Special Performance: Jill Bernard’s DRUM MACHINE

Drum Machine is Jill Bernard’s one-person unscripted musical featuring multiple characters in scenes, monologues and songs accompanied by the mad beats of the Zoom-Rhythmtrak 123 which Bernard calls, “Nature’s finest drum machine.” Typically the show opens by interviewing a member of the audience, and weaving details of their life into a historical period suggested by the audience.

Jill will be presenting a special performance of Drum Machine in Philadelphia one night only (hosted by ComedySportz Philadelphia):  Friday October 16th – 10:00pm at The Playground at The Adrienne Theater 2030 Sansom Street.  Opening for her will be the newest darlings of the Philadelphia improv scene:  The Real Housewives of Philadelphia featuring ComedySportz Philadelphia members Alexis Simpson and Alli Soowal.  This is a show not to be missed.  Tickets are $12 adult/$10 student and can be purchased online.

Buy Tickets Now!

Here’s what people around the world are saying about Jill Bernard and Drum Machine:

“Bernard’s show is anything but mechanical, incorporating details of a single audience member’s life into an organic tapestry that combines rich characters, warm humor, historical elements and music, with the titular contraption providing the beats. The results are as quirky as Bernard herself.”
- Bret Love
Stage Directions Magazine

“Drum Machine is an improv event unlike any other. Miss Bernard redefines herstory with guile, giddiness and grace. Educational and inspirational. Let the rhythm move you!”
-Eric Hart
The As Is Syndicate Theatre Company
Toronto, ON

“It’s hard to tell what is more wonderful, Jill Bernard’s entertaining and innovative one-woman show “Drum Machine” or the fantastic and hilarious performance abilities of the internationally renowned improv artist Ms. Bernard herself. This original show begins with an audience participation segment that gets even the most hard to please audience clapping and singing along with both Jill Bernard and her electronic drum machine. Then, Jill gets from the audience a historical time period to create the rest of the show from. Having seen her one-woman show several times, in different cities and countries, part of what makes Jill’s show so amazing is that I’ve never seen her stumped by any time period that an audience can throw at her. From her vast knowledge of history, Jill creates several indelible characters, a multi-threaded storyline, original songs, all the while throwing in great period details that the audience forgot it knew until Jill performs it. By the end of the show, the audience has been happily taken on a phantasmagorical journey that always ends joyfully. Over the course of 45 minutes, Jill entertains, informs, and moves the audience all in her delightful way that comes from her unique sensibilities of the very talented and experienced Minneapolis based improv artist. Over the last two years, I’ve been proud to present Jill’s Drum Machine as part of CIF’s Solo category and watched as both times she stole the show. Jill is professional and easy to work with and I heartily recommend both her and her show.”

-Jonathan Pitts,
Executive Director, Chicago Improv Festival

“Jill Bernard is one of those rare performers that ignites everyone in the room. She is magnetic with endless talent and humor. I took her workshop last year and can’t remember when I’ve had so much fun. Jill is a brilliant artist that will take you beyond your preconcieved boundaries.”
Madi Distefano
Barrymore Award Nominated Actress and Playwright
Philadelphia, PA

ComedySportz Invitational – October 3

Be sure to make plans to come to the shows on Saturday 10/3. At both the 7:30 and 10pm shows, the Philadelphia Fighting Amish will be taking on a team of players from ComedySportz cities around the country! Get a little taste of what’s to come in July 2010 when ComedySportz Philadelphia hosts the 26th Annual World Comedy League Championships.

October 3rd at 7:30 and 10pm.

Buy your tickets in advance!

Want to know more about ComedySportz worldwide?  Check it out here

ComedySportz in the Philadelphia Improv Festival

Every year, ComedySportz participates in the Philadelphia Improv Festival performing a special show. Last year, we had a blast performing our Battle of the Network Starz. This year, we are taking on The Bard himself with ComedySportz Philly presents: Shakespeare. From star-crossed lovers to nobility, fools to witches, some of your favorite ComedySportz Philly performers will transport you back to the Elizabethan Era. Shakespeare was never so funny!  Come check us out on Friday, October 2 in the 9:30pm block of shows. Also in that block, the ComedySportz national All-Star show! That’s right, performers from across the country are coming together to perform a special All-Star show!  Come see both shows for only $10.  Purchase tickets here.

A Very Special Meet the Playerz – Tom and Micheline McManus

This month we are featuring 2 players – Tom and Micheline McManus. Together, their combined years in ComedySportz is 23. Obviously, they have left quite a mark on our company. They do it all – play, ref, voice. Heck, they even got engaged on our very stage! Sadly, they will be leaving our fair city to move to Baltimore, so this month marks the end of their regular performances with us. We felt this was a good time to interview them together, and ask more than our usual 10 questions.  Be sure to catch their final shows!  Tom will be playing Saturday June 6th.  Micheline will be playing  Saturday June 13th.  And BOTH will be in the shows on June 20th.

8.  Memorable show moment

10.  Voted Most Likely To…

Get a brown bag.

Forgive Dave Jadico’s Mom.
11.  How has being in CSz affected your lives thus far?

CSZ gave me a husband, and an awesome surrogate family! I’d say the impact has been pretty huge.

More ways than I can count. The people of CSZ have been as close as family since the early days. We’ve been through all the most joyous and difficult of life experiences together. I’ve come to know them as people of high integrity, enormous caring, and pain-in-my side irrevrant humor.

12.  What will you miss the most about CSz?

The family part. I’ll never find a funnier, smarter, nicer group of people.
I don’t intend to lose touch with the people so I’m not going there. I will miss knowing there is a space where I can go and play on a Tuesday and Saturday night without worrying about anything other than creating and laughing together.

13.  Murf – do you have an embarrassing story (CSz related) about Tom?  Tom – do you have one about Murf?
Nothing embarrasses Tom, which is his genius.  I think the time he was upstaged at a CSZ remote by family of mascot owls was pretty embarrassing, but sometimes you just have to admit that you’re not as funny as a costume.

I think she was genuinely embarassed by being proposed to with a shower cap on. Beyond that, no one can get to Murf but Murf. Don’t cross her on stage- she’ll cut you!

14.  Your onstage engagement was the memorable show moment for several players.  How does it feel to know that?

Awwwww….it was one of the most important moments in my life, and I’m glad to have shared it with such incredible folks.

Warm and fuzzy. It is a testament to what CSZ has meant to us that I don’t think either of us can imagine that proposing is something some people do in private without 20-30 of their best friends to help!

15.  Will you be back?

Of course, Tournament 2010 baby!!

Like a bad penny, we will keep turning up.

Philly Playerz take on Washington DC.

Hey! Did you know that ComedySportz is in 21 cities across the US and UK?  Well we are.  And this Saturday, some of our adventure-seeking Philly players are heading down to Washington DC and braving the beltway traffic all in the name of comedy. If you are in the DC area, be sure to stop by and say hello – we are challenging DC in the 7:30pm ComedySportz show, and the 10pm Blue Show .  More info here.