This week Philly Sketchfest will be taking a look back at the year 2015 through the eyes of the writers, performers, directors and producers that make sketch comedy in Philadelphia a reality. Kathryn Amrhein is a Philadelphia-based writer, performer and one of the ‘first ladies of comedy’ in sketch group, Barbara Bush. She is also the sole reason that this website exists in a functional and update-able manner. We’re not going to shy away from it. Prior to a few months ago, this website’s home page hadn’t been updated in almost three years. And the sub-pages? Just a mess. When our new production team came on board, this website was our number one priority moving forward. But how do you internet? That’s when Kathryn arrived. Kathryn’s passion for sketch and her talent in web design/coding enabled everything we wanted in this new website with plenty of room to grow. Kathryn’s given a lot, continuing to entertain us as a comedian and working hard in her free time to allow us to celebrate it here. So when you see her, you thank her and you tell her how much you appreciate her talent and hard work. In fact, you can do it tomorrow night when Kathryn and the rest of the ‘first ladies of comedy’ in Barbara Bush tomorrow night, on New Year’s Day, as they perform their first sketch of 2016 at our Sketch Hangover! In the meantime, please enjoy Kathryn’s look back at Philly sketch in 2015…
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I’m jumping on the review band wagon here. I had so many favorites and I know I’m missing stuff, it was just so hard to narrow down. There was so much great comedy in the city this year. And I can’t wait to see more. Sketch gave me all the feels in 2015 and here are some of them…
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The Flat Earth – Answering Machine
This sketch was so beautiful dark, it made my dark, cocoa heart skip so many beats. An upbeat family re-recording the same message for their answering machine as last year with silence filling the air during their dead son’s part was just so charming. I saw that show every night and every night I fell in love all over again with that sketch. Jacquie Baker, Adam Siry and Molly Silverman/Julia Hudson nailed it every time. It’s definitely my favorite of the millennium.
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ManiPedi – Karen’s Dream
Talk about a dream come true! This whole show was so freaking delightful. All the ManiPedi ladies just killed it and the show was so unique. It’s hard to pick a favorite sketch from this show because they were all so good. But I definitely loved Tara Demmy as the town crier and the singing sisters that recurred throughout the set.
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Dog Mountain – Price of Arizona Iced Tea
The timing, the premise, the silliness. It was all so wonderful. RJ Payne not even looking at the tech cues but still staying on pace with everything. And the reactions of the rest of the cast behind him were oh so perfect. I think the most important take away from that whole show is that the price of iced teas should NEVER be raised!
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Iron Sketch in 2015
I don’t have a particular favorite moment from Iron Sketch, I am just such a fan of the program as a whole. Seeing how gracefully a random group of writers come together and put on such stellar shows in such a short time frame is really spectacular.
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If you would like to share your 2015 sketch comedy year in review with Philly Sketchfest and our internet audience, please email [email protected]. Your review will be shared here on our website!
