| StageTimeMag.com | Vol. 2 No. 1 |
Comedy news, interviews, reviews and essays
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| NEW YORK UNDERGROUND COMEDY FESTIVAL NYC's Biggest Comedy Fest Creates Opportunities For Comics |
FESTIVAL WRAP UP:
| BARATUNDE Boston Comic Finds Steady Work at NYUCF |
I was ridiculously excited, but I wasn't able to make the festival. Also during
August, my mother's colon cancer made a rapid resurgence. She was very sick,
and I decided to cancel all comedy shows, including the NYCUCF, to spend time
with her. Sadly, my
mother passed away in the same month.
Everyone at the NYUCF was supportive, and they just shifted my spot to the 2006
festival.
What were some of the shows that you performed and who are some of
the comics you enjoyed?
One of the shows that really stood out was the Hospital Show at Sloan Memorial
Kettering Cancer Center. With my mom having died from cancer, it meant a ton to
me to do this show, and I got to work with one of my heroes, Rick Overton. The
only problem was, if we made the audience laugh too hard, they complained that
it hurt! That was wild.
I also did a paying set at Gotham, which was probably the highlight of my
stand-up career. It was the first NYC club that ever paid me instead of the other
way around. That's what I call progress.
What was your experience participating in the festival?
My experience was chaotic and fun at the same time. There were literally shows
everywhere! I got on a subway car, and there was a banner at the end of the car
saying, "part of the NYC Underground Comedy Festival." So I told a joke, and
added the #2 train to my credits.
The most fun part for me was getting to chill with comics who are farther along
than me - to watch them do their thing and just listen. When I wasn't performing,
I was out somewhere anyway. Folks like Leighann Lord and Carol Montgomery
were a riot, but they also dropped some knowledge on me and introduced me to
folks.
What did you gain from participating in the festival?
I didn't walk away with any management or a development deal, but I did open
some doors. I live in Boston, but roll to NYC a lot, and I found some new rooms
including the Broadway Comedy Cafe and Comix, I have a lot of love for the
Morrison Motel at the Village Lantern and Sweet Paprika at the D-Lounge. I hope
to roll to those more often in the next year.
What's next for you?
I recently started writing a bi-weekly column for a newspaper in Boston called The
Weekly Dig. I just released my third book called Thank You, Congressional Pages (for
being so damn sexy)! and folks can download a free copy from my website at
www.baratunde.com.
August, my mother's colon cancer made a rapid resurgence. She was very sick,
and I decided to cancel all comedy shows, including the NYCUCF, to spend time
with her. Sadly, my
mother passed away in the same month.
Everyone at the NYUCF was supportive, and they just shifted my spot to the 2006
festival.
What were some of the shows that you performed and who are some of
the comics you enjoyed?
One of the shows that really stood out was the Hospital Show at Sloan Memorial
Kettering Cancer Center. With my mom having died from cancer, it meant a ton to
me to do this show, and I got to work with one of my heroes, Rick Overton. The
only problem was, if we made the audience laugh too hard, they complained that
it hurt! That was wild.
I also did a paying set at Gotham, which was probably the highlight of my
stand-up career. It was the first NYC club that ever paid me instead of the other
way around. That's what I call progress.
What was your experience participating in the festival?
My experience was chaotic and fun at the same time. There were literally shows
everywhere! I got on a subway car, and there was a banner at the end of the car
saying, "part of the NYC Underground Comedy Festival." So I told a joke, and
added the #2 train to my credits.
The most fun part for me was getting to chill with comics who are farther along
than me - to watch them do their thing and just listen. When I wasn't performing,
I was out somewhere anyway. Folks like Leighann Lord and Carol Montgomery
were a riot, but they also dropped some knowledge on me and introduced me to
folks.
What did you gain from participating in the festival?
I didn't walk away with any management or a development deal, but I did open
some doors. I live in Boston, but roll to NYC a lot, and I found some new rooms
including the Broadway Comedy Cafe and Comix, I have a lot of love for the
Morrison Motel at the Village Lantern and Sweet Paprika at the D-Lounge. I hope
to roll to those more often in the next year.
What's next for you?
I recently started writing a bi-weekly column for a newspaper in Boston called The
Weekly Dig. I just released my third book called Thank You, Congressional Pages (for
being so damn sexy)! and folks can download a free copy from my website at
www.baratunde.com.
How did you come to the attention of the NYUCF
producers?
I actually submitted for the 2005 festival. August
2005 was a tough month. Katrina had just hit,
and I was on a farm in rural Virginia with barely
any cell phone coverage and no television, radio
or Internet access. To get news, I actually had to
"go into town" like the old days. I can't get too
much more into the Virginia thing, but I was able
to grab a cell phone call from George Sarris, who
let me know I had been accepted and was
nominated for the Bill Hicks Award.
producers?
I actually submitted for the 2005 festival. August
2005 was a tough month. Katrina had just hit,
and I was on a farm in rural Virginia with barely
any cell phone coverage and no television, radio
or Internet access. To get news, I actually had to
"go into town" like the old days. I can't get too
much more into the Virginia thing, but I was able
to grab a cell phone call from George Sarris, who
let me know I had been accepted and was
nominated for the Bill Hicks Award.
| Photo: Zack Seckler |
| SELF-HELP: THE COMEDY |
Debbie Kasper and Sheila Kay
have done what Oprah does at
4pm everyday: Give woman an
opportunity to laugh, learn,
and laugh hysterically at all the
“ish” we put ourselves through
to survive life’s daily dilem-
mas.
Self-Help: The Comedy written,
performed and directed by
Kasper and Kay is a laugh riot
and became the highlight of
my New York Underground
Comedy Festival experience.
The characters were so keen
and believable that I nearly
choked on a Starburst when a
drunken woman came stumb-
ling through the door and
interrupted the show, only to
find that it was Kasper. The
outfits were original and even
Kay’s bummed foot was part of
the act - no one knew she
really was injured.
It was so magical that I wanted
more. More of that drunk lady,
more of Dr. Simpatico, more of
Starshine & Carmella Gambino.
Despite the limited amount of
space, the talented duo pulled
off an amazing feat. I walked
into Self-Help: The Comedy
without any expectations and I
left feeling empowered.
-Joanna Briley, Associate Editor
have done what Oprah does at
4pm everyday: Give woman an
opportunity to laugh, learn,
and laugh hysterically at all the
“ish” we put ourselves through
to survive life’s daily dilem-
mas.
Self-Help: The Comedy written,
performed and directed by
Kasper and Kay is a laugh riot
and became the highlight of
my New York Underground
Comedy Festival experience.
The characters were so keen
and believable that I nearly
choked on a Starburst when a
drunken woman came stumb-
ling through the door and
interrupted the show, only to
find that it was Kasper. The
outfits were original and even
Kay’s bummed foot was part of
the act - no one knew she
really was injured.
It was so magical that I wanted
more. More of that drunk lady,
more of Dr. Simpatico, more of
Starshine & Carmella Gambino.
Despite the limited amount of
space, the talented duo pulled
off an amazing feat. I walked
into Self-Help: The Comedy
without any expectations and I
left feeling empowered.
-Joanna Briley, Associate Editor
| Visit Debbie Kasper and Sheila Kay online at www.selfhelpthecomedy.com |
| Home | News | Features | Interviews | Cover Story | Reviews | Essays | Anatomy of a Joke | New Releases | Archives | Feedback |
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 |