Crossroads Comedy Hour + Kelly McCaughan: Catholic Guilt
Double Bill
February 15, 2024
Crossroads Comedy Night
Join FringeArts and Crossroads Comedy in welcoming Philadelphia favorites Betty Smithsonian, Tata Sherise, and Marcely Jean-Pierre for 3 sets of laugh-out-loud standup!
Marcely Jean-Pierre is a Philly-based comedian, improviser, writer, and performer from Willingboro, New Jersey. He is host and producer of the ‘Outta Pocket Comedy Show’ in South Philadelphia and was a host of ‘Runnin’ Late Comedy Show’ in Brooklyn and Philly where he shared the stage with acts like Nore Davis, TuRae, Marie Faustin, Leclerc Andre and many more. Marcely has performed at Punchline Philly and Helium Comedy Club and he’s been featured on WHYY, PBS Kids, Toronto Sketchfest, and Funny or Die. He was a head writer and performer for sketch and improv troupe ‘NYTEShift’ and regularly performs improv in the greater Philly area. In addition to writing, co-producing, and directing sketch comedy shows, Marcely has also coached and directed both independent and house improv teams at the Philly Improv Theater and Crossroads Comedy Theater, where he also served as an improv instructor.
Betty Smithsonian (she/her), Best of Philly Up and Coming Comedian 2019*. She is a comic, creator, performer, entertainer and award winning goof. She can be found telling jokes, parading in the streets, confidently speaking on topics she barely understands, and creating stages and spaces for lots of people all over the land. She was once named in the New York Times as a ‘free lance clown.’ She’s on stage regularly at Punchline and throughout the Philadelphia area. She can host your fundraiser, corporate event and/or seder. Her comedy has been described as high energy, life changing, authentic, and lacking any hot takes on boring current events. Co-founder Free Fringe Philly. #eattherich. Cast Member The N Crowd, Award winning short form improv comedy.
★★★★★ “The past, present and future of live entertainment rolled into one magnificently anarchic package” Steve Bennett, Chortle
★★★★★ An absolutely insane night of comedy that is impossible to replicate, which is what makes it such an appealing show to come back to” Broadway World
★ “As funny as anthrax” Dick Bath, Scottish Field
Kelly McCaughan:
Catholic Guilt
Nominee: Best Newcomer, Edinburgh Fringe (2023)
Does daddy Jesus’s naked body on the cross make you wet? Spoiler alert: So will this show (No, seriously-there’s water)! So put on your waterproof panties and get ready to unpack losing our virginity in the most holy way, abortion, a bowling experience that leads to eternal damnation and much more.
Through audience participation, cringy personal recounts, and stand-up adjacent clowny performance, Kelly’s poignant, subversive, hilarious show exposes the impossible standards of Catholicism. We will laugh. We will sin. Will we make it to hell together?
Directed by Kyle Metzger.
★★★★ “This full bore counter-ritual of a one-woman show is something of a revelation (…) fusion of performance art, burlesque, one-woman bildungsroman, and outrage comedy, ‘Catholic Guilt’ is brilliantly performed, genuinely shocking (not an easy feat at the Fringe), and a work of extraordinary boldness.” — The Wee Review
★★★★ “Catholic Guilt is a raunchy, unhinged clapback at every sexual and social hang-up instilled by years of religious indoctrination, which makes for an outrageously entertaining hour.” — Chortle
Kelly McCaughan (HBO, Apple TV+) is an actor, writer, comedian, clown, and theater-maker. Kelly started her career doing comedy with the award-winning sketch comedy group, High Dramma and has performed in comedy festivals in NYC, Montreal, Philly, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Los Angeles. She was a cast member of Bye Bye Liver: The Drinking Play and her critically acclaimed show, Catholic Guilt (writer, producer, actor), was nominated for best newcomer with the 2023 ISH Edinburgh Comedy Awards. She has a B.A. in theater and studied clowning with the internationally renowned Aitor Basauri, Bouffon with the critically acclaimed Eric Davis, and Improv at Upright Citizens Brigade. www.kelly-mccaughan.