Comedy for the Weekend Warrior

Comedy this weekend is stuffed tighter than that turkey you devoured last week.

hurts so good

Let’s take a look…

Friday, Dec. 3

7:00PM – Toiling In Obscurity | The Dive, 947 E Passyunk

8:00PM – Activity Book in ‘Metal Men’ + Asteroid | PHIT/Shubin, 407 Bainbridge

8:00PM – The N Crowd | Actors Center, 257 N Third

8:00PM – Ted Alexandro | Helium, 2031 Sansom

8:30PM – Jay Barron | Laff House, 221 South St

9:30PM – King Friday + The Amie & Kristen Show | PHIT/Shubin, 407 Bainbridge

10:30PM – Ted Alexandro | Helium, 2031 Sansom

10:45PM – Jay Barron | Laff House, 221 South St

11:00PM – Sketch Up or Shut Up | PHIT/Shubin, 407 Bainbridge

 

Saturday, Dec. 4

7:30PM – Tongue & Groove | Underground @ Ron’s, 1012 E Southampton, Wyndmoor

7:30PM – ComedySportz | Adrienne Playground, 2030 Sansom

8:00PM – Activity Book in ‘Metal Men’ + Asteroid | PHIT/Shubin, 407 Bainbridge

8:00PM – Ted Alexandro | Helium, 2031 Sansom

8:00PM – Jay Barron | Laff House, 221 South St

9:00PM – Rosen & Milkshake + Amie & Kristen Show | Vesuvio, 736 S 8th

9:00PM – Rookie Card | Atomic City Comics, 640 South St

9:30PM – Camp Woods + Brick Penguin (DC) | PHIT/Shubin, 407 Bainbridge

10:00PM – ComedySportz | Adrienne Playground, 2030 Sansom

10:00PM – Jay Barron | Laff House, 221 South St

10:30PM – Ted Alexandro | Helium, 2031 Sansom

11:00PM – Improv Jam | PHIT/Shubin, 407 Bainbridge

11:55PM – Jay Barron | Laff House, 221 South St

 

Sunday, Dec. 5

6:00PM – Jason Grimley’s PHIT 101 Grad Show | PHIT/Shubin, 407 Bainbridge

7:00PM – Improv Incubator | CEC, 3500 Lancaster Ave

8:00PM – Comedy University feat. Women with Class | PHIT/Shubin, 407 Bainbridge

Comedy for the Weekend Warrior

Here’s a look at comedy happening in the city this weekend…

 

FRIDAY

8:00pm – Comedy Month: Very Special Ladies & Gentlemen Christmas Special | Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre, 2111 Sansom St

8:00pm – Whipsuit | O’Neals Pub, 611 S Third St

8:00pm – The N Crowd | Actors Center, 257 N Third St

8:00pm – Greg Fitzsimmons | Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St

8:30pm – Michael Shawn | Laff House, 221 South St

10:00pm – Comedy Month: ComedySportz presents Game, Set, MATCH GAME! | Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre, 2111 Sansom St

10:30pm – Greg Fitzsimmons | Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St

10:45pm – Michael Shawn | Laff House, 221 South St

 

SATURDAY

12:00pm – Comedy Month: Natl College Improv Tournament Eastern Preliminary 1 | Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre, 2111 Sansom St

2:00pm – Comedy Month: Natl College Improv Tournament Eastern Preliminary 2 | Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre, 2111 Sansom St

4:00pm – Comedy Month: Natl College Improv Tournament Eastern Preliminary 3 | Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre, 2111 Sansom St

6:00pm – Comedy Month: Natl College Improv Tournament Eastern Preliminary 4 | Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre, 2111 Sansom St

7:30pm – ComedySportz | Playground @ Adrienne, 2030 Sansom St

8:00pm – Rosen & Milkshake w/ Pro B | Vesuvio, 736 S Eighth St

8:00pm – Greg Fitzsimmons | Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St

8:00pm – Michael Shawn | Laff House, 221 South St

9:00pm – Comedy Month: Natl College Improv Tournament Eastern Regional Finals | Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre, 2111 Sansom St

10:00pm – ComedySportz | Playground @ Adrienne, 2030 Sansom St

10:00pm – Michael Shawn | Laff House, 221 South St

10:30pm – Greg Fitzsimmons | Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St

11:55pm – Michael Shawn | Laff House, 221 South St

 

SUNDAY

7:00pm – The Famous International Comedy Show | Q-Ba Lounge, 1176 N Third St

8:00pm – Comedy Hip-Nosis w/ Justin Tranz | Laff House, 221 South St

Last week of Comedy Month underway

Posts have been lacking the last few weeks, as I’ve been otherwise occupied deep in the hilarity of the Philadelphia Comedy Collective’s COMEDY MONTH. Both the PHILADELPHIA IMPROV FESTIVAL and the PHILLY SKETCHFEST enjoyed incredible acts playing to record audiences. Recaps of those weeks will be coming soon.

Last night kicked of the final week of Comedy Month, with selections from the PHILADELPHIA JOKE INITIATIVE entitled These Guys Are Good Vol 1. We saw the comedic illusions and body manipulations of flexible comedian JONATHAN BURNS. THOMAS CHOINACKY gave audiences a taste of his obsession with an excerpt from his show Thomas is Titanic. Finally, UN Ambassador and Nobel Laureate BUDDY FELCH dropped jaws with tales of his experiences with Ghandi, the Dalai Lama and other high profile figures. The evening was hosted by the incredibly funny CHRIS COTTON.

The fun continues next with These Guys Are Good Vol 2. In the hopper for tonight are videos and sketches from I’D RATHER BE HERE PRODUCTIONS, the musical comedy stylings of TODD CHAPPELLE, and variety show comedy from 2 DUDES & A DUDE (featuring former 6th Borough sketchers COREY COHEN & JASON MESSINA).

Here’s a look at the rest of PJI Week:

TUESDAY
8PM: THESE GUYS ARE GOOD VOL 2

WEDNESDAY
8PM: NED TALKS

THURSDAY
8PM: THE N CROWD GOES LONG
10PM: COMEDY GONE BAD

FRIDAY
8PM: PREVIEW – A VERY LADIES & GENTLEMEN CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
10PM: COMEDYSPORTZ PRESENTS GAME, SET, MATCH GAME!

SATURDAY
CIF’S NATIONAL COLLEGE IMPROV TOURNAMENT
12PM, 2PM, 4PM & 6PM: EASTERN REGIONAL PRELIMINARIES
9PM: EASTERN REGIONAL FINALS

All shows are held at the Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre, 2111 Sansom St in Center City Philadelphia.

Mixing sketch, stand-up, film, music, education, parody and a healthy dose of competition, this eclectic last week is the perfect topper to what has been an incredible Comedy Month. Come join us as PJI explores the bizarre and surreal corners of today’s comedy.

Tickets and additional information

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…

–

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

–

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.

–

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.

–

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…

–

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.

–

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…

–

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!

–

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

Comedian Profile: Kelly Vrooman

Editors Note: In this segment, we step away from the stage and take a look at comedians in the Philadelphia area… Learn a little more about where they come from, what they do while not performing and of course the question we all ask ourselves… Why do we do it?

–

KELLY VROOMAN

Might have seen her in: ComedySportz, Ladies & Gentlemen in Rodgers & Hammerstein Are Dead

Hangs her hat in: South Philly (Point Breeze)

Stomping Grounds: Mansfield, OH

Pays the Bills as: Actor. Yeah, that’s right mom, I’m doin’ it.

Other Hobbies: Painting, gardening, dancing, singing,  stopping my cat from scratching the furniture.

Why Improv?

An old boyfriend told me he didn’t think girls were funny.  I took that as a personal challenge.  Improv introduced me to some of the funniest women I know… and maybe I’m funny too.   Why improv?  Because girls are funny, because boys are funny and when we all work together to create something out of nothing, it’s genius.  My life has taken so many interesting detours because I’ve simply said, “Yes, and…”!

–

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

Comedian Profile: Kristin Finger

Editors Note: In this segment, we step away from the stage and take a look at comedians in the Philadelphia area… Learn a little more about where they come from, what they do while not performing and of course the question we all ask ourselves… Why do we do it?

–

KRISTIN FINGER

Might have seen her in: ComedySportz

Hangs her hat in: Willow Grove, PA

Stomping Grounds: Horsham, PA

Pays the Bills as: Graphic Artist, Hair Stylist & Student

Other Hobbies: color guard, watching crime drama, hanging with my cats

Why Improv?

Improv keeps me sane!!! I’ve always loved acting, but there’s an awful lot of memorizing… Improv makes me happy!

–

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