Last Call for Fun-for-All

Cool down this summer evening with a hilarious Living Room Show!

For our 95th show we invite our old favorite friends:

NICK COBB hosts
CAROLYN CASTIGLIA
AMY ALBERT
LUKE THAYER
sketch by ABBI CRUTCHFIELD


Fri June 24, 8:00PM
Postmark Cafe
326 6th Street (btwn 4th/5th aves)
New York, NY 11215
FREE

Tonight toNIGHT to NIGH-IGHT

Phil Collins said it best.

Positively Awesome is a comedy show about a small black child who gets adopted by a white family and hides in various secret compartments in the home.

You'll love it!

Okay, it's actually stand-up comedy, but if you like precious minorities, secret surprises and white people you'll love our lineup!

H. ALAN SCOTT
JAMIE LEE
DAVID FOSTER

with freestyle and jokes by soce the elemental wizard
hosted by MEEEE

Be there.

The People's Improv Theater (PIT)
123 E. 24th Street
New York, NY 10010
8:00PM
$5
Get your tickets here before the show's sold out!

Positively Awesome

A year and a half ago I started a show with Andrew Singer called Positively Awesome. We gave away free T-shirts.



It was in a tiny back room of a wine bar.



People loved it.



But they needed more room. So we're moving to the People's Improv Theater!



At The PIT's new basement space, we're bringing more excellent stand-up, more great freestyle rap re-caps, and deeper, longer belly laughs! Check out our amazing lineup and their fantastic credits!

MYQ KAPLAN (Big time TV stuff)
SARA SCHAEFER (So many things I can't even)
JAMIE ROBERTS (Have you seen him yet? I mean have you? Oh man)
KEVIN BARNETT (Dopeness plus originality plus he's all, "I don't give a...")

You do NOT want to miss our inaugural show. Be a part of comedy history!

Positively Awesome at The PIT
123 E. 24th Street, NYC 10010
$5
Buy tickets here or at the door.

A Mature Night

I have been invited to perform on A Mature Night at The Apollo. Obviously someone recognized how poised and level-headed I am when I tell jokes and decided that I am the epitome of maturity. I can't wait to play to all the other fellow mature adults (no doubt enjoying tea with scones and a side of Centrum Silver).

It's gonna be fun. More fun for the audience probably than the performer, as I have to maintain an air of maturity throughout my entire set.

Apollo Theater
253 W. 125th St, NYC 10027
7:30PM
Click the link at right for info on how to buy tickets in advance.

Enter Sandman

Wop Wop Wop you got going on Sunday? Want to hang out at the famous Apollo Theater?

See me perform on behalf of the TriBeCa Performing Arts Center* at The Apollo’s Open House Weekend, sponsored by Target**, Sunday February 6th at 1:30PM. But you don't have to wait until Sunday. The open house begins on Sat Feb 5th, and you'll see all kinds of organizations represented. What a wonderful way to celebrate Black History Month by visiting a historic black landmark where you can see a pretty black lady tell jokes!

I don't think anyone will be able to tap dance me off since it's not televised, but there will be a panel of judges, and unless it's my family, talking into a banana won't make them like me. So I have to bring the big guns. (Larger bananas).

All of this is a precursor to a fabulous show I will host starring Leighann Lord.

Leighann Lord with Black Women in Comedy
Sat Feb 19 at 8PM
TriBeCa Performing Arts Center
$15


*Check out TriBeCa Performing Arts Center on Facebook!

**Additional generous support is provided by Aetna

Live and In Person

Here are places you can see my act live this week!

Tues Jan 18
8:00PM - Positively Awesome at Cellar 58
9:30PM - Sits and Jigles at Creek and the Cave

Wed Jan 19
8:30PM - Brew House Comedy at Astoria Brewhouse (pictured above)

So THIS is Happening on Thursday

Get your tickets today!
Not Getting It: Rejection and Resilient Ignorance
Thurs Jan 13, 2011 at 6:00PM
UCB Theater
307 W. 26th St (between 8th and 9th aves)
New York, NY 10001
212-366-9176
$5

For five dollars you get to check out THREE amazing shows. In addition to mine, you'll see:

The Sandino Book Club: Catcher in the Rye

Welcome to Camp


The title of my show is misleading. It could totally be about the number of times I have interpreted "No," to mean, "Please try again," but who wants to see a show about me asking a guy out / telling bad jokes / applying glitter nail polish to my eye lids to create a shimmer effect?

This is about the decline of celebrity, the delusion of self-importance and the warm and fuzzy feeling redemption brings. Plus an excuse to dress like a kid, poke fun at political figures and do a Carol Channing impression. Can't wait to see you there!

Directed by Kate Tellers
Flier by Greg Gilbert of Aemiessence Fine Arts
Video in the show by Daniel Lang

SPANK You Very Much

On Thurs Jan 13, 2011 at 6:30PM I will debut a solo show at the Upright Citizen's Brigade Theater:

Not Getting It: Rejection and Resilient Ignorance

On a quest to salvage her ratings, life coach-turned-TV personality Dr. Newberry invites her viewers to participate in a slogan-writing contest. The responses range from death threats to epithets and she couldn't be more honored.

Dr. Newberry is a character I've been performing in the city, and you might be suprised to see which people make up her regular viewing public (hint: other characters I've been performing in the city). Here's a sneak preview to see her in action: clickable link to VIDEO of Dr. Newberry

Directed by the fabulous Kate Tellers

SPANK at UCB Theater
Admission: $5

UCB Theater NY
307 W. 26th Street
New York, NY 10001
212-366-9176

You Need a Time Out (NY)

Tonight's show F-word: Feminism, Funny & Fearless has been
featured in Time Out NY!

Show your support for Paradigm Shift --the largest feminist community group in New York City--at tonight's fundraiser, featuring a silent auction and performances by comedians Jen Dziura...and Jessica Delfino.

(...and Abbi Crutchfield.) <--I added that part.

See you at Angels and Kings tonight Thurs Dec 9 at 7:00PM. Bring your throat spray because I predict a lot of hooting and hollering!

Photo credit: newyork.timeout.com

Feminism For Fun

Together with some fabulous comics I'll be on an amazing comedy show by Paradigm Shift, NYC's hardest-working feminist activism group.

In anticipation of our contribution as empowered performers and general buffoons, Michelle Gonzalez interviewed Jessica Delfino, Jen Dziura, Hadiya Robinson, Leah King and yours truly.

Here's my take on what the audience can expect from the show F-word: Feminism, Funny and Fearless:

Firstly, a frightfully fast and furious frenzy of freaky femme fatales! For friendly fun, fear not! Five fabulous females share feel-good fairy tales for a few dollars! Finally, forty flopping flounders fight fifty flying fish for a fiefdom of figs. Phew! (Also a raucous night of comedy...).

Check it out here!

See you at the show!

This Thursday, December 9th, from 7 to 10 pm, head to Angels & Kings @ 500 East 11th Street between Avenue A and B for “F-Word: Feminism, Funny & Fearless! A Fundraiser for Paradigm Shift NYC.”

More All-Female Comedy Shows in NYC

While Ladybits gears up for 2011 (Rocky-style, pulling logs in Russia and stuff), you can enjoy comedy from women on OTHER shows. Like these!

Her-Larious
Tues Nov 30 at 8:00PM
The Sullivan Room (218 Sullivan Street, NYC 10012)
$15 (purchase tix at the door)

Amy Beckerman's inaugural show has an awesome lineup:

Adrienne Iapalucci
Cara Kilduff
Mindy Raf
Amy Albert
Irene Bremis

I'm on the following:

F-Word: Feminism, Funny & Fearless
A fundraiser for Paradigm Shift NYC
Thurs Dec 9, 7:00PM
Angels and Kings (500 E. 11th St, NYC 10009)
$25 students / pre-paid, $30 door
Invite friends on Facebook to this event

And catch me in Arlington Virginia on the Comedy Supreme show!
Sat Nov 20, 7:30PM and again at 10:00PM
Pizzeria Venti (301 John Carlyle St, 22314)
$15

On the Road Again

It is a very heavy responsibility to tickle everyone in Brooklyn, and not one that I take lightly. That's why I'm going to the central source: Tickle Me Brooklyn show at Linger Cafe and Lounge. These people know how to do it right. Come and watch like a medical student at a surgery.

Tickle Me Brooklyn at Linger Cafe and Lounge
533 Atlantic Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11217
Date: Thurs Nov 18
Time: 8:00PM
Cost: FREE

On Saturday I will take my tickling expertise to the mean streets of Alexandria Virginia for Comedy Supreme! An all-female lineup of East Coast comedy all-stars.

Comedy Supreme! at Pizzeria Venti
301 John Carlyle St
Alexandria, VA 22314
Date: Sat Nov 20
Time: 7:30PM and again at 10:00PM
Cost: $15

Photo credit:
scrapetv.com

Catch a Rising Staaaaaar

Great show you should check out tonight!



Don't go expecting to see Beyonce tumble down stairs. That's Catch a Falling Star.
Don't go expecting to see Gilbert Arenas. That's Catch a Shooting Star.
This is Catch a RISING Star. And if you're just finishing watching a taping of The Late Show with David Letterman or ending your shift at Strawberry or hiding from the Times Square cops, ducking into Broadway Comedy Club is a good idea. And you'll get the added bonus of my jokes!

Catch! National Auditions
Broadway Comedy Club
318 W. 53rd St, 10019
Thurs Nov 11, 7PM

Schtick or Treat 2010

The Halloween fun continues! Halloween is like my Christmas. I want to celebrate it all month long and ignorantly wish good tidings to the people who don't observe it.

For the 3rd Annual Schtick or Treat I am deciding AGAINST shaving my head and wearing dude clothes as Robert Schimmel and instead am buying a ponytail weave and wearing dude clothes so I can impersonate Sarah Silverman. To prepare, I have read her new book The Bedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption and Pee, and I will re-live the magic of "Jesus Is Magic" by watching clips of that on YouTube (since someone has borrowed my dvd copy). Ultimately, I will look like Sade, sound like Downtown Julie Brown, and be gone in 2 minutes. But do you expect anything LESS than butt-tingling entertainment from this smooth operator?



Schtick or Treat, Wed Oct 27, 7:30PM
Arlene's Grocery, 95 Stanton St, 10002
FREE

Be There or Be Scared!

Tonight is The Living Room Show's 5th Annual Halloween Scare-avaganza!

Let's look at years past...



In 2006 I made the topical choice of going as US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Luke went as James Brolin as Pee-Wee Herman. Since these are so obscure, I'll give you their actual likeness.


NAILED IT. The only other person to dress up was my sister who went as Condoleezza's lesser-known sister, Condosleezza with a mullet wig and fishnet stockings, because my family is awesome.



In 2007 I went as a cabbage patch (the black one with blond hair that never sold well) and Luke went as John McEnroe. That year, the baristas joined in the costume fun and the one audience member who dressed up won a prize!



In 2008 I returned to celebrity impersonations and went as Kathy Griffin. I have no idea what Luke was supposed to be. But what a phantom-tastic turnout of costumed creeps! Comics and audience dressed up and were given prestigious awards.

In 2009 I held down the fort solo and took all the pics (which explains why they're not uploaded one year later). I dressed as a victim of the Bubonic Plague. Had the Elizabethan dress and wig, zombie facepaint and the creepiness was exacerbated by the fact that NO ONE ELSE DRESSED FOR HALLOWEEN.

So let's do this fifth one right! Oh yes, there WILL be prizes.

Rick Younger hosts
Dave Angelo
Jenna Brister
Dave Waite
Harry Terjanian
Luke Thayer

with sketch by me

The Living Room Show
Fri Oct 22, 8:00PM
Postmark Cafe - 326 6th St, 11215
FREE

Your Week of Weeks

Sun Sept 26
Comedy Dungeon, 8:30PM at Jazz on the Park
37 W. 106th St
FREE

Mon Sept 27
JFK Sat Here, 7:30PM at Parkside Lounge
317 E. Houston St, 10017
1 drink

Tues Sept 28
Positively Awesome, 8:00PM at Cellar 58 (rated top pick by Best New York Comedy)
58 2nd Ave, 10003
FREE

Yorkville Stoops to Nuts Podcast, 9:00PM at Giovanna's Restaurant
1567 Lexington Ave
(Listening is FREE)

Wed Sept 29
BrewHouse Comedy, 8:30PM at Astoria Brewhouse
2850 31st Street, Astoria, NY 11102
FREE

Thurs Sept 30
Yo' Pro Variety Show, 7:30PM at The Little Church
1 E. 29th St (btwn 5th and Madison), 10016
$10 donation

Fri Oct 1
Gotham Comedy Showcase, 6:00PM at Gotham Comedy Club
208 W. 23rd St, 10011
1 drink

Rich Jackson's Show, 8:00PM at Shetler Studios (Shetler One)
244 W. 54th St #12, 10019

Sat Oct 2
Kaboom!, 10:00PM at O'Hanlon's
349 E. 14th St (btwn 1st and 2nd ave)
$5 cover

Sun Oct 3
Will probably come home to find my place robbed, squatted in, refurnished, abandoned and robbed again.


I'm SO TIRED.

Things That Jiggle for $300 Alex

What is YOUR BELLY? From laughing during tonight's show.

Look, I don't know who's reading this blog...maybe the President, maybe the Queen of England, maybe the Pope. My stat-counter says an average of three people a day, so those are my best guesses.

But whoever sees this must know they have stumbled onto a very important piece of information. Tonight at 8:00PM I am returning my comedy show back to the good people of Brooklyn.

The Living Room Show. Maybe you've heard of it. You're thinking of Living Room the rock venue on the Lower East Side. I'm talking about the small coffee shop comedy show that has brought you NYC's best stand-up and sketch artists (including improv and musical comedy and ventriloquists) since June 9, 2006 for FREE. We have been there every 2nd and 4th Friday, (except during summer breaks when we work as carnies) and have never had to cancel a show yet.

Postmark Cafe (326 6th Street, 11215)
Keith Alberstadt
Luke Thayer
Sam Morril
Calise Hawkins
characters by Abbi Crutchfield
sketch by Matt McCarthy and Katina Corrao

There's always a familiar face, always a new face, and always a man without a face.


See you tonight!

Producing a Show in NYC

Dan Allen, co-producer of the popular and long-running Sacapuntas!, provides insight into successfully producing a live comedy show in New York.

Your role as the producer is to build trust between your audience and your show. You have to consistently provide a funny show that is different every single time they attend. At the same time, you have to build trust between the performers and your show. They need to know that every time they perform on your show it’s going to be fun and productive.

Click here to read the whole post.

Curious about seeing a well-produced live show? Look no further than:

Living Room Show
2nd & 4th Fridays, 8:00PM
Postmark Cafe, 326 6th Ave, 11215

Positively Awesome
Tuesdays, 8:00PM
Cellar 58, 58 2nd Ave, 10003

Ladybits
Wednesdays, 6:00PM
Cornelia St. Cafe, 29 Cornelia St, 10014

Today I'd Like You To Think About Crumbs Cupcakes

Because they're stupid good, and we served them at our Inaugural Ladybits Show!

We actually won't be serving them anymore, so apologies to future fans and thanks to those who came out to support our first show last night!

Thank yous are also in order to:

Matt Ruby of Sandpapersuit.com
Sean McCarthy of thecomicscomic.com
Nate and Keith of theapiary.org
The Gloss
Carolyn Castiglia
Nichelle Stephens
Chris at Cynical-C.com

for the shout-outs!

Thanks to Eric for taking pictures, Molly for sketching the images of the comedians, and viewers like YOU for your donations that make public broadcasting possible.

Attention Women Comics

A mesage from Jen Dziura

Hey ladies,

NYC has a new all-female comedy show!

http://www.ladybitscomedy.com/

Our Kickoff and Press Preview is Wednesday, August 11 at Cornelia St. Cafe, where our press sponsors (TheGloss.com) and other bloggers will be covering a star-studded show featuring Jessica Kirson, Erin Jackson, and Bonnie McFarlane, and hosted by
co-founder Abbi Crutchfield. After that, we start up as a regular weekly show in October, and we're open for booking requests. Also, we'd like to help you publicize yourself via The Internets.

Get booked: http://www.ladybitscomedy.com/booking/

Send all Wednesday 6PM avails WAY into the future. Please also send photo/links/bio -- Abbi's and my bios on http://www.ladybitscomedy.com/vision/ are a good idea of format.

Promoting comics outside of NYC:

We are going to be posting a one-liner-type feature on TheGloss.com once a week, called "Lady Comedians Tell It Like It Is." So, you can submit a single joke along with photo/bio/links in consideration for this feature. Jokes about woman stuff (um, whatever that is) are nice but not necessary.

On the Ladybits site, we'll be posting "One Question Interview" posts. The editorial guideline is simply that the posts must be either funny, or have a "how to" component (or, of course, both).

So, just pick one of these questions, and send me a 1-paragraph-or-more answer, along with the photo/brief bio/links that you want me to use (i.e. What's the most beneficial thing you've done for your comedy career? What's the best piece of advice you'd give to a female comic to get booked on more than bringer shows?)

Send to: jen (at) jenisfamous (dot) com

Thanks!

Jen
jenniferdziura.com