Stage Fright happy hour fundraiser tonight

This evening from 5-7, join the cast of STAGE FRIGHT as they raise funds towards their improvised homage to Hitchcock.

The event will be hosted at Chris’ Jazz Cafe – bartender and Stage Fright cast member ROB CUTLER will be joined behind the bar by fellow castmate ALLI SOOWAL. They’ll be serving up delicious concoctions, including vertigo martinis!

There will be discounted advanced tickets available, and a raffle that includes all kinds of fun prizes. So come on out!

STAGE FRIGHT HAPPY HOUR FUNDRAISER
THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 5-7PM
CHRIS’ JAZZ CAFE, 1421 SANSOM ST

Tonight: Face Time w/ Chip Chantry at Helium

Showing himself to once again be a man befitting many a venue, Philly comedian CHIP CHANTRY debuts his newest monthly show FACE TIME tonight at HELIUM COMEDY CLUB.

In what he’s billed as a “slightly skewed late-night format comedy variety show,” Chantry will feature local and national comedians presenting standup, sketch, video, music and anything else that might delight audiences.

In the premier show tonight, Chantry and his co-host / house band AMIR GOLLAN will welcome local standup fave AARON HERTZOG, TV’s MIKE VECCHIONE and what may well threaten to be the final swan song of beloved sketch duo MEG & ROB.

Do yourself a favor and check out this show now, so you can say you were a fan before it was cool (ETA: tomorrow morning).

FACE TIME w/ CHIP CHANTRY
TUESDAY, MARCH 15 @ 8PM
HELIUM COMEDY CLUB | 2031 SANSOM ST
TICKETS: JUST $5

Shhh… Tell no one

What PhilaGuerilla?

What show?

Back In Action

There are no ifs ands or buts, I’ve completely neglected this blog since summer. Well now it’s time to get back to it…

Last chance for new PHIT sketch classes

Last week we told you about some of the great improv class offerings the PHILLY IMPROV THEATER has starting up this month. Well another exciting PHIT venture we’re seeing recently is the rise of sketch writing classes. Whether you’re looking to pen your comedy genius for the stage or the screen, the fine folks at PHIT have you covered with some serious teaching talent:

LEVEL 1: INTRO TO SKETCH WRITING w/ PAUL TRIGGIANI

This is the place to start if you have never written sketch comedy before, or have dabbled in the past. Over eight weeks, students will watch and discuss a variety of sketches, learn about different sketch formats, and write and workshop their own material. The focus in Level 1 is on developing each student’s individual voice and comic sensibility. The class will conclude with established comedians performing a staged reading of students’ favorite sketches.

Dates: Sundays, May 10, 2009 thru July 5, 2009 (No class Memorial day weekend)
Time: 6-9pm

Location: The Painted Bride Art Center, 230 Vine Street, Philly, PA 19106
Instructor: Paul Triggiani
Cost: $150

Register online

–

WRITING FOR TV w/ DAVID WARICK

For students who feel they have a solid understanding of how to work in the short writing medium represented by sketch but would like to expand their comedic ideas, Writing for TV will challenge you to create and sustain ideas over a longer period of time. The end product for this class will be an actual spec script for a 30-minute television sitcom.

Dates: Sundays, May 10, 2009 thru July 5, 2009 (no class Memorial Day weekend)
Time: 7-9pm

Location: The Painted Bride Art Center, 230 Vine Street, Philly, PA 19106
Instructor: David Warick
Cost: $150

Register online

Both classes start this weekend, so if you’re looking to get on board, you better act quickly!

Tonight: Paint the town in your Whipsuit

Autobots vs Decepticons. Superman vs Bizarro Superman. Joe vs Cobra. Inigo vs the six-fingered Count Rugen. All historical childsplay when Rick Horner and Cubby Altobelli take the stage as Whipsuit.

While every show is different… another battle of wits, tongues and physical mayhem surely lies lurking around each new corner. Come out and risk the danger, energy and discovery with them.

NEARLY TO SCALE

WHIPSUIT – UPSTAIRS @ O’NEALS
611 S THIRD ST
FRIDAY, MARCH 20TH
DOORS OPEN @ 8:15PM | $5

Web Roundup

- You can listen online to the album How To Speak Hip, by Del Close & John Brent (via Die Actor Die)

- Tucked inconspicuously in a preview for Kim “Howard” Johnson’s new book, The Funniest One in the Room: The Lives and Legends of Del Close, the Chicago Reader has a 15 minute video chronicling Del Close’s final birthday party in the hospital before his passing (via Improvclown)

- Word is spreading on Philly’s improv scene and the work PHIT is doing with raising awareness of the local comedy scene (via the Apiary)

- Check this Radar interview with Will Arnett (via Die Actor Die)

- Only six days left to submit for Snubfest (via the Bastion)

- I’m obsessed with this video of the folks over at Connected Ventures (Collegehumor, Busted Tees, Vimeo…) doing a massive lip dub to Flagpole Sitta (via ThursdayJava)

- How do you open up Mariah Carey to a very different audience? Put Jack McBrayer in your music video of course (via the Coming)

Video: Superfriends meets Mallrats

A fun little mashup of Mallrats dialogue over clips from the Superfriends. It gets really awesome around :46 seconds.

NOTE: It’s dialogue from Mallrats, so language is indeed NSFW! 

from www.themovieblog.com posted with vodpod

The Incubator Turns 2 – Join the Celebration

This Sunday the Improv Incubator turns two years old. And they’re going to be partying down the old school way – at the Fakehouse where it all started!

For those of you who aren’t familiar, the Improv Incubator is a ongoing collaborative project created two years ago. Improvisers and those interested in learning about improv gather weekly to play around and try out different improv exercises in a safe and supportive environment. According to creator Rick Horner, “If you have never incubated before, this is the week to come!” The only audience you’ll see are the other participants, so come ready to explore and discover your playful side and cheer on others.

Sunday evening will be a night of playing, potluck and partying. So bring your favorite dish, a party hat and get ready for some fun.

Incubator Second Anniversary
The Fakehouse – 3868 Lancaster Avenue
Sunday, March 16th @ 7pm

Improvs on the Internets

Some improv and comedy related highlights from around the web:

- Check out this video of Kent Haines & Aaron Hertzog performing a sketch for Bedtime Stories‘ “Way Down in the Hole: A Comedy Tribute to ‘The Wire’ [Comic Vs. Audience]

-  A new read for your bedside table – The Funniest One in the Room: The Lives and Legends of Del Close was penned by oft Python biographer and co-author of Truth In Comedy, Kim “Howard” Johnson

- 16 Agents from Improv Everywhere staged a Food Court Musical at a mall in LA

-  Local comedian Don Montrey liveblogs his afternoon latte at La Colombe [Phillyist]

- Sketch comedy fans will not want to miss The Terrordome on April 18th at the M Room, featuring Animosity Pierre, Meg & Rob, Secret Pants, The Sixth Borough and Rowan & Hastings

- CHTV has a new short featuring an eulogy for an Internet commenter [BWE]

- Both Kevin Thom and Tom Hurley have some amazing photos of improvisers playing at DSIF8 a couple weeks ago.