Philly Sketchfest is also a proud sponsor of the 2016 Bechdel Test Fest celebrating Philadelphia’s women and trans comedians at the Christ Church Neighborhood House. You can find out about all the sketch groups performing in it after the break…
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. Nicole Yates is a stand-up comedian, co-creator of the Black Friday Comedy Marathon at Philly Improv Theater (PHIT) and since 2010, the host of the popular ‘foodie’ blog and podcast, DidjaEat?. It would be an understatement to note that Nicole is a fan of sketch comedy. She has been instrumental in not only bringing Philadelphia stand-up and sketch comedians together but also their audiences. Whether she’s performing stand-up as an opener at sketch shows or featuring sketch writer/performers as guests on her Fighting Burrito Comedy shows, we’re extremely thankful for her support of sketch comedy as part of the Philadelphia comedy community. And if we know Nicole, she’ll likely in attendance tomorrow night, on New Year’s Day, to see 17 Philadelphia-based sketch groups perform their first sketch of 2016 at our Sketch Hangover! In the meantime, please enjoy Nicole’s look back at Philly sketch in 2015…
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. Patric Ciervo is making it known that he writes sketch comedy. No, not just because the name of his group is Patric Writes Sketches, although that does help. Rather, Patric is carrying the weight of writing material for two distinctly different sketch groups; the aforementioned Patric Writes Sketches and Until Pluto, a narrative-driven, sketch comedy collaboration with writer/performer Peter Gerbron. It’s also proving quite successful for Patric. This year, Patric Writes Sketches was accepted and performed at NYC Sketchfest at The People’s Improv Theater (The PIT) and Until Pluto performed two new shows of brand new material; a sketch murder-mystery-who-done-it entitled, ‘Bill Melchior Is Dead’ at PHIT and a rewriting of history in ‘Still Not A Better World’ as part of Philly Sketchfest Presents. Patric’s dedication to the craft of sketch comedy is seen not only in his work ethic and output, but also in his support of the entire Philadelphia comedy community. His commitment is admired by his peers and his comedy is being enjoyed by audiences both in and outside of Philadelphia. Don’t miss your opportunity to see both of Patric’s sketch groups this Friday night, on New Year’s Day, when they perform their first sketches of 2016 at our Sketch Hangover! Please enjoy Patric’s 2015 sketch year in review…
Julia Hudson, Shawna Stoltzfoos and Jolie Darrow of Barbara Bush
Thank you & Congratulations to Barbara Bush, their director, Jacquie Baker, and Nicole Yates for an incredible show on Sunday! Extra special thanks to YOU, yes you, the audience for helping these amazingly talented sketch writer/performers on their upcoming trip, where they’ll next be performing on the main stage of the Crossroads Comedy Festival in Indianapolis, IN!
Philly Sketchfest Presents was honored to have hosted this fundraiser with all proceeds going to the ‘the first ladies of comedy’.
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.
The Fighting Burrito Comedy Show at Kennett FlashThe Fighting Burrito Comedy Show goes on the road to Kennett Flash in Kennet Square, PA, a suburb outside of Philadelphia. Primarily a stand-up showcase, this month’s Flying Burrito Comedy Show features a performance from sketch group, The Incredible Shrinking Matt & Jacquie. The show is hosted by Nicole Yates and also features comedians Eddie Finn, Rick Juliani, Chris Dolan, and headliner Jared Bilski!
Goat Rodeo wraps up their latest run of “Goats On Parade” with shows this Thursday & Friday. Opening the show, Hoagie Fist – a new sketch trio comprised of Ryan Birchmeier (Best Friends TV Show), Jake Mattera and Steve Swan (Dog Mountain).
Goat Rodeo is Christian Alsis (The Feeko Bros.), Dan Boldin, Dan Corkery (House of Solitude), Bill Flynn, Kristy Goldy (Youth Large), Jimi Haak, Chris McGrail (Hey, We’re Cool), Justin Miller, Kevin Pettit, Samantha Russell, Sue Taney, Zachary Uzupis and Aubrie Williams (Mani Pedi). Goat Rodeo is directed by Samantha Russell.
Night Trolley is Friday, September 18th at Johnny Brenda’sIt’s the final week of Philly Fringe Festival and the Night Trolley has arrived for a one-night only event at Johnny Brenda’s. Night Trolley is an experimental new variety comedy show, featuring performances from sketch group, The Incredible Shrinking Matt & Jacquie as well as sketch writer/performers Matt Aukamp, Kate Banford, Joe Moore, Rose Luardo, Pat Reber and host/conductor Matthew Tsang.
Also performing comedians, Drew Castellano, Alyssa Al-Dookhi, Michael S. Watkins, Eddie Finn, Molly Hanulec, Robert Ecks, Sidney Gantt, Setoiyo Setoiyo, Alex Grubard, Charles Blyzniuk, Joe Bell, Rachel Fogletto, Hannah Trav, Jenna Kuerzi, Aaron Nevins and Phyllis Voren
Every 3rd Friday at Midnight at PHITPhiladelphia’s ONLY Sketch Comedy Open-Mic, Sketch Up or Shut Up, returns to the Philly Improv Theater (PHIT) stage Friday night. Sketch Up or Shut Up was created by Meg Favreau, is hosted by Brian Kelly and is THE place for sketch comedians to work out their new & in-progress material in front of a live audience. Sketch Up or Shut Up is a FREE SHOW and enables sketch comedians of all experience levels try out new material, meet each other and build relationships. Sign-ups begin in the Lobby of the Adrienne Theater at 11:00pm and the show begins on the 2nd Stage at 11:55pm. Not a sketch comedian? That’s fine too! Actors are encouraged to attend & volunteer to be in the sketches of writers who either do not wish to perform their own material or do not have a group of people to work with yet. Not a writer or an actor? Wonderful. Audiences are welcomed and encouraged to join us and simply enjoy the show.
Friday, September 18th Philly Improv Theater (PHIT), 2030 Sansom Street, 2nd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103 Sign Ups – 11:00pm / Show – 11:55pm
Stand-up Comedian Nicole YatesPhilly Sketchfest is happy to announce tickets are now available for the October 11th Barbara Bush ‘Crossroads Comedy Festival’ Fundraiser show! Click on this link to visit our event page on TicketFly!
We equally excited to announce the addition of Nicole Yates to the show!
Sunday, October 11, 2015
The Playground at The Adrienne Theater
2030 Sansom Street – 1st Floor to left of entrance
Philadelphia, PA 19103 $10 / doors open at 7:30pm Tickets Now Available – PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
Looking for something to do until tickets go on sale for our October 11th Barbara Bush show? Of course you are! Have no fear, Philly Sketchfest has some recommendations for sketch shows in Philadelphia that you can see while you wait.
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Hey, We’re Cool – The Sex Show 8pm at L’etage – 624 S. 6th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147 Tattos of Pat Reber on Pat Reber = Sex Hey, We’re Cool, has long staked their reputation on being the sexiest comedy variety show in Philadelphia that takes place at a crêperie on the first Thursday of every month. This month, hosts Matt Aukamp & Pat Reber share that incredible sex appeal and invite you to learn everything you’ve ever wanted to know about sex with the Hey, We’re Cool gang!
  Come for a night of sexy fun, sexy games, and sexy education! And if you are a person that does not like sex, you can still join them and see sketch comedy from Dog Mountain and Charlie Shulman. Also performing, comedian Robert Ecks, musician Riley O’Riley and a special appearance from Dr. Timaree Leigh, a licensed & certified sexologist.
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< > Iron Sketch – Battle Wheel 9pm at Philly Improv Theater (PHIT) – 2030 Sansom St. (2nd Floor), Philadelphia, PA 19103 The Chairman of Iron Sketch prepares to reveal the Battle Prop for Battle Chair. Iron Sketch is a monthly sketch comedy show designed to provide aspiring comedic writers & performers opportunities to write & perform sketch comedy with the assistance of a dedicated mentor/director. Participants sign up in advance at [email protected] and each month, eight are chosen and randomly paired into two groups and given 30 days to write & perform 15 minutes of comedy for the pleasure of The Chairman and his audience. The catch? They have to incorporate The Chairman’s ‘Battle Prop’ of the month into their sketches.
< > This month, Battle Wheel as two new sketch teams, mentored by Brian Kelly of Secret Pants, take the stage. Featuring ‘Cheese Wheel’ (Kate Boylan, Andrew Coppola, Emily Currier, Jesse Mumma) and “Good Wheel Hunting” (Matt Bethune, Kristopher Hodge, Teresa Nutter, Joseph Tuzzi). Special guest, Nicole Yates will also perform stand-up.
< > Know about an upcoming sketch show? Want us to tell people about it? Send your listing to [email protected].
The First Ladies of Comedy Sunday, October 11th The Playground at The Adrienne Theater 2030 Sansom Street – 1st Floor entrance to left Philadelphia, PA 19103 $10 / doors open at 7:30pm tickets – AVAILABLE NOW
Join Philly Sketchfest and Barbara Bush for a night of comedy as they perform in preparation for their upcoming appearance at the Crossroads Comedy Festival in Indianapolis, IN.
