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Pick of the Day: UCB NY Previews Starting 4/23
April 17, 2024
News
improv, nyc comedy, sketch comedy, upright citizens bridage

It feels like so long ago that the Upright Citizens Brigade had a presence/space in NYC and, well, that’s because it has been. As the COVID-19 pandemic caused a wave of venues shuddering in 2020, UCB was certainly not immune and had to close up shop indefinitely both in LA and NYC.

Thankfully, here in 2024, UCB Franklin has been more than alive and kicking again and finally, at last, the very new UCB NY at 242 East 14th Street in Manhattan (right between Gramercy Park and Ukrainian Village) will open with previews of their staple shows (Harold, Maude, Spank, etc.) starting Tues. Apr. 23rd.

Tickets are all very much on sale right now and you best snatch them up quick before they very likely will sell out. Do so right now right here.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by UCB Theatre NY (@ucbtny)

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 209: Sydney Duncan & Being Enough in All the Comedy Spaces
March 27, 2024
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
character comedy, nyc comedy, sketch comedy, sydney duncan

While it would seem that stand up and comedy clubs reign supreme in the NYC comedy scene, there are plenty of performers that defy that notion and not only go for alternative spaces and types of comedy, but find ways in between all of them. One such comedian is Sydney Duncan who constantly switches gears between performing in character, as herself, on stage solo, with other folks on teams, and so much more. It’s a delicate balance to strike to do try to fit in the pre-existing spaces in comedy and simultaneously make those perfectly suited to you, but Sydney has amazingly found her footing in doing so.

We talk to Sydney on this week’s TCB Field Report all about that, this, and the other things in her lanes of NYC comedy.

Follow Sydney @sydneyduncanonem

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger
Photo by @enemypixels

Pick of the Day: Bug Mane Maneifesto 3 (in LA) 4/24
March 27, 2024
News
bugmane, experimental comedy, la comedy, lyric hyperion, sketch comedy

There is, shall we say, an entity most popularly known as Bug Mane. Born of the desire to bring chaos on to The Doughboys podcast, Bugmane has taken a life unto its own, melding multiple facets of reality into their own realm of comedy and comedy to be reveled in.

Thus, it’s quite the occasion to take part of such spiritual mishegoss in person as you can at the Lyric Hyperion. That’s right Bugmane has been regularly doing so-called Maneifestos at Lyric Hyperion since the conclusion of 2023 and has the very next one lined up for Wed Apr. 24th at 9:30PM complete with the Bug Mane faithful of Mike Mitchell, Ivy Wolk, Kat Toledo, Paul Rust, Ryan Perez, Van Roubichaux, and, of course, DJ King Koeth.

So, best go get your tickets right now right here for $15 a pop while you still can.

 

Pick of the Day: The State: Breakin’ Hearts & Dippin’ Balls (in NYC) 10/16 & 10/17
August 15, 2023
News
nyc comedy, palladium times square, sketch comedy, the state

Legendary (and yes, it’s appropriate here) sketch group, The State, comprised, for this night, of Ken Marino, David Wain, Kerri Kenney, Joe Lo Truglio, Michael Ian Black, Kevin Allison, and Michael Patrick Jann are getting back together for an exclusive tour (that might blossom into something bigger maybe with Thomas Lennon, Robert Ben Garant, and Todd Holoubeck?) maturely called Breakin’ Hearts & Dippin’ Balls. The ramifications of The State reassembling are so massive, which is partially why it happens so rarely (that and the fact that each individual member is quite successful on their own comedy path).

Thus far, they’ve only got dates in Denver and NYC lined-up, but that means you kind of should go out of your way to make sure you catch what you can of the Breakin’ Hearts & Dippin’ Balls tour. For New Yorkers, The State will be taking over Palladium Times Square on Oct. 16th & 17th with tickets going on sale this Wed. at 10AM ET/7AM PT (use the code “STATE” for early access) starting at $67.

Set a reminder and go snag those tickets here.

 

Pick of the Day: Babe Motel Pays Their Dues (in NYC) 9/13
August 10, 2023
News
babe motel, brooklyn, littlefield, nyc comedy, sketch comedy

We’ve been lucky in LA to have the likes of silly, yet irrepressibly clever of Babe Motel going up all around town on a regular basis. Haley Stiel, Avery Girion, and Kel Cripe have faithfully brought their rambunctious spirit on stage time and again for a couple years now, but such spirit should be shared with more folks.

With that in mind, they’re returning to NYC to do a “solo trio show”, which could mean any number of things, but all of them pretty damn fun (even if the show is called Babe Motel Pays Their Dues). Also, an amuse bouche of comedy from Hayden Johnson and Richard Perez will be served first for this special NYC Babe Motel show.

Babe Motel Pays Their Dues is set for Wed. Sept. 13th at 8PM. Tickets are $15.54 and we highly suggest getting them here.

Pick of the Day: Murderfist (in LA) 9/23
July 18, 2023
News
dynasty typewriter, la comedy, murderfist, sketch comedy

One score ago, a rag tag crew of FSU students banded together to take their college party hijinks and antics and honed it into the no holds barred comedy sketch lore gifted to us mere mortals by those that shall be known as Murderfist.

Yes, John Moreno, Walter Replogle, Holden McNeely, Henry Zebrowski, Jackie Zebrowski, Amber Nelson, Ed Larson, Jared Warner, Kelan Maloney and Adam Wirtz together made something of the most absurd, satirical, hard hitting sketch comedy that has ever been under the moniker of Murderfist. You can watch their stuff of legend here and read an oral history of their exploits (albeit from 10 years ago) from Paste Magazine here.

The group is coming upon 20 years since their creation and the venerable members of Murderfist, all individually successful in their own right, are reuniting once more for what should be a show for the comedy history books. Come Sat. Sept. 23rd at 10PM, Murderfist will take over one of LA comedy’s classiest venues, Dynasty Typewriter, with their hysterically dark comedy (perhaps, some of the darkest in all of sketch comedy?).

Tickets are only $20 for such a momentous event and you really better snag tickets now right here.

 

Pick of the Day: Business Casual: Sicko Psycho Mode (in NYC) 5/6
April 26, 2023
News
cory peter lane, hunter saling, jeremy elder, nyc comedy, sketch comedy

Well, NYC is getting a surprise gift (grrr) from LA in the form of a beloved sketch group Business Casual. Jeremy Elder, Hunter Saling, and Cory Peter Lane together have been pulling off top shelf hijinks in LA (as well as the Edinburgh Fringe) for years now and the trio wants to take over NYC (i.e. they’re all moving to Brooklyn).

So, NYC, it behooves you to welcome your new favorite sketch group to town with their upcoming show at Union Hall, tastefully entitled Sicko Psycho Mode at Union Hall on Sat. May 6th at 10PM. They’ll be joined by NYC darlings Ben Wasserman, Brooke Finegold, and Tallie Medel, which will absolutely make for a brilliantly absurd evening of comedy.

Tickets are $11.55 a pop. Go get ’em here.

 

I Think You Should (Remember May 30th Before You) Leave
March 10, 2023
News
i think you should leave, netflix, premiere date, season 3, sketch comedy

triples is best. I THINK YOU SHOULD LEAVE WITH TIM ROBINSON. season 3. may 30. pic.twitter.com/qVEbTwyNkx

— Netflix Is A Joke (@NetflixIsAJoke) March 10, 2023

Almost without argument, the two seasons of I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson represent some of the best sketch comedy of the past decade and, very likely, this century. Robinson’s unhinged characters, all seeming to build towards and very much past a boiling point, living up to the title of the show, are almost a perfect panacea to the very real chaos that we’ve been living through since the show premiered on Netflix in 2019.

It’s a great reminder that there is sketch comedy television these days outside of SNL, especially when a mind like Tim Robinson’s gets to run wild.

So, with that said, you very much should set several reminders that Tues. May 30th (i.e. midnight on Monday) will be when you should start binging season 3 of the critically acclaimed, award winning, abjectly absurdist sketch series I Think You Should Leave.

Pick of the Day: The Ledge Theatre Grand Opening @ Impro Studio (in LA) 1/6
January 4, 2023
News
improv comedy, ledge theatre, los angeles, sketch comedy

Throughout 2022 in LA, you might have come across mention of The Ledge Theatre while perusing the calendars of Lyric Hyperion, Pack Theater, and Skiptown Playhouse. For the unfamiliar, The Ledge is a theatre collective wholly dedicated to diversity and inclusion, especially when it comes to sketch and improv comedy. They have hopped around to the three aforementioned venues.

Starting this Friday, The Ledge will have a new home in conjunction with The Impro Theatre, a long standing black box on the second floor of a Los Feliz strip mall that we’re thankful for surviving through the pandemic. To kick things off, they’re having a Grand Opening show on Fri. Jan. 6th at 7PM featuring performances from:

JUST LIKE WATER
Just Like Water does the monoscene! One location, no cuts, no edits, just improv. Just like Water. Featuring @michellethevoice , @karenbaughn , @itsmiaschauffler , @artouncartoon , @burncoryburn , @androssthegreat and @thedjrouse .

KoKo
KoKo is a 2 person improv troupe that includes @teruko_teru & @bilekoazizawissajr Teru and Bileko met in the improv circuit at Westside comedy and Teru noticed “hey your name has a ‘Ko’ just like my name” Hence that’s where the name comes from. The improv form that “Ko-Ko” does is an Armando style, based on original characters, objects, and just plan on fun! Ko-Ko plans on becoming a name in the improv community!

POWER SAUCE
Power Sauce (@gillikis , and @nativi_rad ) will regale you with a novel yet timeless tale by stirring up a serving of some good ol’ fashioned long-form improv. Just toss in a suggestion, sit back, and behold the Power of Sauce!

BREAD
BREAD is a Los Angeles based improv team made up of queer people of color. Laugh your gluteus (glutenous?) maximus off with BREAD! Featuring: @msadriansnow , @jesse_is_awesome , @mikiannmaddox , @thetonyrodrig , @ericchadho , @melizardpeng and @elisaxfilm .

Landry & Summers
Since 1986 @landrysummerscomedy (@shaunlandry1 and Hans Summers) have been Improvisational and Sketch Theatre. Shaun started The Ledge. Hans watches and helps shaun run The Ledge.

Tickets are only $15 and you can (and should) get them here.

Pick of the Day: UCB Homecoming (in LA) 9/30 & 10/1
September 14, 2022
News
improv comedy, los angeles comedy, sketch comedy, ucb, upright citizens brigade

Nearly everything in comedy that has survived from COVID-19 lockdown that has intended to return has indeed return with only a very tiny group of exceptions. In LA, the Ice House in Pasadena and the Upright Citizens Brigade have not opened their doors once more for nightly shows like they had in 2019, but, for UCB, that will be changing in the next couple of weeks.

From having to close most of their theater spaces and selling the entire brand to a new three party ownership, UCB is set for a ‘homecoming’ over two nights on Fri. Sept. 30th and Sat. Oct. 1st. that will feature their best improv, sketch, and characters including:

Elefante-A monologist from the world of entertainment tells personal stories which inspire scenes by a rotating cast of LA’s best improvisers. Elefante is the Upright Citizens Brigade’s staple improv comedy show.

An improv showcase of: The Big Team, Spanish Aqui Presents, Asian AF: Voltron, Queer World

Homecoming Parade-40 characters, 60 seconds in front of a crowd with hosts John Milhiser & Veronica Osorio Vidette. 

It’ll be an intriguing return as UCB will return to an entirely transformed comedy scene as bit of the big dogs that they once were, but a bit of the new kids since many UCB alums have found their way to The Elysian or Largo over the last couple of years (and the internal reckoning they had in 2020), not to mention trying to discern what the new direction of UCB under its new ownership will be.

In any case, some of the very best improvisers and sketch folks in the scene will be going up on those two nights and it’ll be worth $20 of your bucks to head back to UCB Franklin, still hallowed comedy ground in LA as far as we’re concerned, and catch any three of these shows at least once, if not twice. Get tickets here.

Pick of the Day: Protected Under Parody: An Alamo Drafthouse Sketch Show (in LA) 8/6
August 4, 2022
News
alamo drafthouse, donnie darko, dtla, Ekeme Ekanem, Eli Leonard, Elijah Taylor, empire records, ian abramson, Ian Farley, Jon Barnett, jonathan lipnicki, live comedy, los angeles comedy, Luke Rampersad, Matt Catanzano, Natasha Mercado, nikki black, parody, sketch comedy, victor torres

With the continued absence of ArcLight, the impending opening of Vidiots, and more folks needing to know about Brain Dead Studios, the swath of very cool, indie movie theaters that did just more than just show movies.

The Alamo Drafthouse in DTLA is actually one such theater, especially because, this Saturday, they’ll be doing a very, very, very special, exclusive sketch comedy show with many of LA’s finest from all corners of sketch, clowning, etc. to do a mash-up of cult movie darlings, Empire Records and Donnie Darko.

The likes of Ekeme Ekanem, Eli Leonard, Elijah Taylor, Ian Abramson, Ian Farley, Jon Barnett, Matt Catanzano, Luke Rampersad, Natasha Mercado, Nikki Black, and Victor Torres will be putting up this wild show at, arguably, the perfect venue to have it at.

As if that wasn’t enough, Jonathan Lipnicki will be joining in on the mash-up extravaganza AND the show itself will be free attend (after you find out where to park downtown).

Called Protected Under Parody: An Alamo Drafthouse Sketch Show, it’ll be all going up at Sat. Aug. 6th at 7:30PM PT at The Video Vortex inside of Alamo Drafthouse. Get more details here and then set a reminder on your calendar.

Pick of the Day: Made of Bugs with Tim Platt (in LA) 7/23
July 1, 2022
News
Ayo Edebiri, girl god, joe rumrill, la comedy, sketch comedy, tim platt

One of NYC’s comedy treasures is the weird and wonderful talents and comedy of one Tim Platt. Purveyor and performer of charmingly off beat shows including his musical variety show Made of Bugs and the wild Evening of Wedding Speeches where comics give the most unhinged wedding speeches they can, Platt has earned a special place in NYC comedy that you ought to get to any time his putting anything up.

For LA folks, Tim will be making a very special stop at The Yard Theater to bring Made of Bugs to the City of Angels on Sat. Jul. 23rd at 7PM PT. Not only will Tim be bringing himself, but the likes of Ayo Edebiri (that, by now, you’ve should have seen kill it on The Bear), Girl God (your new favorite sketch group), and one of the newer NYC-to-LA transplants/sweet rapscallion, Joe Rumrill will be joining in for the evening.

Tickets are only $10 and you best go get them here.

Pick of the Day: BUTT (in LA) 5/27
May 20, 2022
News
butt sketch comedy, chris stephens, dynasty typewriter, eddie pepitone, joe mcadam, los angeles comedy, sketch comedy, steph tolev

If it is pure silliness you seek as a salve and an escape from the constantly mutating terror of our waking reality these days, one should look no further than the sketch duo of Joe McAdam and Chris Stephens, better known as BUTT.

Their ridiculousness is so often transcendent in such a hysterical way and has their absence due to the pandemic has left a void in our soul. Just thinking about their Yoda dating app sketch keeps us going many days that we’re particularly down.

It’s just fortunate for us all that Joe and Chris and their butts are returning to Dynasty Typewriter come next Fri. May 27th at 7:30PM PT with special guests Eddie Pepitone and Steph Tolev. It should be an undeniably rambunctious night of comedy that will make you forget, above all else, people are trying to distract themselves from the world by watching a horridly messy celebrity defamation trial.

Get tickets to the live, in-person return of BUTT for $20 right now here.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 112: Business Casual & Sketchy Times
May 18, 2022
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
business casual, charlie chaplin, corey peter lane, hunter saling, jeremy elder, netflix, sketch comedy, tom brady, volodmyr zelensky

Many great sketch groups did survive to this side of the pandemic, but were left to figure out things in a whole new world of comedy with new theaters or old theaters with new owners and have to, like every single on the planet, rebuild.

Fortunately for the scrappy, DIY trio of Business Casual (Jeremy Elder, Corey Peter Lane, and Hunter Saling) adapting to unforeseen change has been the name of the game for them. So, we chat with them about how they’re now one of the handful of sketch groups that you should absolutely be following and deserving of a break for bigger and better and brighter things.

Also, “hot” takes on Zelenksy saying we need a new Chaplin, Netflix’s roast of Tom Brady, and more.

Follow Business Casual @businesscasualcomedy (@idealstepdad @jeremyelderr @captain_sad_beard) on IG

The Comedy Bureau @thecomedybureau across platforms and please, please support TCB via GoFundMe, Patreon, or on Venmo (@jakekroeger).

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and KT

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 111: Cricket Arrison & Tenderness in Absurdity
May 11, 2022
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
absurdist comedy, cricket arrison, dave chappelle, i think you should leave, netflix, russell peters, sketch comedy, wham city

As it has been for years and years now, the world is so absurd that trying to be absurd comedically is an incredibly daunting challenge. That still doesn’t stop such brilliant and amazing folks such as Cricket Arrison from finding ways to satirize the world and be comedically ludicrous in such the ridiculous, preposterous time that we live in. We chat with Cricket about how the gauntlet of the last few years has transformed both her comedy and herself as a person into something that’s still on the stranger side of the spectrum of hilarity, but more tender and, in so many way, beautifully funny.

Also, “hot” takes on Netflix foregoing making Chappelle’s Hollywood Bowl performances into specials, I Think You Should Leave getting season 3, and Russell Peters’ upcoming new sneakers.

Follow Cricket @cricketcricketcricket on IG and @cricketarrison on Twitter

The Comedy Bureau @thecomedybureau across platforms and please, please support TCB via GoFundMe, Patreon, or on Venmo (@jakekroeger).

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and KT

Pick of the Day: Asian Comedy Fest 2022 (in NYC) 5/6 & 5/7
April 19, 2022
News
asian comedy fest, caveat, Dylan Adler, jes tom, Julia Shipplett, karen chee, Michael Cruz Kayne, nyc comedy, rizzle, sketch comedy, stand up ny, usama siddiquee, Wilfred Padua, Youngmi Mayer, Yuhua Hamasak

Having had to weather getting a comedy festival on its leg through COVID-19, the Asian Comedy Fest has persisted to its third year and still very much featuring the best Asian comedy acts that you really, really ought to know, but, for too many reasons, have not become a house hold name yet.

The Asian Comedy Fest is set to due a full on, in-person events at both Stand Up NY on May 6th and a curated sketch/variety show at Caveat on May 7th.

The ACF stand-up showcases are really stacked with many of NYC comedy’s finest including Dylan Adler, Julia Shipplett, Jes Tom, Usama Siddiquee, Wilfred Padua, Michael Cruz Kayne, and many, many more for 6PM ET, 8PM ET, and 10PM ET shows. The Caveat shows have got the comedy stylings of Karen Chee, Youngmi Mayer, Yuhua Hamasaki, and many more also lined-up for 6PM ET, 8PM ET, and 10PM ET shows that will also be live-streamed.

Don’t miss out on any of this if you’re in and around NYC at the beginning of next month. Find full-line-ups and more at asiancomedyfest.com.

Oh, before we forget, ACF is doing a Rizzle app contest again for $1K prize. AAPI comedy creators can create a 1 minute talk show for their chance to win. Get more details here.

 

Please Enjoy Sara June’s Short “Bathroom Time”
April 7, 2022
News
anna seregina, bri pruett, christine medrano, sara june, short film, sketch comedy, steph tolev

It’s unfortunate that the scarcity mentality that so many of us live under extend to every bit of our lives. We center our lives on how much money or power or water we have left. We especially anxiously ration time to go the bathroom while at work. That’s a very powerful stressor in an economy of scarcity.

Thus, comedian/filmmaker Sara June made a hilariously morbid short film, Bathroom Time, that captures this ever present feeling many of us have with pitch perfect performances from Anna Seregina, Christine Medrano, Steph Tolev, and Bri Pruett.

It recently got to be a Vimeo Staff Pick and we fully co-sign their pick. Enjoy June’s timely short satire here.

Pick of the Day: Great Moments in Comedy Made Worse (in LA) 4/28
April 5, 2022
News
experimental comedy, improv comedy, jeremy schmidt, los angeles comedy, sketch comedy, skyler madsen

In the days of yore, back when UCB Franklin gave its midnight slots to the most experimental, out there comedy shows and formats, there was a marvelous whirlwind of chaos lovingly called Great Moments in Comedy Made Worse. The scripts to famous sketches in comedy history are randomly given to a cast and after doing a cold read, they have to improvise and stretch the sketch however they can for at least 15 minutes.

This bout of lovely chaos was kicked up by Skyler Madsen and Jeremy Schmidt and had so many hysterical twists and turns with many of LA’s very best sketch and improv performers, especially if someone had no idea what the sketch was or didn’t really know who they were playing. Thus, we rolled out on to Franklin Ave. at 1 in the morning, thrilled at mashing up irreverence with comedic bedlam.

Thanks to The Comedy Coop LA, Great Moments in Comedy Made Worse is coming back for the first time in far too many years on Thurs. Apr. 28th at 8PM PT at The Broadwater in Hollywood. Tickets are $10 and we highly suggest snagging them up soon as space is limited.

Pick of the Day: 69 Filthy Minutes with Steph Tolev (in NYC) 3/10
March 4, 2022
News
asylum nyc, ny comedy, sketch comedy, stand up comedy, steph tolev

If you’re in and around LA comedy at all, it should be no mystery or surprise to you that Steph Tolev is one of the funniest people in the scene. Her brash, bold, and yet very vulnerable comedy that’s delightfully accented by Steph’s one-of-a-kind voice has been such a joy to Los Angeles for years now and we’ll never forget that she is very likely the only comedian that had a show done for her where dozens of her favorite comics in town did an impersonation of her in tribute.

So, NYC is going to get their own bit of Steph next week as she’ll be doing a very special evening of sketch and stand-up at Asylum NYC on Thurs. Mar. 10th at 7:30PM ET. Very specifically she’ll be doing a special 69 minutes that Steph would like it to be very clear that it’s “not PG” (in case the “69” didn’t make it clear).

Tickets are $18.81 (including fees) and you can (and very much should) go get them here.

Pick of the Day: The Comedy Co-op Presents Moon Goon (in LA) 3/5
February 24, 2022
News
andrew santiago, Angela Giarratana, Chanse McCrary, glendale, Jasmine Don, Jeremy Culhane, Jill Cepela, Josh Fleury, junior high, Kylie Brakeman, los angeles comedy, Mary Anthony, Mary Lou, Nikki Mckenzie, Patrick McDonald, Paul Heredia, sketch comedy, skyler madsen, the comedy coop

At Feb. 24th, 2022, there’s still no telling what is going to happen with UCB and any sort of in-person return. That said, the beloved performers of the Upright Citizens Brigade, especially the house improv and sketch teams, are still very much around and very much want to take the stage again to perform for those folks that would line-up around the block night after night at any UCB in LA or NYC.

Moon Goon was a heralded Maude sketch team that sported the comedic acumen of many of UCB’s very best including Mary Anthony, Kylie Brakeman, Jill Cepela, Jeremy Culhane, Jasmine Don, Josh Fleury, Angela Giarratana, Paul Heredia, Mary Lou, Skyler Madsen, Chanse McCrary, Patrick McDonald, Nikki Mckenzie, and Andrew Santiago putting up sharply written and daringly performed bits, characters, and more every month pre-pandemic.

Thanks to the Comedy Co-op, Moon Goon is returning again to the stage, this time at the ultra cool, all-inclusive arts/event space Junior High in Glendale on Sat. Mar. 5th at 8PM PT. Tickets are only $12 and the sales go directly to the performers (an important sticking point in The Comedy Co-op‘s mission)

Space is limited, so go get your tickets now before it sells out right here.

The Pack Theater Is Coming Back Next Month! (and Is Accepting Submission for Live Shows)
February 3, 2022
Uncategorized
improv, live comedy, los angeles comedy, open call, pack theater, sketch comedy, stand up comedy, submissions

Pre-pandemic, you could often find us more than once a week at tiny, but mighty comedy venue known as The Pack Theater. Founded by legendary improviser Miles Stroth, it was a great place for in-betweeners, experimenters, risk-takers, and comedy folks who had that DIY/punk rock spirit to what they wanted to do in the art form. That really resonated with us, which is why we ended up catching some of our favorite shows there as well as coming on board to produce the micro-short-form variety show, Speedface.

That’s why we’re overjoyed to hear that The Pack survived all the way to this side of the pandemic, especially being one of the pioneering venues when it came to transitioning to virtual comedy, and they’re going to reopen for in-person shows back in Hollywood starting next month.

In fact, they’re accepting pitches for new shows right now.

Think about/keep the following in mind when considering applying:

-Slots will be available on Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday nights with the possibility of having a Saturday night slot as well.

-All applications will go to the Artistic Committee for evaluation. We are especially interested in shows that come from BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and all traditionally marginalized voices.

We are looking for the the following types of shows including, but not limited to:

-Stand Up shows (roast shows, open mics, booked shows with a hook)
-Improv based shows with a hook or theme
-Variety shows
-One-off shows to be featured on 5th weeks (one person shows and comedic theater type shows welcomed)
-And of course the random weird wtf shows that we love at the Pack

If interested, read up more and apply here.

Keep up to date with everything Pack Theater related @packtheater across socials.

Pick of the Day: Ladies Who Ranch (in LA) 2/8 & 2/12
January 20, 2022
News
Caitlin Dullea, caroline yost, jessy morner ritt, Kelly Cooper, la comedy, ladies who ranch, Maya Sharma, mitra jouhari, sketch comedy, Sophie Zucker

The beloved all around NYC comedy troupe known as Ladies Who Ranch are finally making their way back to LA. That’s Sophie Zucker, Maya Sharma, Kelly Cooper, Caitlin Dullea, and Caroline Yost that do bits, sketches, improv, and more and are bringing their wonderfully rambunctious comedic talents to The Elysian for two special nights in February.

Specifically, they’ll being doing a “bit” show on Tues. Feb. 8th at 8:30PM PT (w/Jessy Morner-Ritt and Mitra Jouhari opening) and a full on proper sketch show on Sat. Feb. 12th at 9:30PM PT (w/Robby Hoffman opening). Both nights ought to be an extra special evening of sublime ridiculousness and you really ought to not miss it. Tickets for either show are $16 and you can (and very much should) get them at elysiantheater.com.

Pick of the Day: Girl God (in LA) 1/15
December 20, 2021
News
april clark, girl god, Grace Freud, los angeles comedy, sketch comedy

Most venues, bars, theaters are opting to go dark in LA and NYC for, seemingly, the rest of the year. Thus, we’ve got to look to next year for some sort of light of a future comedy show to catch at this stretch of that ever present, metaphorical tunnel.

So, earlier in the fall, Girl God (Grace Freud and April Clark) served up their special brand of “hot trans dykes who do dumb shit on stage” (that’s their very own description of their act) to NYC for a taping. Coming Sat. Jan. 15th at 10PM PT, LA will get the Girl God treatment at The Elysian with an exclusive performance that ought to be the sort of absurdist start to 2022 we all need.

Do not miss on the brilliantly daft antics of Freud and Clark and go get your tickets for $16 right here right now (and hope that shows aren’t cancelling or postponing a month from now).

Pick of the Day: Great Moments in Comedy Made Worse (in LA) 12/5
November 24, 2021
News
experimental comedy, glendale, great moments in comedy made worse, improv comedy, jeremy schmidt, los angeles comedy, sketch comedy, skyler madsen

There used to be a time when there were anywhere from 3 to 5 shows a night at any of the UCB theaters. Within that slate, some of the coolest, most experimental stuff (i.e. much of the stuff we sought out before lockdown) happened at or after 11PM.

One of those things was the throw-caution-to-the-wind show Great Moments in Comedy Made Worse. Skyler Madsen and Jeremy Schmidt were at the helm of the raucous comedy catalyst that took famous sketches and tacked on 10-15 minutes of improv after the sketch supposedly ended. Also, none of the players knew what sketch they were going to do/improvise off until the very moment they were handed a script. The sort of madcap fun had by all of this show is something we’ve dearly missed for two years and are so thrilled that it has a date lined-up for next week.

In fact, you won’t even have to stay up to midnight to watch it. Presented by The Comedy Co-op, this return of Great Moments in Comedy Made Worse is set for Sun. Dec. 5th at 8PM PT at The Glendale Room. Tickets are only $10 and we highly suggest you get them ASAP because space is limited.

Please Enjoy Good Cop Great Cop’s Take on Performance Reviews
November 11, 2021
News
charlie hankin, good cop great cop, matt porter, performance review, sketch comedy

As we near two years of going through this very real life nightmare of the pandemic, we’re at a point where things are truly are coming back. That includes one of our favorite sketch groups around, Good Cop Great Cop (Matt Porter and Charlie Hankin).

They used to crank out sketches all the time that struck a great balance between sheer absurdity and grounded reality, all while keeping a figurative straight face. We’ve posted plenty of them throughout the years (even their CC digital series New Timers), but 2020 definitely put that on pause (as it did the whole world).

Thankfully, both Matt and Charlie are doing fine and are officially back at it as evidenced by this latest Good Cop Great Cop sketch about performance reviews. From the looks of it, they have not lost a step. Please enjoy it here.

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