The Definitive Guide to Comedy
There’s a new school in town for aspiring comedy improvisers. And it comes courtesy of the hip-hop musical comedy troupe Freestyle Love Supreme, best known for what its co-creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and director Thomas Kail have gone on to accomplish on Broadway. Now they’re ready to train the next generation …
Jess Kelley-Madera, an independent improv comedy coach, used to perform at the Reckless Theater in New York City until the joint closed when its founder acknowledged his pattern of inappropriate behavior. Kelley-Madera has studied at the UCB and currently with the Magnet Theater. But she’d like to help be part …
Comedy fans have known and loved Jason Mantzoukas for years. Even if you don’t know the name, you’ve probably known and loved Mantzoukas and recognized him from his scene-stealing roles FX’s The League, or Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Drunk History, Transparent, I’m Sorry, No Activity, The Good Place, Big Mouth, or in …
J. Keith Van Straaten, host of the live game show and podcast for Maximum Fun, Go Fact Yourself, met up with me earlier this summer while scouting locations for taking his game show on the road to New York City. Live shows of Go Fact Yourself are happening this weekend …
When Sacha Baron Cohen first burst onto the scene with Ali G, Borat and Bruno on British television in 2000 (and then HBO in 2003), you have to remember what America was then. No social media. No hyper-awareness. When he filmed Borat, he could still fool most of the people …
Alumni from Boom Chicago reunited in Amsterdam over the weekend to celebrate 25 years of American improv comedy by the celebrated company. Among the attendees you’ve seen on TV and the movies: Seth Meyers, Josh Meyers, Ike Barinholtz, Heather Anne Campbell, Matt Jones, Amber Ruffin, Colton Dunn, Holly Walker, and …
Where can the Upright Citizens Brigade go after playing Carnegie Hall? Hollywood, apparently. The UCB4, as co-founders Amy Poehler, Matt Besser, Matt Walsh and Ian Roberts are lovingly called by their students and improv comedy fans around the world, started performing ASSSSCAT in New York City in bars, former strip …
The Nerdist School may be dying this Easter weekend, but it’ll rise from the dead next weekend as The Ruby LA, a new, more inclusive training center for comedians on Hollywood’s Sunset Boulevard. The Ruby LA’s launch will coincide with a 12-hour comedy festival, The Ruby Assembly, on April 7, …
Two comedians who helped launch and run the former Brooklyn branch of the Annoyance Theater have announced a new venture together: The Brooklyn Comedy Collective, a theater and improv comedy school that’ll begin hosting shows and teaching classes in March in The Brick Theater in Williamsburg (579 Metropolitan Ave.). Philip Markle …
Budd Friedman has let go of owning The Improv. Levity Entertainment Group, which already runs six of the Improv comedy clubs in addition to producing stand-up specials and comedy series, as well as managing comedy clients, has bought the legendary Improv franchise brand from Friedman and Improv co-owner Mark Lonow. …
