2017 Festival Spotlight: Comedy and Improv, Part 1
This year’s Fringe Festival features features an abundance of comedy and improv. Check out just some of the riotous performances hitting our city next month. Find Part 2 here.
2 INCREDIBLE 2 DREAMZ @ Space 1026
The Incredible Dreamz
Incredible Dreamz is a comedy collective featuring The Incredible Shrinking Matt & Jacquie and The New Dreamz. An exploration of loneliness and connection within the context of everyday relationships. Four performers create a ritual of life that slides between the mundane grind and surreal hallucination. Using a formula where 1 tittle twister = 2 wet willies and 1 homemade meal = 1 hand job, these drama bodies look for formula for love, understanding, comfort and control. This piece uses darker obsessions as material to peel back the pain and beauty inside the desire to be validated—the desire to be fulfilled and to land in a place that is full of froth. More info and tickets here.
TOWN @ The Adrienne Theater Second Stage
Jolie Darrow & Jack O’Keeffe/Philly Improv Theater (PHIT Comedy)
Welcome to TOWN. TOWN is in America, maybe. TOWN is an inviting place where nothing bad happens. The locals of TOWN are hiding plenty of secrets – silly secrets, sinister secrets, and they will all be revealed by the end of the metaphysical horror-comedy modeled after Thornton Wilder’s classic Our Town. More info and tickets here.
I’m Ok, Are You Ok? @ The Adrienne Theater Mainstage
Molly Scullion/Philly Improv Theater (PHIT Comedy)
Molly Scullion has been to therapy, and she’ll tell you all about it. In I’m Ok, Are You Ok?, Molly explores living and healing after trauma. With both hilarious and emotional stories, this show takes you far into the depths of just how weird our brains can be; they keep secrets from us, they explode on us, and yet, they’re always trying to protect us. Exploring some of the darkest times in her life, Molly Scullion brings forth a story about overcoming the past and finding strength and humor in pain. More info and tickets here.
Go Get My Mom @ Ruba Club
CrySpace Comedy
An uproariously funny stand-up special, featuring wild stories and brutally honest commentary brought to you in three unique styles. Erik Beringer, John Barnes and David Vaughn Straughn are three Virginia based comics coming to Philadelphia for their final stop on a five city tour. Go Get My Mom is part of our on going effort to share ideas through comedy and storytelling. More info and tickets here.
Vibraslapped! @ L’Etage Cabaret
Mean Wendy Band
This award-winning comedy quintet always puts on a musically sound performance that boasts plenty of catchy tunes that make audiences laugh self-consciously. Vibraslapped! takes Mean Wendy Band’s already silly sketch-based humor to a behind-the-music level that may be as excessive as said auxiliary percussion. More info and tickets here.
Approaching Happiness with Krish Mohan @ Art Church of West Philadelphia
Krish Mohan
What makes us happy? Comedian Krish Mohan explores the idea of happiness and perceptions of mental illness in today’s society. He is removing stigmas associated with immigration, drugs, gun control, racism and being accountable for the problems we’ve created, all revolving around the subject of mental health. Featured on NPR Highly Rated and in hit Shows at IndyFringe, Capital Fringe & Pittsburgh Fringe Nationally Touring Comedian. More info and tickets here.
Labor of Love @ L’Etage Cabaret
Waitstaff Sketch Comedy
What the world needs now is laughter sweet laughter. And liquor. Uproarious comedy lovingly written and performed by “Philly’s hottest sketch troupe” (Philadelphia Inquirer) in the city’s funkiest cabaret space with the best bar in town! WaitStaff Sketch Comedy has been a part of Philadelphia nightlife and theatre scene for almost two decades and have performed in fifteen previous Fringe Festivals. Performing original, scripted material which runs the gamut from silly to sophisticated and rude to ridiculous, their shows are fast paced and capitalize on a wide variety of comedic styles and perspectives. More info and tickets here.
Liberty City Radio Theatre @ Headhouse Cafe
Liberty City Radio Theatre
Liberty City Radio Theatre is a live “new-style old time” radio show, with actors on stage taking on multiple roles recreating the golden era of the theater of the mind, with newly written and adapted episodes for the modern audiences complete with on-stage sound effects and live music. Episodes will vary every night, but will include a dash of superheroes, a pinch of noir and an ample serving of humor. More tickets and info here.
Bye Bye Liver: The Philadelphia Drinking Play @ Evil Genius Beer Company
Happy Hour Live, LLC
Two parts sketch comedy, One part drinking games: Mixed and served! Come party with us for a night you might remember with interactive drinking games between comedic romps about the drinking experience. Ticket includes your first beer from Evil Genius! More info and tickets here.
Mesmerized @ Warehouse on Watts
Frank Perri Live
Expand what you thought was possible in this comedy hypnosis show run fully on audience participation. A profoundly hilarious event where you and your friends could be the stars of the show! More info and tickets here.