SketchFest Seattle

SketchFest NYC is in TWO WEEKS!

2009-05-30T11:27:00.000-07:00

If you (heart) New York, AND you (heart) sketch, you'll (heart) SketchFest NYC!

Tickets are now on sale for the Fifth Anniversary of SketchFest NYC, which is only two weeks away:

Individual Tickets: $10

Nightly Passes: $40

Full Festival Passes: $100

Stand-by tickets for individual shows can be purchased by UCB students (with ID) for $5.

A Full SketchFest Pass allows you to see all the shows in the Festival throughout the weekend.

Nightly Festival Passes allow you to see all the SketchFest shows on a given night.

To purchase all tickets and passes online, head over to: http://newyork.ucbtheatre.com/sketchfest/

Questions? Call 212-366-9176

Applications and New Summer Workshop!

2009-05-17T14:58:00.000-07:00

Two exciting announcements:

1) SketchFest Seattle is offering a 5-week sketch writing workshop this summer, taught by the one-and-only Mike Mathieu of The Cody Rivers Show. This is an excellent chance to elevate your comedy-writing skills to the next level, or learn what it takes to get started, with one of the best sketch writers around. All levels are welcome. Do it! You know you want to...

See below for details on how to sign-up.

2) Applications are now available for the 2009 SketchFest Seattle Comedy Festival. We are once again searching the

globe to bring the best comedy to Seattle. This year's festival will be Sept. 21-26 at the illustrious Theatre Off Jackson.

Details below.

As always, check out www.sketchfest.org for the latest.

Love you all,

SketchFest Seattle

-------------------------

(1) 5-WEEK SUMMER

SKETCH COMEDY-WRITING WORKSHOP:

Seattle SketchShop

Sketch writer, director, and half of the internationally acclaimed duo The Cody Rivers Show, Mike Mathieu, will lead a five-week course in sketch comedy writing, culminating in an informal performance of new work.

With 4+ years and 150+ sketches of experience, Mathieu has learned a few lessons about comedy writing that elevate material above the formulaic norm.

In this workshop, participants will learn how to brainstorm, write, perform, and tweak a scene while anticipating an audience's needs.

Participants are invited (but not required) to bring any new or in-progress scripts for critique, and will be expected to attend every class, generate new ideas, rewrite, and have a good time.

Seattle SketchShop Details:

Classes will be on Tuesday nights, 6pm-9pm, from June
30th through July 28th, at The Seattle Center
The five-week session will culminate with an informal performance of participants' work on the final night of class
Workshop fee is $160 per participant (minimum of five participants, maximum of twelve). Payment is due to secure a spot in the workshop
If you are interested in participating in Seattle SketchShop please send an email to: info @ sketchfest.org

---------------------------------

(2) SKETCHFEST SEATTLE APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN

Applications are now available for the 2009 SketchFest Seattle Comedy Festival. The deadline is July 1, 2009. Go to www.sketchfest.org for more information and to download an application.

The SketchFest Seattle Comedy Festival is indeed a sketch-oriented comedy festival, but we are also open-minded, and we are seeking innovative comedy of all kinds from around the world. This year we will be accepting applications from any genre of comedy (sketch, improv, stand-up, theater, music) as long as it bears at least some resemblance to sketch (for example: traditional stand-up and improv shows are probably not appropriate, but a stand-up set based on characters and scenes or an experimental hyrbrid improv/sketch show might be). So, if what you got is at all sketch-y, bring it on!

Info: www.sketchfest.org

SpamORama: Pork-Filled Players, Burlesque, and Ubiquitous They!

2009-04-03T13:05:00.000-07:00

Asian American sketch comedians The Pork Filled Players add a dash of burlesque to a special prime time edition of Late Nite Spam-O-Rama, the monthly comedy/music cabaret!

A trio of Seattle burlesque legends - Emperor Fabulous, Atlanta Summer, and Whisper - join PFP and sketch comedy favorite, Ubiquitous They.

Spam*O*Rama

April 11, Saturday, at 8 pm

Theatre Off Jackson

409 7th Ave S. in Seattle's International District

Tickets are still $6 and are available at Brown Paper Tickets
( 1-800-838-3006).

For more information, email oink@porkfilled.com

SketchFest NYC - Application Deadline This Week!

2009-03-23T09:27:00.000-07:00

Hi Sketch Fans,

Just a reminder, ALL applications for SketchFest NYC's 5th Anniversary must be in-hand by the end of the day on Friday, March 27th! All groups or individuals, American or International, live or filmed sketch comedy shows are encouraged to apply:

Late Deadline: In hands by Friday, March 27th ($40 application fee)

Head over to www.SketchFestNYC.com, and download an application now!

Week of Fun!

2009-01-22T13:29:00.000-08:00

The third annual Week of Fun gets started tonight with:

Cracked Up
Featuring Stranger Gong Show winner Solomon Georgio! (Capitol Club, 414 E Pine St (206) 325-2149 8 pm, all ages, free)

Then continues tomorrow night with something are calling SKETCHBALL!
Featuring the sketch comedy duo “The Cory and Doug Show” followed by the “The Super Mega Art Show”.

(Live Girls Theater, 2220 NW Market, 9pm, all ages, $5)

AWARDS!

2009-01-13T11:18:00.000-08:00

The good folks over at CLOG! The Seattle Comedy Blog, recently hosted their first ever Seattle Comedy Awards. The nominees and winners are listed below. Congrats to all!

Best ongoing Alternative Comedy Show
Nominees:
Dart-Mondo (producer: Dartanion London), The Entertainment Show (producer: Travis Vogt & Kevin Clarke), Laff Hole (producer: People's Republic of Komedy)

Winner:
Laff Hole

Best onetime Alternative Comedy Show
Nominees:
Comedy Trainwreck (producer: Corbett Cummins), Rendezvous Election Show (producer: Paul Merrill), Sub Pop 20th Anniversary Comedy Show (producer: Sub Pop)

Winner:
Comedy Trainwreck

Best Host
Nominees:
Brian Boshes, Danielle Radford, Jackson Lowe

Winner:
Brian Boshes

Best "Old" Comic
Nominees:
Brad Upton, Heneghen, Kermet Apio

Winner:
Kermet Apio

Best "Young" Comic
Nominees:
Danniel Linn, Kitty Poole, Ryan Cuddihy

Winner:
Ryan Cuddihy

Outstanding Achievement: Overall Promotion
Nominees:
Next Monsters of Comedy, Pagliacci Pizza Monthly Comedy show, Ron Reid

Winner:
Pagliacci Pizza Monthly Comedy Show

Best "Long Format" Comic
Nominees:
Derek Sheen, Geoff Brousseau, Joey Vespaziani

Winner:
Derek Sheen

Best "Short Format" Comic
Nominees:
Jesse Case, Ross Parsons, Xung Lam

Winner:
Jesse Case

Best off-stage Announcer
Nominees:
Carl Warmenhoven, Chas Roberts, Kevin Hyder

Winner:
Carl Warmenhoven

Emerging Comic Award
Nominees:
Brett Hamil, Nicole Lucas, Solomon Georgio

Winner:
Solomon Georgio

Best Improv Comedy Group
Nominees:
Blood Squad, Dart-Mondo, Jet City Improv

Winner:
Blood Squad

Best Sketch Comedy Group (All 2008 SketchFest Seattle performers!!!!)
Nominees:
Charles, Travis and Kevin (Clarke the Vogt Productions), Ubiquitous They

Winner:
Travis and Kevin (The Entertainment Show/Clarke the Vogt Productions)

Outstanding Achievement: Flyer/Poster Design
Nominees:
Solomon Georgio, Alex Thomas, Ross Parsons

Winner:
Solomon Georgio

Best Musical Comedy Act (Solo or Group)
Nominees:
Becky Poole, Justin Rupple, Reggie Watts

Winner:
Reggie Watts

Best Comedy Writer
Nominees:
Emmett Montgomery, Jeremy Whitman, Paul Merrill

Winner:
Paul Merrill

Best Website
Nominees:
Billy Wayne Davis (billywaynedavis.com), “The Seattle Comedy Blog aka Clog!" (SeattleComedyBlog.com), Sean Ottey (seanottey.com)

Winner:
“The Seattle Comedy Blog aka Clog!" (SeattleComedyBlog.com)

Favorite Character
Nominees:
Sylvester McStain (Paul Merrill), Dan Moore, Jeannett DelMonte (Amanda Lee Williams)

Winner:
Jeanette DelMonte (Amanda Lee Williams)

Best Short Comedic Film
Nominees:
Everything’s Andy (Clarke the Vogt Productions), Manoj (Hari Kondabolu), T Rex Attorney at Law (Pastey Boy)

Winner:
Everything’s Andy

Favorite PBR
Nominees:
Billy Wayne's Living Room Adventure, PBR Party with Kevin and Travis, The Future with Dan Carroll

Winner:
The Future with Dan Carroll

Best Performance in a PBR or Dewars ad
Nominees:
Andy Peters in Everything's Andy, Billy Wayne Davis in Living Room Adventure
Dan Carroll in The Future, Kevin Clarke and Travis Vogt in PBR Party

Winner:
Andy Peters in Everything’s Andy

Male Standup Comedian of the Year
Nominees:
Andrew Sleighter, Billy Wayne Davis, Emmett Montgomery

Winner:
Billy Wayne Davis

Female Standup Comedian of the Year
Nominees:
Jessica Strauss, Lizzy Pilcher, Nicole Lucas

Winner:
Jessica Strauss

Tim and Eric, Japanese Clowns and More!

2009-01-10T14:31:00.000-08:00

Do you love sketch comedy, but hate knowing what the hell's going on? Well, this Monday, SketchFest Seattle and Showbox SoDo will be bringing you Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!, Adult Swim's surreal and abrasively funny late night sketch show on Cartoon Network.

Congratulations to all our winners of the Tim and Eric contest who won free tickets to the show just by emailing us! Great Job, indeed!

To recieve announcements about future events and contests, sign up for the SketchFest Seattle email list? I mean, come on, what's one more email list?

Monday January 12th

Showbox SoDo - 1700 1st Avenue South

Adult Swim Presents: TIM AND ERIC AWESOME SHOW, GREAT JOB! TOUR 2009

$25.00 ADV/DOS at Ticketmaster

Doors at 8pm - All Ages

For more information, visit www.showboxonline.com

And as long as we're celebrating weird, this February Sketchfest will be hosting Tokyo comedy duo Shoshinz!

Check out this absurdist comedy team, along side Seattle favorites Ubiquitous They and The People's Republic of Komedy.

SHOSHINZ

in "We Love You Too"

with Ubiquitous They and The People's Republic of Komedy

Fri. & Sat., Feb. 13 & 14 @ 8:00

Rendezvous’ Jewel Box Theatre ~ $12

2322 2nd Ave, in Seattle’s Belltown

But that's not quite all! February will also bring The Best of SketchFest Seattle, brought to you by SketchFest and Infinity Live Productions.

The past ten years of SketchFest Seattle have offered a plethora of fantastic sketch groups from Seattle and beyond. For one night only, SketchFest is thrilled to present some of the biggest hit shows from the past several years in one night, an evening of top-notch sketch juiciness not to be missed. Hosted by one of New York’s hottest up-and-coming stand-up comedians, David Cope (formerly of Seattle).

Sidecar (NYC): This New York sketch trio has it all: looks, smarts, charm, humility. What remains to be seen is whether they are actually funny. Oh no wait, they are. Like, 'good-looking, smarty-pants, charming and humble sketch show that weaves a bunch of crazy stories and characters together brilliantly' kind of funny. Sigh. They win again...

Becky and Noelle (NYC/Seattle): Becky Poole and Noelle Romano are crazy. They are also brilliant. This pattern has recurred in history many times, but never to such hilarious effect. If you can explain it with words I'll give you a dollar.

All American Push Up Party (Seattle): The demented and unspeakably charismatic Dusty Warren performs a character-based solo show that will leave you alternately slack-jawed and convulsive. Good luck.

The Best of SketchFest Seattle

One night only!

Saturday, Feb. 21 8:00pm ~ $15

Annex Theatre, 1100 E. Pike St. (at 11th Ave.)

For more information: www.infinityliveproductions.com

Advance tickets available through Brown Paper Tickets

Blogging is HARD!

2008-11-25T09:01:00.000-08:00

It's been two and a half months since SketchFest 2008 went dark, and man has it been quiet around here.

Well, we've managed to raise ourselves out of our comedy hangover long enough to let you know about some Decemberesque shows about to hit this sleepy burg.

JOEL McHALE
Sarcastic host of E!'s (Is that math? How the hell do you punctuate that?) The Soup, and alum of Seattle's Almost Live brings his stand up show Thanks for My Pool to the Moore Theater this weekend.

The Moore Theatre
Fri & Sat, November 28 - 29 @ 8pm

THE DINA MARTINA CHRISMAS SPECIAL

I plug this every year, and not without good reason. Dina's bizzar, frenzied one woman (?) cabaret is like a hot buttered rum on a cold winter night. And by that I mean it sounds really good, but by the time it comes, you're like "WTF is this?"

Nov. 28th - Dec. 31st.
At Re-bar, 1114 Howell St. (at Boren Ave.)
Door opens @ 7pm / Show starts @ 8pm

THE PAJAMA MEN

Are they sketch? Are they improv? Are they Theater? Who are you? How did get into my office? Help!

This comedy duo brings thier internationally acclaimed, high-energy and ... weird show Verses vs. Verses to the Annex Theater this December. A comedy must-see!

Thursdays - Saturdays, Dec. 4-20 8:00pm
Annex Theatre, 1100 E. Pike St. (at 11th Ave.)
$12 Thursdays, $18 Fridays & Saturdays
For more information: www.infinityliveproductions.com
Advance tickets available through Brown Paper Tickets.

Opening Gala and Video Contest Winners!

2008-09-25T01:12:00.000-07:00

The opening Gala couldn't have gone better!

The night hosted by People's Republic of Komedy's Kevin Hyder began with Hyder's unconsciously conscientious brand of stand-up, followed by short teasers of the festival's acts, including Slow Children Crossing's team of women scientists investigating the mystery of pickle-jar opening, Assaulted Fish's cultist youth group cookie drive, and a hat made of ham (courtesy of The Birthday Boys).

Next, the SketchFest 2008 Video contest had the audience rolling in the aisles. After a quick audience vote, we found our winners! See below for the top three video, or click here to view all the finalists!

The show closed with a set by SketchFest favorites The Cody Rivers Show.

Thanks to everyone - performers, volunteers, audience and staff who made this great night of comedy happen. But don't bail out yet - there's still a lot of fest to see!

The SketchFest 2008 Video Contest Winners:

HONORABLE MENTION (third place)

BEVOLICHER by TROOP!, Los Angeles, CA

SECOND PLACE WINNER

He Said it First by The Public Service Administration, Los Angeles, CA

GRAND PRIZE WINNER

HERPEX by BriTANick, New York, NY

SketchFest Seattle 2008!!!

2008-09-23T09:08:00.000-07:00

The opening gala on Wednesday, September 24th is almost sold out. Get those tickets now!

The 10th Annual SketchFest Seattle!

September 24-27

SketchFest Seattle is back once again to thrill audiences with the best comedy from Seattle and across North America with dozens of top-notch performances packed into one amazing weekend.
This year's SketchFest offers:

An opening night gala featuring The People's Republic of Komedy, The SketchFest Video Contest, and The Cody Rivers Show
Performances from 17 different groups from across North America
Special midnight shows (3pm Beijing Time, Found Magazine Live, and The Sketch Death Match)
The SketchFest Forum on Professional Comedy (free!)
An Incredible Shrinking Ticket price that allows you to see all the shows you want to on the cheap

For more information, visit: www.sketchfest.org.

Advanced tickets are available through Brown Paper Tickets, by phone: 800.838.3006, or online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/41747.
All shows are at the one-and-only Theatre Off Jackson, located at 409 7th Ave. South, in Seattle's International District.

In the Art Zone

2008-09-11T09:03:00.000-07:00

Tonight, the Seattle Channel's Art Zone, hosted by Almost Live! alumnus Nancy Guppy, will feature segments from SketchFest acts The Pork Filled Players, The People's Republic of Komedy and a few words from our Managing Director Val Bush.

If you aren't able to catch the show tonight at 8:00 on cable channel 21, the show repeat on Friday and Saturday, then will stream from their website.

And don't forget to pick up this month's issue of Seattle Metropolitan Magazine to read their interview with SketchFest Artistic Director Andrew Connor!

The Julie Goldman Offensive - $5 off!

2008-09-05T14:45:00.000-07:00

Friends of SketchFest invite you to see The Julie Goldman Offensive: A Solo Show in One Rant for a bargain price! See details below.

THE JULIE GOLDMAN OFFENSIVE:

A SOLO SHOW IN ONE RANT
September 11-14
Theatre Off-Jackson, 409 7th Ave S.

in Seattle's International District
8:00 pm Thursday-Saturday, 7:00pm Sunday
Thu $15.00 / Fri-Sun $20.00

4 NIGHTS ONLY! Tongueinchic Productions and Theatre Off-Jackson present New York comic dervish JULIE GOLDMAN. Described as a "kick ass comic" (New York Press) and "charmingly deviant" (Village Voice), Goldman is outrageous, fearless, righteous, uncensored, and openly Lez. She is a cast member of the "Big Gay Sketch Show" and the star of the "Julie Goldman Celesbian Interviews" on LOGO. She has also been featured on Comedy Central's "Live at Gotham" and she most recently received the 2008 NewNowNext: Brink of Fame Comic Award in NYC.

"Julie Goldman deals with the art of stand-up like she's got nothing to lose....she is very now and an absolute must see." ~ NY Press

SPECIAL SKETCHFEST DISCOUNT! Order your tix online, and get $5 off!

(Enter discount code BARBARELLA).
Tickets: www.brownpapertickets.com/event/40255 or 1-800-838-3006

For more info, contact www.theatreoffjackson.org or lisa@heylisa.com

Ad Watch: #Something-er-other

2008-09-04T21:41:00.000-07:00

Every so often we'll see a SketchFest alum, seemingly at random on the idiot box. They've hocked V8, Kias, Pepsi, and now, a potential coronary that Burger King is calling the Cheesy Bacon Tendercrisp.

Jay Dugre of L.A. comedy group and long-time SketchFest friends TROOP! follows up his much lauded appearance as "Dead Cop" in the recent horror film Prom Night, with this frequently-aired jem that temps you with that most appetite-whetting of topics: beastitality!

It's saucy in more ways than one!

Super-secret semi-possible comedy show (maybe)

2008-08-27T19:47:00.000-07:00

Word is going around that some of the stand-up acts attending Bumbershoot this weekend will be doing a pre-festival show at Ballard's Live Girls! Theater as a part of The People's Republic of Komedy's Lo-Ball series, but (due to the same non-compete clause in their contract that's almost lost SketchFest acts the last few years), they're not allowed to advertise it.

But they're doing it anyway!

Click here to check out the Bumbershoot line-up and pray that your favorites are among those who show up!

Lo-Ball
Friday, August 29th
Live Girls! Theater
2220 NW Market st. (lower level)
Doors at 10:30 p.m.
$5 cover.

SketchFest Video Contest - Five Days to Enter!!

2008-08-25T09:01:00.000-07:00

Time is running short for submission to the 2008 SketchFest Video Contest! You now have only until this Saturday, August 30th to send us your hilarious video sketches! Selected videos will go on to premiere in front of a live SketchFest audience, and two finalists will win cash prizes as voted by the audience itself!

So fire up your camera, open your copy of Flash, download Machinima - anything goes!

Click here for more information on guidelines and how to enter.

Good luck!

The SketchFest 2008 Line-Up

2008-08-22T16:54:00.000-07:00

This is our 10th Festival, people, and do we have a schedule for you! Seventeen groups from seven cities, the 2008 SketchFest Video Contest, the Sketch Comedy Death Match, nationally-renowned acts FOUND Magazine and The Sound of Young America, and our biggest local showing in years thanks to our new mentoring program! This promised to be a big year.

The Groups:

All American Push Up Party (Seattle, WA)
Thursday Sept. 25th @ 9:00 & Friday Sept. 26th @ 10:30

Angel Yau (Los Angeles, CA)

Thursday Sept. 25th @ 7:30 & Saturday Sept. 27th @ 9:00

Assaulted Fish (Vancouver, BC)

Thursday Sept. 25th @ Midnight, as part of 3pm Beijing Time

The Birthday Boys (Los Angeles, CA)

Friday Sept. 26th @ 9:00 & Saturday Sept. 27th @ 6:00

Charles (Seattle, WA)
Thursday Sept. 25th @ 7:30 & Saturday Sept. 27th @ 9:00

The Cody Rivers Show (Bellingham, WA)

Wednesday Sept. 24th @ 7:30 as part of the Opening Night Gala

The Cory and Doug Show (Seattle, WA)

Friday Sept. 26th @ 7:30 & Saturday Sept. 27th @ 10:30

The Entertainment Show (Seattle, WA)
Thursday Sept. 25th @ 7:30 & Saturday Sept. 27th @ 9:00

Found Magazine (Ann Arbor, MI)

Friday Sept. 26th @ Midnight

Hey You Millionaires (Chicago, IL)

Friday Sept. 26th @ 7:30 & Saturday Sept. 27th @ 10:30

The People's Republic of Komedy (Seattle, WA)
Thursday Sept. 25th @ 10:30 & Saturday Sept. 27th @ 7:30

The Pork Filled Players (Seattle, WA)

Thursday Sept. 25th @ Midnight, as part of 3pm Beijing Time

Sidecar (New York, NY)

Thursday Sept. 25th @ 10:30 & Saturday Sept. 27th @ 7:30

Slow Children Crossing (Los Angeles, CA)

Thursday Sept. 25th @ 9:00 & Friday Sept. 26th @ 10:30

The Sound of Young America (Los Angeles, CA)

Saturday Sept. 27th @ 3:00

Ubiquitous They (Seattle, WA)
Thursday Sept. 25th @ 10:30 & Saturday Sept. 27th @ 7:30

Unexpected Productions (Seattle, WA)

Friday Sept. 26th @ 9:00 & Saturday Sept. 27th @ 6:00

For the full schedule of shows, performer bios, special events and ticket information, visit us at www.sketchfest.org!

Danger, Sam Jackson!

2008-08-10T15:31:00.000-07:00

It was shocking enough when news that comedian Bernie Mac had died of complications from pneumonia Saturday morning, but when I'd heard that actor, music legend and Bernie's co-star in the upcoming film Soul Men, Isaac Hayes was found dead at his home this morning, things got kind of "sad-weird".

Mac was a stand-up comedian and member of the Original Kings of Comedy known for his approachable, avuncular personality, and wide-eyed "what's wrong with you people?!" observational humor whether on stage, television or film.

Isaac Hayes was a legend in his own time and really needs no introduction. Already an Oscar-winning soul musician and composer, by the 1990s, he gained a new generation of fans when we was cast as "Chef" in Comedy Central's South Park.

My advice to Mac and Hayes' Soul Men co-star Samuel L. Jackson: try to take it easy this week. Say, when was your last physical?

Oh, you'll be pumping Ovaltine

2008-08-10T00:05:00.000-07:00

As you can see by the lull on this blog, nothing funny has happened since George Carlin died. Not a thing. That's why we've been so quiet.

That and we're busy putting this year's SketchFest together.

But whatever the reason, here's something to tide you over until we announce this year's performers: a phonetically subtitled video of an already ridiculous Indian remake of Thriller.

Park that comfy shin guard armor and enjoy.

George Carlin 1937-ShitPissFuckCuntCocksuckerMotherFuckerTits

2008-06-23T09:47:00.000-07:00

Just as we were learning to live in the post-Korman age, George Carlin dies at the age of 71, breaking our hearts all over again. Way to go, asshole.

But I don’t think I need to explain to you who George was, or even that he’s died, since the news is everywhere right now; that he was born and raised in a tough New York neighborhood, began a successful career doing more traditional stand-up and radio comedy before attending a show by comic Lenny Bruce, which was (according to legend) was broken up by police for obscenity, resulting in both Bruce and Carlin being arrested and thrown into the same vehicle.

After that, Carlin changed his act and developed the now-famous “Seven Words You Can't Say on Television” routine, which led to obscenity charges of his own.

He went on to be the first ever host of Saturday Night Live, played Carnegie Hall, released twenty-three comedy albums, appeared in sixteen movies and performed in fourteen HBO stand-up specials. Only four days before his death yesterday, is was announced that he was to receive the Kennedy Center’s Mark Twain Prize for American Humor – the highest honor an American Comedian can earn.

SOFT ROCK EXPLOSION - TONIGHT!

2008-06-13T11:13:00.000-07:00

SOFT ROCK EXPLOSION
Mark Siano and the Freedom Dancers
Friday June 13rd, Saturday June 14th at 8 PM

Re-Bar, 1114 Howell St, Seattle, WA 98101 21+, $12 at the door, or Brown Paper Tickets:
www.brownpapertickets.com/event/34077
or 1-800-838-3006

SOFT ROCK EXPLOSION is a crowd-pleasing, cabaret-style song and dance spectacular, the event features flashy dance numbers, original music and soft rock sing-a-longs led by a 7-piece band, music videos, stand-up and sketch comedy, and as always, a lot of ridiculously sexy people in ridiculously sexy outfits. Now with more dancing, hilarious new people, and new surprises!

The Freedom Dancers are Joey Chapman, Laura DiMarco, Andrea Ford, Abigail Guay, Joanna Hardie, Lieta Siano, and Mara Siciliano.

"Siano makes a charismatic frontman: handsome and unafraid of short-shorts, with musical taste to rival your mom's, and a perfect whiff of '80s sleaze." --The Stranger

"Relentlessly enthusiastic . . . It's hard not to be impressed by Siano's talents as a lyricist." --The Seattle Weekly

"Very funny and only slightly off-color."--Seattle Post-Intelligencer

www.myspace.com/marksiano
www.myspace.com/thefreedomdancers

City of Brotherly Laugh

2008-06-07T13:14:00.000-07:00

Seriously - who knew about this? I mean, we'd heard rumblings from members of Philly's the Waitstaff about something like this for a while now, but not only by chance did we discover today that this latest addition to the ever-growing sketchfest family existed, but that tonight is the last night!

The lineup for this first Philly fest is:

ANIMOSITY PIERRE
BAD HAIR
The GENTLEMEN'S ROTARY AUXILIARY
MEG AND ROB
ROWAN AND HASTINGS
SECRET PANTS
The SIXTH BOROUGH
The WAITSTAFF
with host CHIP CHANTRY.

A portion of the festival's proceeds will go to Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA)!

It seems unlikely that we'll be able to get one of our sketchfest comedy drones out to the 215 in time to scan their rebel base of comic theater, so in lieu of review, here's an interview with festival producer David Terruso by the Phillyist.

Welcome aboard, you kwazy Quakers!

Harvey Korman 1927 - 2008

2008-05-29T16:46:00.000-07:00

Actor and comedian Harvey Korman has died at the age of 81.

Perhaps best known as the sinister Hedley Lamarr in Mel Brooks' Blazing Saddles, his comedy career spanned more than four decades and included work on Tom and Jerry, "The Great Gazoo" on The Flintstones, The Carol Burnette Show, Mama's Family, and even the notorious Star Wars Holiday Special. Most recently, he was seen touring in a series of limited engagement shows with long-time comedy partner and fellow Burnette Show alum Tim Conway.

Conway and Korman in Branson, MO, 2004

N-Y-C is N-Th-House

2008-05-07T18:58:00.000-07:00

Today, Sketchfest NYC announced their June 2008 line-up, and what a line-up it is. Familiar faces to Seattle audiences would include Seattle's All American Push Up Party, former MEAT gals Dirty Jeans and Thunderchief, nostalgic variety gals The Apple Sisters, and other Seattle 'Fest alum A Week of Kindness, The 3rd Floor, Becky and Noelle, Elephant Larry, Summer of Tears, and TROOP!

TV watchers may also be interested in the attendance of Encore's The Whitest Kids U Know, and The Daily Show commentator and sometimes Kiwi-stalker Kristen Schaal's two person cuddle-rama Kurt and Kristen.

SketchFest NYC 2008
New York's ONLY International Sketch Comedy Festival

Thursday, June 12th through Saturday, June 14th
@ The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre
307 West 26th Street
[btwn. 8th and 9th Aves.]
www.UCBT.net

Tickets: TBA

For More Info: www.SketchFestNYC.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 12
7PM: Harvard Sailing Team
8PM: All American Push Up Party + Kurt and Kristen
9PM: Free Love Forum
10PM: Dirty Jeans and Thunderchief
11PM: Dance Party of Newfoundland
12AM: Rue Brutalia + Pangea 3000

FRIDAY, JUNE 13
7PM: The Apple Sisters
8PM: Whitest Kids U Know
9PM: Backpack Picnic
10PM: The Birthday Boys
11PM: The Third Floor
12AM: A Week of Kindness + Trophy Dad

SATURDAY, JUNE 14

TBA: The Onion News Network - Live!
TBA: The Sound of Young America - Live!
6PM: Team Submarine + Hey You Millionaires
7PM: Becky and Noelle + Blitzkrieg
8PM: Summer of Tears
9PM: Elephant Larry
10PM: Troop!
11PM: Fearsome
12AM: The SketchFest Closing Night Craptacular, Hosted by Rob Lathan &
Adira Amram

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Apply with me, Apply, Apply away

2008-05-01T23:34:00.000-07:00

SketchFest Seattle is now accepting applications for 2008!

SketchFest Seattle, the original sketch comedy festival, is ready.
Really ready. Ready for YOU to apply. We've got a cool new venue, a cool new format, and we need your application to make it all happen.

This year, we'll be running September 24th through 27th at the Theatre Off Jackson in Seattle's historic International District. We're getting back to our roots: one full weekend, jam-packed with jury-selected sketch comedy! So much funny, our copy editor won't let us use the words necessary to describe it.

We think you'll like what we've got to offer:

Two shows in a fully-stocked and tech-staffed theater.
Free lodging with a local volunteer.
A $500 artist's fee.
The opportunity to perform in front of great Seattle audiences at the original sketch comedy festival.
Artistic Direction led by the one and only Andrew Connor of
The Cody Rivers Show.

DOWNLOAD THE 2008 APPLICATION NOW

Sketchingham Week 1

2008-04-15T09:18:00.000-07:00

Two of the three weeks of Sketchingham! - Sketchfest's kid sister to the north - are already over. This weekend is the last chance to catch this wunderkind of alternative stand-up, sketch, clowning, and wild experimentation, and it's not too late to get your tickets here!

This year's closing acts include Seattle stand-up Emmett Montgomery, Seattle/NYC avant-garde duet Becky And Noelle, and LA retro-garde duet Ten West.

SketchFest pal, musician and sometimes freelance reviewer Will Dean attended the first week of Sketchingham, and brings us this report from the City of Subdued Excitement:
============================

I drove to Bellingham recently to play in a concert band performance. I was planning to drive right back to Seattle after the concert; I've never spent more than a couple of hours in Bellingham. Usually I just stop long enough to grab some coffee at Tony's in Fairhaven. But when I read the Stanger's preview of Sketchingham, I decided to book an overnight stay. I wanted to know: Could Bellingham could put on a sketch comedy fest worthy of the 75-minute drive north?

The sold-out show began with David Cope, a comedian currently based in Seattle. Cope was very funny. His deadpan delivery alternated between sweet self deprecation and over-the-top braggadocio. At one point, Cope brought out a harp to accompany himself while he asked his audience silly questions. The harp made every line, every question, even funnier. Cope was great.

Bucket was up next. Charles Demers and Paul Bae hail from Vancouver BC and have played Sketchingham before. They had lots of energy. I laughed at their Combat Yoga routine, and Charles' song about "the Happa I'm making with my Chinese wife" was charming, but the performance didn't kill. Some fine moments to be sure, but not worth a drive all the way from Seattle.

Shenoah Allen and Mark Chavez - The Pajama Men - *were* worth the drive. The number of stories, characters, moods and subjects covered by these two guys in pajamas was flabbergasting. And Jesus were they were funny. Sometimes gently so, often uproariously so, occasionally profoundly so. Moments which stood out to me for their sheer originality included a chess match between a man and a bat, an awkward courtship between a teenage girl on the lam and a boy working at a haunted house's restaurant, and a thumb wrestling match that contained an uncomfortable amount of opponent thumb licking/sucking. Wow, I kept thinking, these guys are from ALBUQUERQUE??? (They're dually based in Albuquerque and Chicago.) In fact, I just emailed a college friend who lives in Albuquerque, telling her that she had better grab her gay best friend and go see these guys, pronto.

SketchFest Seattle

SketchFest NYC is in TWO WEEKS!

Applications and New Summer Workshop!

Spam*O*Rama: Pork-Filled Players, Burlesque, and Ubiquitous They!

SketchFest NYC - Application Deadline This Week!

Week of Fun!

AWARDS!

Tim and Eric, Japanese Clowns and More!

Blogging is HARD!

Opening Gala and Video Contest Winners!

SketchFest Seattle 2008!!!

In the Art Zone

The Julie Goldman Offensive - $5 off!

Ad Watch: #Something-er-other

Super-secret semi-possible comedy show (maybe)

SketchFest Video Contest - Five Days to Enter!!

The SketchFest 2008 Line-Up

Danger, Sam Jackson!

Oh, you'll be pumping Ovaltine

George Carlin 1937-ShitPissFuckCuntCocksuckerMotherFuckerTits

SOFT ROCK EXPLOSION - TONIGHT!

City of Brotherly Laugh

Harvey Korman 1927 - 2008

N-Y-C is N-Th-House

Apply with me, Apply, Apply away

Sketchingham Week 1

SpamORama: Pork-Filled Players, Burlesque, and Ubiquitous They!