Performers
All Star JAM
Charleston
Some of the country’s best improvisers will be in town during the festival. What better way to celebrate than by having good old-fashioned improv jam! This is sure to be an “anything goes and probably will” type of show.
Theatre 99Alt Com! The Alternative Comedy Festival Tour presents Ken Reid, Myq Kaplan and Micah Sherman
Boston
Three of the freshest, funniest comedians to emerge from Boston’s legendary alt comedy scene. You don’t want to miss this show! Check them out on the web at:
Trio ClubTrio ClubAssorted Rogues Sketch Comedy
Charleston
This brand new Sketch Comedy show powered by the minds (or lack there of) of The Assorted Rogues comedy troupe will make fun of all the mindless television you love, but here there is no digital converter box or premium cable subscription required, and with more laughs than you can shake your old useless analog antenna at! Local sketch comedy at its best.Performing as part of a double bill with Doppelganger.
Theatre 99B.S. (Belushi and Stoltenberg)
Chicago
B.S. (Rob Belushi and Tim Stoltenberg) takes improv by the horns in this fast-paced show of revolving scenes, characters, and whatever comes up. All fueled by an audience suggestion.Performing on a double bill with Eliza Skinner Is: SHAMELESS.
Theatre 99Theatre 99Beards of Comedy Tour
Atlanta
The BEARDS OF COMEDY Tour is quickly becoming one of the hottest shows in the U.S, with four of the funniest, freshest (and yes, bearded) faces in comedy. The “Beards” deliver an original brand of humor that’s deeply rooted in stand-up, and lightly blended with avant-garde elements of music, sketch, and improv.www.myspace.com/beardsofcomedy
Charleston Pour HouseCharleston Pour HouseBest Friends
Washington, DC and NYC
As a kid, it was half of your little league team. As a teen, it was half a six pack. As an adult, it was half of your wedding party. As an old man it’s half your memories. BFF: what makes friends last forever? Best Friends, the always hilarious and often heart-warming show from Washington DC and New York City, explores the things that bring people together and the stresses that pull them apart.Performing as part of the Improv Marathon with ColdTowne and Senior PGA.
Stars at The American TheaterStars at The American TheaterCats Hugging Cats
Charleston
This five-person improv group finds the comedy in the mundane. Scenes start out normal but soon become ticking time bombs of insane hilarity. A show may start out with a scene about a parent-teacher conference or a board meeting, but by the end chickens have risen up and taken over the world and cavemen file class action lawsuits. If that’s not enough, everyone in the show is totally hot as shit.Performing as part of Laugh for a Lincoln with Hot Pants.
Theatre 99Charleston Stand Up Competition Finals
Charleston
After four preliminary rounds held in November, December, and January, the final night of the Charleston Stand Up Competition will feature the 16 comics with the most audience votes competing in the finals of the Charleston Stand Up Competition. It will be hosted by Kenny Zimlinghaus. Audience members will vote on the paper ballot to decide the winner of this year’s competition.See video of the finalists from the first two rounds of prelims here and here.
Music FarmColdTowne Tourco
Austin, TX
ColdTowne Tourco is composed of veteran performers and faculty members of ColdTowne Conservatory. ColdTowne Theater’s resident comedians have performed and taught improv all over the country, including at some of the world’s most famous comedy institutions -— The Second City, iO, the UCB, and The Annoyance Theatre. They have won every major comedy award Austin has to offer, and have performed at every major comedy festival in North America. Performing as part of the Improv Marathon with Best Friends and Senior PGA.
Stars at The American TheaterStars at The American TheaterCook County Social Club with Butterscotch
Chicago
The best of Chicago improv meets the finest of Charleston music when the Cook County Social Club returns with band Butterscotch (made up of several former Charlestonians) to perform their signature show “Unplugged.” Taking inspiration from the songs played by the band (Matt & Evan Bivins, Chris Gingrich, Henry Riggs) Cook County Social Club weave a night of hilarious magic not to be missed.“Dream team.” —Chicago Magazine
“‘Critics Pick’ Some of the flat-out funniest moments we’ve ever seen in an improv show come from this fantastic four.” —TimeOut Chicago
“Few improv troupes in Chicago are as ballsy as Cook County Social Club.” —Decider/AV Club
“The bromance between these four close friends was hard to miss...they were easily the best act I’ve seen...” —Charleston City Paper
www.myspace.com/cookcountysocialclub
Theatre 99Theatre 99Craig Baldo
New York City
Craig Baldo performs often on flat-screen TVs, appearing on shows like Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Comedy Central’s Premium Blend, etcetera. He was a finalist on the first season of Last Comic Standing where he was not left standing. His world-renowned audience warm-up work has landed him gigs on the Daily Show, Colbert Report, and Important Things with Demetri Martin. This guy writes too, stuff like ads, essays, his own bio and lots of jokes. Talkin’ mad penmanship. Craig put every dime he’s ever made from comedy into a website, so do him a favor and feast your eyes on the damn thing: craigbaldo.com. Performing as part of the Stand Up Double Feature with Jamie Lee
blog.craigbaldo.com/standupguy/ (Late Night with Conan O’Brien)
The American TheaterThe American TheaterDanny Canoe
Raleigh
Danny Canoe is an improv team made up of veteran players (more than 45 years of improv experience among them). The various players have played together in various shows for years. They like playing together so much that they decided to make it an ongoing thing with Danny Canoe. Their show features players assuming each other’s characters — sometimes even mid-scene. They love Charleston and hope that Charleston will love Danny Canoe.Performing as part of the Improv Marathon with Sid Viscous and Einstein Meets Elvis.
Stars at The American TheaterDoppelganger
Charleston
Charleston’s only all-improvised rock show, where the audience shouts out the “titles” of their favorite Doppelganger songs and have them performed for the first and last time ever.The Critics say: “Lee Lewis and Jason Cooper are so good at what they do that the lines between fact and fiction may blur a bit during the show.” —Jason Zwiker
“It’s a mix of VH1 Storytellers and Tenacious D” —Erica Jackson
Performing as part of a double bill with the Assorted Rogues Sketch Comedy.
Theatre 99Einstein meets Elvis
Atlanta
This award-winning JaCKPie touring team brings together an all-star cast to rock your socks off! (EmE is not responsible for lost socks.) What do you get when Einstein Meets Elvis? Rocked-fueled improv!! EmE features longtime friends Mike Brune, Jen Caldwell, Damian Dunn, and Chris Nik. When EmE hit the festival circuit they hit with a boom, performing in just nine months at the Charleston Comedy Festival, North Carolina Comedy Arts Festival, Richmond Improv Festival, Black Box Improv Festival, Southeastern Comedy Arts Festival, Spontaneous Combustion, So ILL Improv Festival, Hawaii Festival of Improv, as well as multiple shows at Theatre 99 (Charleston, SC), DSI Comedy Theater (Carborro, NC), Mississippi State University and Ole Miss--all the while performing and coaching in Atlanta every week! This explosion of minds create long-form shows that just can’t be missed. They’ll put the party up in yo’ business, light your test tube, and you’ll shake your pelvis, when Einstein Meets Elvis!Performing as part of Improv Marathon with Danny Canoe, Sid Viscous, and Family Dinner.
Stars at The American TheaterStars at The American TheaterElephant Larry
New York City
The five young men of Elephant Larry provide some of the best sketch comedy New York City has to offer. Since 2002, the EL boys have written, produced, and performed over 500 million sketch comedy shows. The Village Voice recently named them the Best Comedy Ensemble of 2009, but since their shows in Charleston are nearly three weeks into 2010, all bets are off. They are, and shall forever remain, champions of pizza and high fives.
Charleston Ballet TheatreCharleston Ballet TheatreEliza Skinner is: SHAMELESS!
New York City
A show about people you hate, but have to love. Eliza Skinner portrays three horribly flawed, wickedly funny women.“Skinner wrenches humor from awkward circumstances and cringe-inducing comments....you will love her.”—TimeOutNY
“Gut-bustingly hilarious, filled with truly memorable moments.“ —RichmondVATheater.com
“Shameless is not tobe missed ... hilarious and heartbreaking”“ —AndIAmNotLying.com
Performing as part of a double bill with B.S. (Belushi and Stoltenberg).
Theatre 99Theatre 99Family Dinner
Atlanta
The Basement Theatre’s Family Dinner is an improvised look at your family. In Family Dinner, one audience member tells about four of their family members then the players create a fun and hilarious holiday dinner full of familial drama that is sure to remind you of your own crazy family!Performing as part of the Improv Marathon with Sid Viscous and Einstein Meets Elvis.
Stars at The American TheaterFestival Finale
CharlestonThe hottest ticket in the festival! This two-hour extravaganza is a sample platter of many of the festival shows and artists. Get your tickets now before they sell out.
Theatre 99Found Footage Festival
New York City
The Found Footage Festival is a one-of-a-kind event showcasing videos found at
garage sales and thrift stores throughout the country. Hosts Joe Pickett (The Onion) and Nick Prueher (Late Show with David Letterman) serve as tour guides through their ever-growing collection of the VHS tapes that time forgot.
The American TheaterThe American TheaterHot Pants
Charleston
Get fired up with Theatre 99 co-founder Brandy Sullivan and Theatre 99 veteran performer Jennifer Buddin as they let it all hang out in the two-woman, comedy improv show Hot Pants! Based on audience suggestions, the ladies explore different characters, relationships, and situations that’ll have your pants on fire, too!Performing as part of Laugh for a Lincoln with Cats Hugging Cats.
Theatre 99Hunter Family Crest
Chicago
Hunter Family Crest is a dynamic group of slightly dysfunctional friends that perform longform improvisational comedy. Camille, Chris, Joe and Anthony met while performing at Chicago’s famous iO Theater, formerly Improv Olympic. Hunter Family Crest’s shows use monologues to inspire scenes driven by personal relationships and the absurdity that comes from them.Performing as part of the Comedy Marathon with Kanellis & Armstrong present No Swallow and Matt Donelley's Celebrity Tarot Lounge
Eye Level Art 103 GalleryEye Level Art 103 GalleryJamie Lee
New York City
Jamie Lee is a pretty swell human. (TMI?) You may have seen her on Collegehumor.com, making fun of celebrity fashion in Life & Style Magazine, appearing in commercials for Crunch Gym or Doritos or providing witty commentary on VH1’s Best Night Ever podcast. However, her face is still unfamiliar to most. She hopes to change that. And she is going to start by making people laugh til they pee a lil’ in Charleston, SC.Performing as part of the Stand Up Double Feature with Craig Baldo.
The American TheaterThe American TheaterKanellis & Armstrong present No Swallow
New York City
Hot-new-thing NYC comedians Nick Kanellis and Russ Armstrong’s No Swallow is a fast, fluid collection of smart, juicy comedy woven into a crisp, tasty package. A wild range of thumpingly hilarious characters and junkyard fantasies — and all the wrong birds. It’s American-made. Grab your m#therf#cking binoculars.Performing as part of the Comedy Marathon with Hunter Family Crest and Matt Donelley's Celebrity Tarot Lounge.
Eye Level Art 103 GalleryEye Level Art 103 GalleryKenny Zimlinghaus
New York City
Kenny “Z”imlinghaus is a comedian from New York City. He became a comedian after years of being a very fat child. Kenny is a regular at the Charleston Comedy Festival and those who have seen him perform have said “bless his heart.” He has performed all over the country and co-hosts a daily morning show on SIRIUSXM’s “Cosmo Radio.” Kenny’s act never disappoints. Only himself.Performing as part of the Stand Up Showdown with Tig Notaro.
www.myspace.com/kennyzimlinghaus
Music FarmMusic FarmMatt Donnelly’s Celebrity Tarot Lounge
Las Vegas
Matt Donnelly’s Celebrity Tarot Lounge is a Las Vegas improv show filled with comedy, mystery, and celebrity secrets... sure to entice any audience. The show features the best and brightest improv comics from Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York City, and Chicago who create a series of characters, sketches and montages based solely on a comedic tarot reading of an actual guest celebrity and/or an audience member live on stage.
Performing as part of the Comedy Marathon with Hunter Family Crest and Kanellis & Armstrong present No Swallow.
Eye Level Art 103 GalleryEye Level Art 103 GalleryMoral Fixation
Charleston
Moral Fixation is a two-man long-form improv show birthed from the fertile loins of Lee Lewis and Greg Tavares. They take one audience member suggestion and through personal revelation and virtuoso scenework, weave an intricate tapestry of artistic deliciousness. It’s improv at the speed of brilliance! The perfect show for those who like their comedy a little on the meaty side...Performing as part of Laugh for a Lincoln with Shattering Pearls.
Theatre 99Neckprov
Charleston
Join Skeeter, Wild Man, Jackson, Carlene, R.L., Ray Ray and Chevron for an evening for rednecks and those who are curious about rednecks. This long-form will weave a tapestry of stereotypical redneck situations and not so stereotypical situations into a gut busting show that will have you waving the stars and stripes and yelling “Free Bird.” What if rednecks were at the signing of the Declaration of Independence? What if they were the brains behind such great inventions as the telescope, duck pate or the atom bomb? Someone is gonna burn down their trailer house trying to deep fry some road kill. It’s all improv based on your suggestions. Rednecks don’t write scripts.
Performing as part of Laugh for a Lincoln with Purple Jam.
Theatre 99Pangea 3000
New York City
Pangea 3000 is a four-man expedition team/sketch comedy group comprised of writers and contributors to The Onion. They have performed regularly at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in New York. They have also appeared in sketch comedy festivals throughout the country. Its members have appeared on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, TheCollege Humor Show, and the podcast Sound of Young America.Presented by the Upright Citizens Brigade Touring Co. and performing with SideCar.
Charleston Ballet TheatreCharleston Ballet TheatrePurple Jam
CharlestonPurple Jam is a "Who's Who" of Theatre 99 company members who will take your suggestion and turn it into a variety of hilarious scenes that have become the trademark of Theatre 99's popular "Laugh for a Lincoln" series. 100% laugh back guarantee!
Performing as part of a double bill with Neckprov.
Theatre 99Senior PGA
Carrboro, NC
Senior PGA performs regularly at the DSI Comedy Theater. Zach Ward and Jeremy McDonald improvised together in late ’90s and after a decade of separation (one hit Chicago and the other hit the Beach) they are reconnected on stage and it’s a hit... every single time.“Senior PGA sustained a packed house with continuous, unexhausted laughter... delivering successful joke after successful joke.” —Daily Tar Heel
“Off-the-wall comedy ... Easily more engrossing than any movie or television show. By the end, the performers had me in tears.” —Independent Weekly
Performing as part of the Improv Marathon with ColdTowne and Best Friends.
www.dsicomedytheater.com/teams/senior-pga/
Stars at The American TheaterStars at The American TheaterShattering Pearls
CharlestonAnnie Boxell, Renee Fincke, and Brandy Sullivan take your suggestions and create scenes and songs. Three chicks, one piano, one suggestion ... a bunch of musical improv. Every show is opening and closing night.
Performing as part of Laugh for a Lincoln with Moral Fixation.
Theatre 99Sid Viscous
New York City
Made up entirely of house team members from The Peoples Improv Theater in New York City, SidViscous! represents a union of some of the sharpest and most warped comedic minds in Manhattan. Now entering their fourth year together, the team has earned renown throughout NYC’s improv community for their hive-like group mind and penchant for creative experimentation.Performing as part of the Improv Marathon with Danny Canoe, Family Dinner, and Einstein Meets Elvis.
Stars at The American TheaterStars at The American TheaterSidecar
New York City
Sidecar is a crackerjack New York-based sketch and improv team that has been performing in New York and abroad for over three years. This One’s for the Losers is a compilation of their greatest sketches from at home and abroad.Presented by the Upright Citizens Brigade Touring Co. and performing with Pangea 3000.
Charleston Ballet TheatreCharleston Ballet TheatreSitting at the Grown Up Table
Chicago
Holly & Eric are newly wed, but not to each other. This irreverent and irresistible look at the ups and downs of the first year of marriage is the true(st) story of two friends who fell in love... with other people.Written and performed by Holly Laurent & Eric Hunicutt. They are both members of The Reckoning, Chicago’s longest running long form group.
Performing on a double bill with Switchboard.
Eye Level Art 103 GalleryEye Level Art 103 GallerySouth Carolina Federal Credit Union presents Get Hypnotized!
Framingham, MA
Comedian and certified hypnotist Peter Gross gets into your head and creates a show of amazing demonstrations, hilarious skits and ‘family friendly’ hypno-fun. Using hypnotic technique, Peter transforms mild-mannered volunteers into dancing, singing, improvising super stars. So come see the show or be the show! Peter has demonstrated his mesmerizing powers for Fortune 500 companies including Microsoft, Bose, Intel and EMC. He regularly performs at colleges across the US and has performed at resorts all across Mexico.
www.funnyhypnotism.com
Charleston Ballet TheatreSwitchboard
Chicago
Switchboard is an improvised surprise, born of the creative minds of Rebecca Sohn, Debra Downing, and Jean Villepique. These three lovely ladies use their chops, their gams, and some fancy musical stylings to entertain the masses. Performing on a double bill with Sitting at the Grown Up Table.
Eye Level Art 103 GalleryEye Level Art 103 GalleryTed Alexandro
New York City
Time Out NY named Ted Alexandro one of the top comedians working today. He’s performed on David Letterman, Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Kimmel, Craig Ferguson, The View and two half-hour specials on Comedy Central. He’s also performed internationally on The World Stands Up in London, The Big Night of Comedy Festival in Amsterdam and three times at Montreal’s Just for Laughs Comedy Festival. Uproar magazine had this to say: “With an appeal similar to Ray Romano and Jerry Seinfeld, Ted Alexandro may very well become New York’s next big hit!”Performing as part of the Stand Up Inferno with Trey Galyon.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=diYSNWdqw-o (Late Show with David Letterman)
Music FarmMusic FarmThe Dangerous Strangers of Cabaret Kiki with special guests, the Cook County Social Club
Chicago and Charleston
The Dangerous Strangers of Cabaret Kiki reunite to play music from Charleston’s favorite variety show. Jonny Panik (Matt Bivins) and Kurt Nihilist (Evan Bivins) return from the Windy City to get the band back together for a night of your favorite Cabaret Kiki hits. But in true Kiki form they have a few tricks up their sleeve. They’ve kidnapped Chicago’s finest improv and sketch comedians — the Cook County Social Club — and are forcing them to dance for your pleasure! It’s an action packed hour of thrills, chills and gut busting laughs. Don’t miss it.
Charleston Ballet TheatreThis is Chucktown
Charleston
This is Chucktown is a collection of the best local comics who have combined forces to present the greatest comedy the world has ever produced. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll laugh at other people crying.
Centre Point Bar and GrillTig Notaro
Los Angeles
You may recognize Tig from her role as “Officer Tig” on The Sarah Silverman Program on Comedy Central. She’s had her own half-hour special, Comedy Central presents Tig, and guest-starred on Comedy Central’s critically acclaimed Dog Bites Man. She has also performed on NBC’s Last Comic Standing, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Last Call with Carson Daly, ABC’s Comics Unleashed, and Comedy Central’s Premium Blend. “Tig is so funny. She is so comfortable on stage and takes her time like a master. She has the timing of Bob Newhart and the body of a tiny lumberjack. It’s so fun to watch her. She’s funny without even saying a word. She just has that thing and it’s hilarious.”
—Sarah Silverman, Actor/Writer/ComedianPerforming as part of the Stand Up Showdown with Kenny Zimlinghaus.
Music FarmMusic FarmTrey Galyon
New York City
After becoming a favorite at clubs in his hometown of Austin, Tray hit the road and made a name for himself, touring the Midwest. He’s been lucky enough to perform with some of the best comedians of the last decade, including Ron White, Mitch Hedberg, Greg Geraldo, and Tom Rhodes to name a few. With his brutal honesty and a pothead’s quick wit, trust us potheads can be pretty quick with the wit, Trey was dubbed the “Anti Hero of Comedy” by the Austin Chronicle. From family to drugs to an unnatural love of peanut butter, Trey tackles the not-so-tough subjects and hip-checks a few into the boards that shoulda been left alone. Performing as part of the Stand Up Inferno with Ted Alexandro.
Music FarmMusic Farm
