Author name: Rodney

Sandwiched between the Aug. 21 performance by Bill Cosby at the Riverside Theater and the Oct. 6 engagement of Steven Wright at the Pabst Theater, a number of stellar comedy acts are headed to Milwaukee next month, among them: Paula Poundstone, 7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 16, at the Pabst (Tickets $24.50-$42.50) Michael Ian Black, 7 […]

What does Seattle have that Milwaukee doesn’t? The Space Needle, Skid Row, the Market Theater Gum Wall – and soon, comic geniuses Alex Grindeland and Kesan Holt. From Alex, via the web: “Hey! I’m moving to Seattle. This will be my last time performing with my improv comedy group, Meanwhile. I think it’d be super

In its premiere July 28, T.I.M. (The Improvised Musical), began with an audience suggestion of “Oregon Trail,” and before everyone’s eyes adjusted to the stage lights, cast member Patrick Schmitz was singing a tune he made up on the spot that included a rhyme for “Manifest Destiny.” That’s the sort of fleet-witted lyrical theater you

So the title “hardest-working man in show business” is taken, but Jason Hillman is pretty busy too. Co-founder of the Caste of Killers Comedy Collective, Jason is an active promoter of other comic talent in Milwaukee besides building his own considerable practice of stand-up comedy. In the green room at ComedySportz, following his well-received appearance

In case you had to miss it (and didn’t bother with all those Tweets during the event itself), here’s a worthy summary of the Milwaukee Comedy Festival from Russ Bickerstaff of the Shepherd Express. Please click here.

In its mission to bring together instructors and students of the theater, our friends at Turf Theater have a couple of classes coming up. On Thursday, Aug. 18, from 6:30 to 9 p.m., award-winning improv artist and international instructor Jill Bernard is teaching how to create compelling onstage characters. From the web: “Jill Bernard offers

In case you didn’t catch the plugs for it at the Milwaukee Comedy Festival, an ensemble of veteran Milwaukee comedians is debuting a new show called Talking Points. From the web: “News and Improv come together. National and local issues. Fart jokes and intelligent humor. Don’t miss the premiere of Milwaukee’s newest improv comedy show.”

It’s not necessarily a case of saving the best for last, but Day 4 of the four-day Milwaukee Comedy Festival is Teen Comedy Day. Founder Matt Kemple told the Shepherd Express some of the best laughs of past fests have been for the youngest participants. And as an instructor at First Stage Children’s Theater, Matt’s

The MilwaukeeComedy community is supportive. Local comedians frequently turn out and even pitch in at each other’s events. As Jenna Kashou reports at InsideMilwaukee.com, Milwaukee comedy groups have performed fund raisers for this weekend’s Milwaukee Comedy Festival. They also have kind things to say, including: “The comedy festival has been a true blessing for Milwaukee

One of the local groups making its Milwaukee Comedy Festival debut is Worst Case Scenario. “We premiered last year in July, so we were too new!” That’s why, says Mary Baird, of Worst Case Scenario, or WCS. “WCS wanted to be in the festival because it’s really important to us to be a positive part