Headlines September 18 For One Night Only!

“Lady Business,” the name of the newest, and to our knowledge only, all-female improv troupe in the Sacramento area is quite the misnomer. These six very funny girls certainly aren’t “ladies” in the conservative, Emily Post kind of way.

We were able to meet up with this troupe of very sexy, very funny ladies as they were practicing together at the Sacramento Comedy Spot in mid-town in preparation for their fifth monthly appearance there on September 18th.

Improv-ers all, Micaela Smith, Mel Gelbart, Becca Costello, Brittany Birrer Stacy Beckley and Lisa Spivak constitute this hilarious and ribald troupe that presents a point of view that women can relate to and men can only fantasize about.

Using the long form improv style as their vehicle, the women break down their 40 minute show into two main categories. During the first half, the women each do monologues and group montages and in the second, they utilize the audience for ideas and concepts for them to create from.

The women are all veterans in improvisation and regular players at the Sacramento Comedy Spot. Birrer and Shultz are also full time members of the long running improv troupe, Anti-Cooperation League and many of the other members are regulars in the Comedy Spot’s Wednesday HAROLD night show and are all currently competing in the 3 on 3 competition at the mid town venue.

“We swear a lot but so far have not done any masturbation sketches,” Gelbart replied to our questions of what constituted a women’s point of view. “Not stupid boy humor,” added Shultz.

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Saturday, August 21, 2010 at 11:00PM.  Doors open at 10:50PM.  $8 Tickets.

Reservation Information: We only accept cash at the door.  All tickets are General Seating.  All shows open to all ages but should be considered PG13.  All unclaimed reservations will be released 5 minutes prior to show time.

Upcoming Shows
Saturday, August 21, 2010 – 11:00PM

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Jet City Improv Every Friday and Saturday Night!

Every Friday and Saturday at 10:30pm, and MOST Saturdays at 8:00pm

Jet City Improv is located at 5510 University Way NE, Seattle, WA

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Click Here For a Preview of Jet City Improv!

Headlines July 22nd For One Night Only!

So, you know that hot date you had for Thursday? Yeah. They canceled. Why not cheer yourself up with some awesome short form improv on July 22nd at the Naked Lounge (1111 H St)? It’s only $5 and goes from 8:30pm to 10:30pm. That’s a lot cheaper than dinner, wouldn’t you say?

Now turn your head and cough!

Special Show June 17th For One Night Only!

For regular visitors here, you know that I have a soft spot in my heart for the family friendly, very funny “Who’s Line Is It Anyway” improv games at Sacramento Comedy Sportz. I even wrote one of the very rare reviews of a local show called My Parachute Is A Bowling Ball.

Now, they are asking for some help for one of their team members, Matt Marr.  Last week Marr, and his family lost their home, almost all possessions, and two cats in a house fire. Fortunately, Matt, the only person home at the time, escaped the flames with just minor smoke inhalation.

To try to help the family rebuild, Sacramento Comedy Sportz is having a special benefit show this Thursday night, 6/17, 8 PM.  They are asking a minimum $5 donation, but people can donate more if they want.  All ticket proceeds go to the family.

So, now is the time to help “Change the world, one laugh at a time” by attending this show and laughing your butt off! Do it for Matt, yourself and the world.

I’ll see you there!

Steven

Headlines April 1st For One Night Only!

The Cody Rivers Show creates kinetic and unpredictable comedy theatre that has amazed audiences and defied description for the past five years.

Pushing the envelopes of physical theatre, dance, music, and high concept comedy, The Cody Rivers Show delivers unique shows unlike any other comedy act, past or present.

Their latest new piece – ‘Right Back Where We Finished’ – sprints between precocious youths, game theory, pioneerera
linguistics, ants and prairie dogs, the confessions of an unruly teen, eccentric old men, baby jockeys, pingpong, and oh so much more.

It’s like running a marathon, doing algebra, and eating cake at the same time.

Based in Bellingham, Washington and regularly touring the United States and Canada, The Cody Rivers Show  deeply enjoys bringing its blend of dance, music and conceptually inspired theater to audiences everywhere.

Click here for Reservations and to buy tickets!

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Click Here for the Cody Rivers Show Video

Headlines March 18th for One Night Only!

The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre has two locations- one in New York and the other in Los Angeles.  If you want to see some of the funniest comedians in the business, and your travel plans are not taking you to the Big Apple or Hollywood- don’t despair.   On Thursday, March 18, 2010 at 7:30 PM the Upright Citizens Brigade Touring Company will be performing at the University Union Ballroom on the campus of California State University, Sacramento.

The Upright Citizens Brigade Touring Company is a long form improv comedy show.  According to the UCB web site “In long form improvisation, performers create an entire show consisting of interconnected scenes, characters, and ideas completely made-up on the spot with no pre-planning or pre-writing.”

Carter Edwards, the producer and director of the Upright Citizens Brigade Touring Company, says the show will be split into two, thirty-five minutes halves.

“The first half will feature an interview with an audience member which will be used as the source of material for the first half of the show.  The second half of the shows is always up to the cast… I always give them as much freedom as they want to play however they feel so that they are having as much fun as possible because that always translates into you having a fun time watching,” stated Edwards.

I asked Carter Edwards about the differences between short form improv shows like the now canceled television show Whose line is it Anyway? compared to long form improv shows like the UCB Touring Company.

“Short form shows play well at regional theatre, at places where there are a lot of families, a lot of old people, and a lot kids, because [short form shows] are friendlier.” Edwards continued, “Long form really lends itself to an academic environment, to colleges, it’s more about the spectacle… it going to go for thirty-five minutes off one idea…  and it depends on the audience. There are some places that don’t want our show because we are not family friendly enough.”

UCB has assembled an all-star team to perform at CSU, Sacramento.  The cast includes Joel Spence, Suzi Barrett, Colton Dunn and Heather Campbell.

All the cast members of this company have television credits.  Colton Dunn was a writer for MadTv.  Joel Spence has made appearances on Burn Notice, H.I.M.Y.M, and Reno 911. Heather Campbell has been seen on MadTv and MTV and Suzi Barrett is the woman inside the elevator on the 1-800-DENTIST Commercials.

As an improv student of UCB I have had the pleasure of seeing all of these performers multiple times in various shows at the UCB Theatre in Los Angeles.  Ironically, Joel Spence was my instructor for two of my classes at UCB.  Many of the lessons I learned as a student I now pass on to my students at the Sacramento Comedy Spot. Like UCB Los Angeles, The Sacramento Comedy Spot is the only comedy club in Northern California that features long form improv shows almost every night of the week.

Joel Spence and Suzi Barrett perform weekly at the UCB Theatre in Los Angeles in a long form improv group named Sentimental Lady.   Heather Campbell also performs weekly in the improv group Last Day of School and in The Midnight Show, a sketch comedy group which has featured guest hosts including Fred Willard, Andy Richter, and Paul F Tompkins to name a few.  One of Heather’s fellow cast members in The Midnight Show is Sacramento Comedy Spot alum Jeff Sloniker.

The Upright Citizens Brigade was founded by Matt Besser, Amy Poehler, Ian Roberts, and Matt Walsh.  They opened the UCB New York Training center in 1997 and the UCB Theatre in Los Angeles in 2005.  The Upright Citizens Brigade had a sketch comedy show on Comedy Central for three seasons from 1998-2000.

The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre is considered by many as an incubator for new comic talent.  Paul Rust who performs regularly at UCB LA was recently in the movie I love you, Beth Cooper and Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds.  And former Sacramento Comedy Spot performer Betsy Sodaro who has been performing at UCB LA for two years and described as, “the female Chris Farley,” just signed a deal to do a pilot for Comedy Central.  I have never been to a show at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in Los Angeles where I did not recognize someone from television or the movies.  Don’t miss your chance to see UCB live in Sacramento.

The Upright Citizens Brigade show is free of charge and is brought to you by the UNIQUE program at California State University, Sacramento and headed by the wonderful Zenia LaPorte and her staff.

Performing February 27th One Night Only!

See Sacramento’s NEWEST Improv Troupe, The World’s Worst Doctors, at Butch n’Nellies at 19th and I Street in Mid-Town Sacramento.  This show is FREE so you have NO EXCUSE not to stop by!

The show is from  7:30 – 9:30 PM.  The World’s Worst Doctor’s had their first show in December at the Naked Lounge and SOLD OUT! Don’t miss this exciting night of improv, laughs and good times for all!

Butch n’ Nellie’s is located at 1827 I Street, Sacramento, CA. Be sure to follow The World’s Worst Doctors on Twitter: WWDImprov and Become a “fan” on Facebook!

Tell them you saw it on Sacramento Comedy.Com!

Appearing February 19th – 20th
This is a Sacramento Comedy.Com Event!

Bro Squad 5, one of LA’s hottest improv comedy teams, is making their return to our very own Sacramento ComedySportz! They’re unleashing an out-of-control and unbridled brand of improv comedy for two shows in just one weekend. Get ready for mind lasagna!

Friday February 19th and Saturday February 20th 10pm at ComedySportz
$3 with a ComedySportz ticket, $7 otherwise. Includes a free DVD with “best of” clips. PG-13/R
2230 Arden Way Suite A (behind Arby’s)
Sacramento, CA 95825
http://www.comedysportzsacramento.com/buy-tickets

Bro Squad 5: Leeman Parker, Phil Ranta, Scott Narver, and Steve Sears
http://www.brosquad5.com

Fridays with Roar at Twiggs Green Room!

Are you ready for an unscripted comedy party?

Are you ready for loads of improvised fun?

Tickets can be purchased at Twiggs Green Room!

Tell them you saw it on americascomedy.com!

Here’s a Preview of Roar Theatre!