerdcore).

Why Improv?

Would you ask a bee “why honey”? Or a kangaroo “why pouches”? (digress)

Actually my love of improv extends from my love of theatre – the love of watching something happening in front of you, alive, energetic – something that moves and bounces. Something that will never be the same again – even if its a scripted work, the experience changes from night to night, due to the fact that the viewers change from night to night. Improv just moves that to a more dangerous and exciting level – it won’t ever be the same not only from the audience perspective, but from the performers perspective as well. Improv is made of moments, as is life. I also like performing improv because I get to simultaneously hide and be exposed.

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If you know someone who you think should be profiled, we’d love to hear about them.

Comedian Profile: Julia Frey

Editors Note: In celebration of The 2010 ComedySportz World Championship, this week we’ll be profiling comedians from the local ComedySportz roster…

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JULIA FREY

Might have seen her in: ComedySportz Philly, ComedySportz NY, Mastodon Mattingly (NY)

Hangs her hat in: splits time between Center City and Brooklyn

Stomping Grounds: Philadelphia, PA

Pays the Bills: Actor, but I pay the bills by making martinis and lattes

Other Hobbies: Crosswords and yoga

Why Improv?

I love creating art as part of an ensemble.

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If you know someone who you think should be profiled, we’d love to hear about them.

Comedian Profile: David Dritsas

Editors Note: In celebration of The 2010 ComedySportz World Championship, this week we’ll be profiling comedians from the local ComedySportz roster…

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DAVID DRITSAS

Might have seen him in: ComedySportz, Second City, Bad Hair Sketch

Hangs his hat in: Bella Vista

Stomping Grounds: Cheltenham, PA

Pays the Bills: Semi-professional comic actor / Director of Online Development for the 24/7 Comedy Network

Projects: Currently, I am working with a startup comedy entertainment company (24/7 Comedy Network), which is launching nationally distributed comedy radio stations and a web site similar to “Funny or Die,” etc. I’ve got a top-secret improv project in the works, as well. Stay tuned.

Other Hobbies: SCUBA, graphic design, sitting my a** on a beach

Why Improv?

Improv was an avenue into performing arts for me. I didn’t take the traditional route of a theater degree. I took evening classes in acting and improv and eventually auditioned for ComedySportz. I was lucky enough to get in and it was a major training ground for me—still is. I love improv but it isn’t everything for me. I’ve done a lot of sketch comedy, been lucky enough to be hired by Second City, worked on comedic plays and I plan to do more.

With my new job I hope to be producing some new original material (video-based). While I can’t say that this material will be improv per se, improv is always a tool I have in my pocket and without it I don’t think I would be the same performer I am today. It has also allowed me to make connections that have led me to work full-time in the comedy world. Gotta love that!

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If you know someone who you think should be profiled, we’d love to hear about them.

CSz announces lineup for World Championship

More news today from the 2010 COMEDYSPORTZ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP… they’ve announced the lineup of teams that will be throwing down in just over two weeks, and it looks to be a colossal run of match ups.

First up for our Philadelphia Fightin’ Amish is a revolutionary rematch, with the birthplace of American freedom taking on invading players from the UK. Then the following night, our friends stand toe-to-toe against Chicago… a rockstar team overflowing with talent the likes of Rene Duquesnoy, Tamara Nolte and Rance Rizzutto, amongst others.

But of course loyal fans know that while the competitive spirit is part and parcel to every show, the real winner is the audience – who gets to enjoy a bunch of improvisers doing what they do best – having fun. So regardless of which match you make it out to, or who you cheer for… it’s going to be a lot of fun. Passes are available for one show, a full night or the whole Championship:

Thursday, July 15th

7:00PM
United Kingdom vs. Philly
Milwaukee vs. Portland

9:30PM
Indianapolis vs. Austin
New York vs. Los Angeles

Friday, July 16th

7:00PM
Chicago vs. Philly
Houston vs. New York

9:30PM
Provo vs. San Antonio
CSz All-Starz Match – East vs. West

Saturday, July 17th

7:00PM
Buffalo vs. Minneapolis
Washington DC vs. San Jose

9:30PM
CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH

2010 COMEDYSPORTZ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
WORLD CAFE LIVE | 3025 WALNUT STREET
JULY 15 – 17 | SHOWS @ 7:00PM & 9:30PM
TICKETS: $15 – $100

Armando Diaz featured instructor for CSz World Championship

In just over two weeks, twenty ComedySportz teams from around the globe will descend upon Philadelphia for the 2010 COMEDYSPORTZ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP. Philadelphia is a city built on firsts… It seems fitting that in the inaugural year of Philly hosting the Championship, they’re busting out with another big first – the first time renowned instructor ARMANDO DIAZ will teach here.

Regarded as one of the best improv teachers in the country (very few people have both long-running shows and formats named after them), Armando will bring two workshops to Philly on Saturday, July 17th:

WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA?

Great improv comedy is usually inspired by powerful ideas. When players find exciting concepts and truths to explore their scene work has higher stakes and is a lot more fun to watch. But where do we get these ideas? How do we use them? In this workshop we will learn to bring strong truths to our scenes. And we will learn to identify and explore the deeper concepts in the work which will always lead to funnier scenes.

Saturday July 17th, 10AM – 1PM
Location: Crowne Plaza Hotel – 1800 Market St.
Cost: $50 | REGISTER HERE

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BOOT CAMP

Beyond mastering the fundamentals of improv, sometimes your skills need a kick in the pants. In this workshop you will get some personal feedback on what you need to work on to make you a better improviser as well as getting a good work out.

Saturday July 17th, 2PM – 5PM
Location: Crowne Plaza Hotel – 1800 Market St.
Cost: $50 | REGISTER HERE

If you’re at all unfamiliar with his laundry list of credits and achievements, you can find about a bit more about Armando Diaz here.