Tis true sweet, dear fans. Not only doth our cast keep you laughing with their spritely improvised wit, but they do occasionally find themselves the virtuous bears of scripted text. OK, so that’s no couplet, but thankfully our players are better at such prose then the writer of this fair text.
Veteran cast members Brian McCann and Nathan Holt have teamed up with Mary Tuomanen—a non-ComesySportz actress, but a funny lady all the same—to bring you The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), produced by the Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival, running now until May 10th.
In the Philly’s Shakes’ own words:
“This the funniest show you are likely to see in your entire lifetime. The authors of Complete Works ‘were heavily influenced by Monty Python, Bugs Bunny and of, course, Shakespeare. Coupled with a love for anarchy, you could say that this show is a marriage of chaos and Shakespeare. The audience is a huge part of the performance and is included throughout.’ Warning!: This show is a high-speed roller-coaster type condensation of all of Shakespeare’s plays, and is not recommended for people with heart ailments, bladder problems, inner-ear disorders and/or people inclined to motion sickness. We cannot be held responsible for expectant mothers.”
Brian, an experienced Shakespearean actor, and Nathan, an up-and-coming favorite of the Philly theater scene, have already been making audiences laugh in hysterics since the show premiered in April. “Sure, it may not be our show,” says CSZ Executive Director, David Dritsas, “But we are more than happy to get the word out when one or more of our players are part of a classic comedy such as this. Go see it already!”
For more details or to buy tickets, head on over to www.phillyshakespeare.org
This month, we sat down with ComedySportz player, artist and host of The Sunny Side Up Show on PBS KIDS Sprout Sean Roach.
1. Your name and nickname: Sean “murder she…” Roach
2. Your player #: 72
3. Year you joined CSz: 2007
4. High School attended: North Penn High School
5. College attended: Millersville University – BFA in fine art painting. I also took acting classes at Temple University.
6. Favorite CSz game: Dating Game or Arms Expert or Day in the Life. Oh heck, I can’t pick just one.
7. Favorite memory involving a fan: Watching a fan volunteer for slow-mo and seeing him completely accept the game. The fan wasn’t necessarily a “funny guy,” but because he was open and willing he was the funniest thing we saw all night.
8. Memorable show moment: Playing Day in the Life for what we thought was two guys getting married and having their bachelor party together.
9. Interesting fact (or 2) about yourself: I do a kids television show. Also, I was commissioned to build a life size Mr. Peanut for Planters’ 100th anniversary. If you are in Atlantic City, be sure to check it out.
10. Voted Most Likely To… become really famous or disappear into the wilderness one day.
ComedySportz Philly is happy to announce that we are restarting the Birthday Club as a way of giving back to our loyal fanz.
How does it work?
Easy! Simply e-mail us at with your birthday (day/month only). We will register you for our monthly e-newsletter and, during your birth month, you will receive an email that includes a free ticket for you to come to our show. If you already receive our newsletter, you can still join the birthday club by emailing us at the above email address.
Join the Cast of ComedySportz Philly! We are holding auditions the weekend of April 25th
Interested in joining Philadelphia’s top improv comedy theater company? ComedySportz is having auditions on April 25th, with callbacks on April 26th. Applicants will be required to reserve a 10 minute audition block in the morning or afternoon on Saturday April 25th at the Adrienne Theatre (2030 Sansom Street, in Center City Philadelphia). If you are called back for the second day, April 26th, you will be required to attend a two-hour group audition, either during the morning (10:00 am to 12:00 noon) or the afternoon (1:00 pm to 3:00 pm).
It’s improv, so no preparation is necessary except a willingness to be spontaneous. Improv experience is welcome, but not required—we are just as interested in raw potential. Head shots are accepted, but also not required. Some pay is involved for privately booked shows and those cast will be required to participate in a five-month training program before performing live.
To reserve an audition slot, please e-mail auditions@comedysportzphilly.com. (Slots are given out on a first-come, first-serve basis.)
Some general information about ComedySportz Philly:
ComedySportz is competitive comedy now being performed in 21 cities across the country and in the UK. Philadelphia performs every Saturday at 7:30 and 10:00 at the Adrienne theater. We also regularly book private shows for corporations, schools, individuals, etc. The show is designed as a sporting match between two teams of improvisers who vie for points by playing a series of improvisational theater games based on suggestions from the audience. We create the feel of a real sporting event, with sporting paraphernalia, the singing of the national anthem and Astroturf. A referee guides the action, timing the games and calling fouls such as the Groaner Foul (for really bad puns) or the Brown Bag Foul (for profane or shock value humor). ComedySportz has been playing in Philadelphia for over 17 years and has performed in front of thousands of fans. Our diverse cast includes Barrymore-award winning actors, as well people from other careers and professions.
Thanks to Emily S. for this great review of ComedySportz Philly on Yelp!
She wrote:
“ComedySportz is a lot of fun. It’s improv, so it’s always different; you can go again and again (which I have) and enjoy a fresh, completely new show each time. And there’s nothing like seeing your own suggestion acted out on stage, usually to hilarious effect.
It’s a “family show” (the referee describes it that way, complete with air quotes, when laying down the rules at the beginning of each show), and there are often kids as young as ten in the audience. But don’t let that discourage you from going: I’ve found that the “clean” nature of the humor actually ends up making it much, much funnier. Mediocre comedians, improv and otherwise, often rely on dirty jokes for cheap laughs and shock value; ComedySportz, by choosing to avoid that route, produces truly, brilliantly funny material.
ComedySportz is pretty much the only venue I can think of where the audiences are regularly composed of a happy mixture of tenth birthday celebrants, old couples, young couples, families, groups of teenagers, middle-aged professionals, etc. I’m afraid this description makes it sounds nauseatingly wholesome, but it’s not. It sure ain’t Disney. It’s just really, really funny. Going to ComedySportz and laughing hard for a couple of hours will be the most enjoyable ab workout you’ve ever had.”
