News in Brief

Keeping you up to date on what’s going on in comedy

• The resignation of editor Brian Howard isn’t the only change over at CityPaper… RYAN CAREY of Critical Mass has started a new weekly look at Philadelphia’s comedy scene, LOL With It. And in his inaugural post, he chats with none other than CHIP CHANTRY.

• Some exciting news from CHRIS COTTON and the gang at CENTER CITY COMEDY. LLC papers have been filed and they’ve made it official. Congratulations!

• How appropriate it’s FF. Because if you haven’t discovered them yet, be sure to check out IT’S ALWAYS FUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA. A new local comedy blog that’s already got some great content. Oh, and check ‘em out on Facebook too.

• Last weekend, PJI debuted A VERY SPECIAL LADIES & GENTLEMEN CHRISTMAS SPECIAL. And special it was. I was there for all three shows, and they were fantastic. Phillyist agrees, calling the show “fresh, funny & unexpected.” Just three more chances to catch it this weekend before it closes.

• The schedule for NCCAF (North Carolina Comedy Arts Festival) has been posted. Seven Philadelphia improv groups have been slated to perform – Jessica Tandy, Rintersplit, Adrift, The Ones, N Crowd, Cubed & Rookie Card… as well as four sketch groups – Camp Woods, Bare Hug, Emily & Micah McGraw and Meg & Rob (with 2 shows!) and also stand up Aaron Hertzog. My apologies if I missed any locals while scanning the list.

• And across the country on the same weekend, more Philly comedians will be tearing it up at SFIT (Seattle Festival of Improv Theater). Making their SFIT debuts will be the Amie & Kristen Show as well as MattAnd.

Be sure to keep up to date on Philly comedy happenings by following us on Twitter and liking us on Facebook.

Tonight: Sketchfest Comedy Competition at Helium

ANIMOSITY PIERRE, the organizers of the PHILLY SKETCHFEST, host a sketch comedy competition tonight at Helium Comedy Club. Up and coming sketch groups each compete to earn a performance slot in PSF2010. On the bill for tonight:

Camp Woods
Young Folks Comedy
Bare Hug
Brendan and Aaron
Second Place Champions
Chris Jones (Schwarzkopf Entertainment)

Each group gets six minutes to wow the audience and the judges. The judges include Rob Baniewicz (of Meg & Rob), Alli Soowal (of Real Housewives & PHIF producer) and PSF producer Ben Maher.

Tickets are $12 (w/ two item minimum) and proceeds benefit PSF2010. Also, performers from last year’s Sketchfest get a half price discount.

PHILLY SKETCHFEST’S COMEDY COMPETITION
WED, SEPT 1 @ 8PM
HELIUM COMEDY CLUB | 2031 SANSOM ST
TICKETS: $12 | 21+

Camps Woods hosts PJI variety show this Saturday

In commemoration of the 1999 docking of Shuttle Discovery with the International Space Station, the PHILADELPHIA JOKE INITIATIVE presents 11 Years of Space Docking. The evening will feature a veritable laundry list of comedy acts, hosted by CAMP WOODS, who will be performing their new sketch show, Equus Rex.

In addition to Camp Woods, head on down to CONNIE’S RIC RAC Saturday night for improv from NYC’s CHESTER, sketches from SECRET PANTS & BARE HUG and standup from BRENDAN KENNEDY & DOOGIE HORNER.

PJI & CAMP WOODS PRESENT: 11 YEARS OF SPACE DOCKING
SATURDAY, MAY 29TH @ 8PM
CONNIE’S RIC RAC | 1132 S NINTH ST
$10 | BYOB w/ ID