Here’s my roundup of the latest comedy news that caught my interest. Which item is your favourite in Comedy Roundup 20200915 – the improv drive-in, the Spice Girls of comedy, or something else?
Online Improv
I’ve done online improv, while things are shut down, due to the pandemic, so it’s easy to relate to the struggles this student group is having.
At Texas Christian University, the Senseless Acts of Comedy (SAC) troupe has switched to online improv, and it’s a challenge! Lots of their standard games don’t work remotely, but they’ve found lots that do.
Catch their performances every Thursday at 9 p.m. over Zoom. Get the link on the group’s Instagram account – @senselessacts.
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She the People
Did you see the Second City show, She the People, when it came to Canada last year? The show was entirely created, written and performed by women, and got rave reviews.
Carly Heffernan, who was the director and head writer, says the show felt “like a rock concert. It felt like we were the Spice Girls of the comedy scene.”
CBC Comedy spoke to the cast of She the People, which you can see on this short video. As cast member, Ashley Comeau says, “It’s comedy for everyone, just done by women. What a concept!”
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Improv Drive-in
Here’s another way to get your comedy fix during the pandemic — go to the drive-in!
Australian comedian, Monty Franklin, is hosting weekly shows for the Irvine Improv, and it’s going well, with several shows sold out. The shows are held at the top of a parking structure, where there’s enough room for about 200 cars.
If you’re in California, you can catch these upcoming shows: Craig Robinson on Sept. 19; Joel McHale on Sept. 26; Hot Nights, Cool Comics with Lara Beitz, David Gborie, Kellen Erskine and more on Oct. 3
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Comedy Clubs
Will comedy clubs in Los Angeles survive the pandemic, or will they go out of business? At the Thrillist, Joshua Lurie looks at what some clubs are doing (like the Irvine Improv’s drive-in).
Read the comments from comedians, who suggest ways to support the clubs and comedians. There’s also a list of comedy clubs, with links where you can support them.
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Comedy Roundup 20200915
Thanks for reading this week’s comedy roundup, and did you have a favourite story?
Online Improv, Drive-ins & More
