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.

Curb Alert: Potential Rehearsal Space

Phillyist reports that abandoned South Street storefronts are serving a short term life as creative incubators:

“Arts groups will pay utilities but no rent for two months, with a month-to-month renewal option”

It sounds like Julia Zagar and Bill Curry have come up with an idea that gives an immediate hand to artists while leaving potential for increasing value and interest in otherwise shuttered spaces.

(Photo courtesy Flickr user)

From Around the Blogs

With TV Land gearing up for season 5 of Lost tonight, the Animosity Pierre video featured at CvA yesterday is gaining some traction; it’s now featured over at Phillyist as well.

Matt at Improvoker recounts a note from Amy Poehler that I want to have framed for my wall.

More on Asaf Ronen’s east coast tour… Alexis Simpson talks about applying techniques from his workshop last week at PHIT’s Unofficial Blog

Local comedian Gregg Gethard offers up painful dating woes for our amusement at Comic vs Audience

From Around the Blogs

PHILLYIST has named it’s nominees for favorite post of the year, and appearing on the list is Don Montrey’s interview with sketch duo MEG & ROB

COMIC VS AUDIENCE has a great in-depth interview with comedian TODD GLASS

Can’t get enough of the $10.99 special at JONES’ BIGASS TRUCK RENTAL & STORAGE over at FUNNY OR DIE

BOSTON COMEDY has the scoop on the filming of the new STELLA DVD. The fellas will be rolling tape when they appear at the Wilbur as part of their current tour

The twittering crazed folks over at THE APIARY lay out their top 7 TV/Radio personalities making tweets of their own.

Click This: Interviews with Sketchfest Producers

As we mentioned earlier, we’re super stoked for this weekend when sketch comedy takes center stage at the Philly Sketchfest. In the excitement leading up to the event, we’re seeing a lot of talk about the state of comedy in the city, the scene and what we can look forward to not only this weekend, but beyond. Here are a couple of must reads for the sketchophiles out there:

Comic Vs. Audience interview with Dave Terruso & Matt Lally

Phillyist interview with Dave Terruso

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.