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| StageTimeMag.com | Vol. 2 No. 1 |
Comedy news, interviews, reviews and essays
STAGE TIME | "The Comedian's Magazine"
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE FEATURES Festival Wrap Up: New York Underground Comedy Festival Hustle & Grow: STAGE TIME Celebrates 1st Anniversary Comic Resolutions 2007 Comic's Final Progress Report 2006 INTERVIEWS Brad Stine **NEW** Careers in Comedy: Ryan McCormick PR Manager COVER STORY Shang REVIEWS Angry Bob Comedy Jump Off Doug Powell Eric Schwartz James P. Connolly **NEW** Anatomy of a Joke "Racism Damnit!" Written and Performed by Shang |
| NEW YORK UNDERGROUND COMEDY FESTIVAL NYC's Biggest Comedy Fest Creates Opportunities For Comics |
FESTIVAL WRAP UP:
By Jerry L. Kahn, News Correspondent
The New York Underground Comedy Festival has quickly
expanded from a small, three-show event to a 10-day
celebration of comedy that reached over 189 million
people in just four years. Over 300 established and
emerging comedians took part in the annual event at
venues across New York City last September. The festival
featured performers from as far away as Australia and
New Zealand and drew record number industry attendees,
fans and national and international media coverage.
“This year we finally… earned the respect of the industry.
We’re… just getting stronger. Our record speaks for itself,”
says executive producer George Sarris. The festival is
geared toward helping comedians advance in their trade.
expanded from a small, three-show event to a 10-day
celebration of comedy that reached over 189 million
people in just four years. Over 300 established and
emerging comedians took part in the annual event at
venues across New York City last September. The festival
featured performers from as far away as Australia and
New Zealand and drew record number industry attendees,
fans and national and international media coverage.
“This year we finally… earned the respect of the industry.
We’re… just getting stronger. Our record speaks for itself,”
says executive producer George Sarris. The festival is
geared toward helping comedians advance in their trade.
| Comedian Joe DeVito Photos: NYUCF |
Many comics have already have received invitations to perform in other festivals and have been
scouted by industry representatives.
“The 2004 Emerging Comics Show had three people [out of eight] who went on to [major comedy
festivals in] Aspen or Montreal,” says Sarris. Bruce “Clonan” Christensen, who is a comedian and a
Conan O’Brien imperson-ator, hosted and performed in two NYUCF events: “The SNL Extra Show” and
“Clonan’s Variety Show.”
The biggest benefit to performing in the NYUCF is either “the potential contacts or the potential press
coverage,” says Christensen. “I met some pretty important people this year. The people from E!
Entertainment… (were) there. You know you’re going to see everyone at the festival. You get exposed
to some really good people.”
Unlike the New York Comedy Festival (produced by Caroline's), the New York Underground Comedy
Festival is all-inclusive and hosts shows in all five boroughs, in venues ranging from public libraries to
major comedy clubs. Comedians range from open mikers to household names.
scouted by industry representatives.
“The 2004 Emerging Comics Show had three people [out of eight] who went on to [major comedy
festivals in] Aspen or Montreal,” says Sarris. Bruce “Clonan” Christensen, who is a comedian and a
Conan O’Brien imperson-ator, hosted and performed in two NYUCF events: “The SNL Extra Show” and
“Clonan’s Variety Show.”
The biggest benefit to performing in the NYUCF is either “the potential contacts or the potential press
coverage,” says Christensen. “I met some pretty important people this year. The people from E!
Entertainment… (were) there. You know you’re going to see everyone at the festival. You get exposed
to some really good people.”
Unlike the New York Comedy Festival (produced by Caroline's), the New York Underground Comedy
Festival is all-inclusive and hosts shows in all five boroughs, in venues ranging from public libraries to
major comedy clubs. Comedians range from open mikers to household names.
Peyton Clarkson, who performed in “The Under 25 Show,” “The Next Wave,” and at
the Comic Strip Live, says that the NYUCF’s biggest benefit is “the new talent
section. It gives [new comics] a chance to be seen by industry. The Underground
Festival is a great opportunity in that regard too, because there are so many shows
for it.” “Peyton Clarkson shined,” Sarris adds. “The Pajama Party,” where all of the
comedians perform in their pajamas, “The Next Wave,” and “The Letterman
Auditions" are some of the best shows the festival has to offer. Next year, “The
Pajama Party” is going to be hosted by Playboy Playmate Julie McCullough.
the Comic Strip Live, says that the NYUCF’s biggest benefit is “the new talent
section. It gives [new comics] a chance to be seen by industry. The Underground
Festival is a great opportunity in that regard too, because there are so many shows
for it.” “Peyton Clarkson shined,” Sarris adds. “The Pajama Party,” where all of the
comedians perform in their pajamas, “The Next Wave,” and “The Letterman
Auditions" are some of the best shows the festival has to offer. Next year, “The
Pajama Party” is going to be hosted by Playboy Playmate Julie McCullough.
Both Christensen and Clarkson met with representatives from E! Entertainment Television. However,
even if comedians don’t meet industry representatives at the festival, it may still help them advance
because the NYUCF is solicited for comedians year round.
“We don’t just use you and throw you out the door; we’re like a family,” says Sarris. “We’re constantly
asked for talent. It doesn’t end. We’re a festival that semi-nurtures talent.”
“It’s always great to get into shows at places that I’ve never performed at," says Clarkson. It’s
definitely a good thing what he [Sarris] does. [The NYUCF’s organizers] seem to be interested in
developing new talent. It says a lot about them. The fact that they make an effort to show new talent
says a lot.”
even if comedians don’t meet industry representatives at the festival, it may still help them advance
because the NYUCF is solicited for comedians year round.
“We don’t just use you and throw you out the door; we’re like a family,” says Sarris. “We’re constantly
asked for talent. It doesn’t end. We’re a festival that semi-nurtures talent.”
“It’s always great to get into shows at places that I’ve never performed at," says Clarkson. It’s
definitely a good thing what he [Sarris] does. [The NYUCF’s organizers] seem to be interested in
developing new talent. It says a lot about them. The fact that they make an effort to show new talent
says a lot.”