In three short weeks, Philadelphia-based writer and performer Cynthia Marie will be updating her artist bio to Wisconsin-based writer and performer. That’s right, as far as she’s concerned it’s ‘good-bye forever, Philadelphia!’ But before she departs, Cynthia is putting up one final show entitled, ‘And Stay Out – The Art Of Overstaying Your Welcome’, an anthology of sketch comedy inspired and written for National Sketch Writing Month (which challenges comedy writers to write a new sketch every day for thirty consecutive days). Featuring performances from Quinton Alexander, Katie Cwirko, Andrea Duffy, Kristopher Hodge and Cynthia Marie, this one-night only event takes place this Friday night at 10:30pm as part of Philly Sketchfest Presents December showcase with sketch group, Until Pluto and stand-up comedian, Alex Pearlman. Earlier this week, we spoke with Cynthia Marie to talk about her influences, writing a new sketch every day for 30 days and leaving Philadelphia for Wisconsin…
We hope everyone had a pleasant Thanksgiving this past weekend. For those of you that also enjoyed The Black Friday Comedy Marathon, we hope you were able to catch up on your sleep. Most especially the hosts of the entire 38 hour marathon Hey, We’re Cool, our first featured sketch show of the week. Also this week, Monologues and Brought To You By at PHIT, and The Mean Wendy Band at The Comedy Show Gates.
Patric Ciervo writes sketch comedy. So it only made sense that when he began putting his work on stage that he represent himself as such. And thus was born, ‘Patric Writes Sketches’. Patric’s shows feature a variety of comedic premises while also connecting to a through-line that begins and ends shows. Sketches explore double-standards, re-visits well known fairy tales from a modern perspective and provides fans of both light humor and dark comedy. There is always something for everyone in a Patric Writes Sketches set. Opening the show, ‘People Say I’m Sketch’, the first full sketch set from the up-and-coming sketch writer/performer, Charlie Shulman. A regular at Sketch Up or Shut Up, Iron Sketch and PHIT’s monthly Monologue show, Charlie is irreverent and not afraid to break the fourth wall in effort to get in touch with his audience’s comedic sensibilities.
Patric Writes Sketches is written by Patric Ciervo and performed by Sarah Clemency, Shannon DeVido (Adventure Friends), Pete Gerbron, Steve Holland (Best Friends TV) and Pat Reber (Hey, We’re Cool).
We’ve been talking about Barbara Bush’s brand-new show since our this website launched. Now it’s finally time. We at Philly Sketchfest can’t tell you how excited we are to host ‘the first ladies of comedy’ in preparation for the upcoming set at the Crossroads Comedy Festival in Indianapolis, IN. Here’s what we know about the show so far without giving away all the surprises… They are performing their festival set in its entirety, there will be singing in a musical number and all ticket sale proceeds will go to the group. We’re happy, we’re excited and we simply can’t wait for Sunday when you all get to see what Barbara Bush and their director, Jacquie Baker, have planned for you. Opening the show, stand-up comedian, Nicole Yates. Nicole is also the host of the DidjaEat Podcast and co-creator of the Black Friday Comedy Marathon at Philly Improv Theater (PHIT).
Barbara Bush is an all-female sketch comedy group featuring, Kathryn Amrhein, Jolie Darrow, Julia Hudson, Sue Nelson, Courtney Painter, Shawna Stotzfoos and Nicole Zeits. They are directed by Jacquie Baker.
Last week the Pope visited the city of Philadelphia. We we warned what would happen to the city. We were told we could leave while there was still time. Then reality set in… there would be no sketch shows while the Papal was in town. With a lack of sketch comedy entertainment, it wasn’t long before the city was torn asunder. Pandemonium reigned with chaos replacing all law and order. The children, covered in the blood of their fallen elders, wept when instead, they should have been validating the existence of sketch writers and performers with their laughter. To the survivors, to those returning, to those who have lost, please enjoy the following sketch shows as we move forward, forever changed by a week with no sketch shows.
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< > Hey, We’re Cool – We Got Drunk and Wrote a Show Thursday, October 1st – 8pm / L’etage – 624 S. 6th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147 / $5 at the door Hey, We’re CoolIf nothing else, Hey, We’re Cool prides themselves on their professionalism. So when they said “Let’s get, like, sloppy drunk and then write a show, and then we have to stick to whatever we wrote for that show, no matter how weird or uninterpretable the ideas are,” they did exactly that.
Promising a bizarre collection of ideas, drunkenly written weeks ago that are now simply bad decisions performed weeks after they drunkenly made them, Hey, We’re Cool has both thrown the gauntlet down and subsequently picked it back up. Drunkly written and soberly performed by Quinton Alexander, Matt Aukamp, Jacquie Baker, Kev Ketner, Chris McGrail, Pat Reber and Matthew Schmid.
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< > People of Interest – Two Year Anniversary Show Thursday, October 1st – 10:30pm / PHIT – 2030 Sansom St. (2nd Floor), Phila, PA 19103 / Tix $8-$10 After you’re finished laughing at Hey, We’re Cool, why not give The Incredible Shrinking Matt & Jacquie a ride across town to Philly Improv Theater (PHIT) so you can watch them perform together in People of Interest! Host Ryan T. Barlow conducts NPR-style interviews with characters created and performed by local comedians. However, the performers have no idea who they will be portraying until they arrive on stage. This month, People of Interest celebrates its two-year anniversary and Ryan T. Barlow will interviewing comedy duos from Philadelphia including sketch duo, The Incredible Shrinking Matt & Jacquie and Improv duos, Proper Dodgy (Rachel Semigran & Lizzie Spellman), Mishegas (Mike Marbach & Kristen Schier) and Something Simple with Alex (Gross) & Frank (Farrell).
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< > Monologues at PHIT + Brought To You By… Friday, October 2nd at 9pm / PHIT – 2030 Sansom St. (2nd Floor), Phila, PA 19103 / Tix $10-$12One hour, two shows.Filmed sketch offers groups an ability to reach audiences outside their locale while also opening up creative opportunities not available in a live format. However, the ability to receive immediate feedback from an audience is otherwise absent. That’s where Brought To You By… fills the gap, premiering new filmed sketches from Philadelphia-area groups in front of a live audience. Hosted & curated by Casey Hogan, Peter Szekeres, and Alex Coffey, the trio also integrate live material in-between videos. This month, videos from Patric Ciervo (Patric Writes Sketches), Andrew Sigwart, and Paul Triggiani (Secret Pants/The Flat Earth).
< > If you’re a comedian with an inclination to film and edit your material, email [email protected] to inquire about having your video featured as part of an upcoming show.
After that, it’s Monologues hosted & curated by Dru Kramcsak. This month’s performers include Kathryn Amrhein (Barbara Bush), Jacquie Baker (The Incredible Shrinking Matt & Jacquie), Josh Higham, Billy Kontostergios, Shelia Masters, Jon Plester (Jon & Ian Have Something To Tell You), Charlie Shulman (People Say I’m Sketchy) and host, Dru Kramcsak.
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< > Know about an upcoming sketch show? Want us to tell people about it? Send your listing to [email protected].
