IMPROV AND SKETCH COMEDY RUMBLE WINNER! DCCF CONGRATULATES DCUP!

Last Saturday six of DC's best Improv and Sketch Troups (emphasis on the Improv Troupes) converged on the Mead Theatre Lab at the Flashpoint to engage in a comedy melee. Two sessions of competition saw all comers take suggestions from the audience to bring down comedy war on their opponents. After about 3 hours of battle, and more laughs than you can shake an Uzi at, a winner was chosen. Out of the comedy rubble left behind emerged the victorious members of DCUP (otherwise lovingly known as the District of Columbia Unscripted Players).

DCUP, comprised of the talents of Jack Reda, Todd Etter, Spencer Humm and Claire Lambert, took the stage with their "Boneless Chicken Cabaret" show. Defying conventional Jokefare (like warfare, but with jokes) tactics, three guys in chicken suits with a killer soundtrack quickly won the audience and judges over to their side. This was done via a series of audience participation sketchprovs which proved these feather clad comedians were no comedy chicken's after all. Each brave risk taken by the audience volunteers was rewarded with generous laughter and entertainment value.

Curious to know a little more about DCUP? Jack Reda took some time to answers some questions for us:

Q) Who is DCUP?

A) The original core members of DCUP are me, Todd and Claire. Matt [Hartman] and Steve [Heaton] are also part of the main ensemble. We have been delighted to have other on and off members over the years, including Spencer Humm, Jim Doyle, Liz Demery, Corey Finkle, and Lena O'Rourke.

Q) Where did you guys come up with the idea behind"Boneless Chicken Cabaret"? Do you vary between this format and the full blown improv stuff?

A) "Boneless Chicken Cabaret" started out as a joke when Todd and I were writing "Yes And", our mockumentary movie about improv. The concept of guys in chicken suits doing improv, and not speaking intelligibly seemed ludicrous. Later, when we were filming the movie, I asked Steve and Matt to put on the suits and do some improv, just so we'd have footage. It made no sense, but it was hilarious. In 2004 DCUP went to the Toronto Improv Festival, and I saw two shows there that convinced me the chicken thing could actually work. One was "Imp", which features Asaf Ronen and Karen Wight doing improv with virtually no dialogue. We also saw "Pimprov", which was a bunch of guys dressed as pimps, doing improv. The spectacle of their outrageous attire was very compelling. Also, having done The Bloody Drama with Bob Garman at the Maryland Renassiance Faire really opened me up to how using audience "volunteers" in a show could really add a funny dynamic to the show. So "Boneless Chickens" has a mix of straight improv and these interactive sketches with audience members. I think the volunteers are ultimately all right with being up there, because somewhere in the back of their minds they realize they aren't the most ridiculous looking ones on the stage.

DCUP started out simply as short form improv with no parental controls. We tried to do scenes and structures in short form that challenged us as performers. Over the last year we've been moving into other styles of improv as well. Claire and I have been doing a long form show called "Rut"which has been a lot of fun. We pair up a couple of single people from the audience and present their problematic marriage and subsequent counseling. It's been a blast.

Q) What would the parents of DCUP's performers tell us about DCUP shows?

A) My parents are just as demented as I am, and they revel in the kind of shows that DCUP puts on. I think Todd's parents are also aware of the kind of comedy he's capable of. Claire's parents probably like to pretend she doesn't even do improv. They've never seen a DCUP show, and if Claire has her way they never will. I can't say for sure, but I imagine that Matt and Steve's parents while not going out of their way to discuss their sons dressing up as chickens wouldn't have a problem with it.

Q) How did it feel to win the dccf Improv and Sketch RUMBLE?

A) Winning the dccf Rumble was a little surreal. We really had no expectations about winning. We wanted to put on a good show, of course, but we were mostly interested in getting decent video of the show. I thought I'd have some family members there to operate my camcorder, but they were too tired to come. So, I handed the camera to a guy in the front row at the beginning of the show. He was fine with taping it, but he turned the camera off the moment I handed it to him, so we got nothing.

Q) Is there anything you want dccomedyfest audiences to know about while we wait for April 6th to arrive?

A) I want audiences for the dccf to know that they can find great comedy in their metropolitan area year round. The festival will be a great time to see lots of new things, including great groups from around the country. But every troupe from the Rumble was local, and well worth their time. Check it out.

Be sure to check the DCUP website for their upcoming performance dates. Don't forget to watch here and at the main dccomedyfest website for information about upcoming dccf shows. These dates include, but aren't limited to:

• DC's Comedy Battle of the Sexes, Thursday, December 15 (hopefully! confirming date), Woolly Mammoth Theater (with Ryan Conner, Erin Conroy, Alicia Gomes, Erin Jackson, Justin Schlegel & Rory Scovel)
• MITCH FATEL & DEMETRI MARTIN, Saturday, MARCH 11, '06, Lisner Auditorium, Taste of the Fest
• Headliner EMO PHILIPS, with Seaton Smith and DCUP Thursday, APRIL 6, '06, Lisner Auditorium, part of dccf'06
• ASSSCAT, Saturday, APRIL 8, '06, Lisner Auditorium, part of dccf'06

Throughout the fest you will have ample opportunity to check out many, if not all, of the competitors from the RUMBLE (we hope all of them will be there in full force). So be sure to keep your eyes out (not literally) for the incredible talents of WIT's amazing variety of shows including Dr. Fantastic, Juke Joint, Jackie and WIT's Mainstage. Also be sure to check out the exciting and fresh talents of the new comers to DC Improv scene Bright Young Things. Each of these acts showed they have the chops to bring you hours of laughter. So please check out all six groups at their regular shows and enjoy them as treat at the fest.

STAND UP COMEDY RUMBLE WINNER! DCCF CONGRATULATES SEATON SMITH!

Last Saturday seven Stand-up Comics converged on Cantina Marina's Comedy Condom (Outdoor seating tent) to do comedy battle. The jokes where flying fast and furious all night. With each contestant trying to send the other comics off to comedy Valhalla, the audience's laughs were only louder as the evening when on. After about 2 hours of battle, a clear winner emerged from this comedy carnage. The spoils of war go to Seaton Smith (paying gig at the April 2006 dccomedyfest local's night Emo Philips Show).

Seaton's quick wit, razor sharp punchlines quickly took the audience captive (who were happily his POWs of Comedy). His act skillfully walks the line between the smart and the shocking (a feat rarely pulled off). During his 12 minutes, through his story oriented jokes, the audience got to walk around in Seaton's delightfully humorous world. It was easy to spot that Seaton, along with many of the other contestants are bound for bigger and better shows. So pencil in your calendar to catch Seaton and the winner of Improv and Sketch Comedy Rumble on Thursday April 8th opening for Emo Philips.

Curious to know more about Seaton? He answered some questions for us:

Q) When did you decide to get into stand-up comedy?

A) When I was ten and I realized no one loved me...or ever will.

Q) What has been your biggest surprise since you started doing stand-up?

A) That it's going to take so long to be rich and famous. Like THREE YEARS!

Q) What would your parents tell us about your act?

A) That I better start making money soon or this cursing stuff is gonna end.

Q) How did it feel to win the first ever dccomedyfest contest?

A) That affirmative action is not being wasted.

Can't wait until next April, check Seaton out at:

11/10-11/12 JR's Last Laugh Erie, PA
11/18 - 11/19 Featuring at the Comedy Dock Annapolis, MD*
11/27 Young Bucks of Comedy at DCAC
12/13 TSM Showcase PA
Also Every week at Bossa in Adams Morgan
*Updated and New

Beaten, but not defeated were talents of Rory Scovel, Alicia Gomes, Ryan Conner, Danny Rouhier, Brian Kerns, and Herbie Gill. All contestants were automatically submitted for the 2006 dccomedyfest. So there is a good chance you be able to catch many of them at the fest. In the mean time be sure to check them out at shows all over the DC area. Including a few of them at DC's Comedy Battle of the Sexes at the Woolly Mammouth Theater on Friday December 2 (check our web site for more details).

Many thanks to Cantina Marina for letting us have an awesome time with some great comics.

Please join us tomorrow night at the Flashpoint Theater for the Improv and Sketch Comedy Rumble. Tickets are going fast.

Taste of the Fest - Two Day Count Down!

Time is quickly passing through the hour glass as we approach the inaugural "Taste of the Fest" event. In just over 48 hours fans will get to sample the talents of Daniel Tosh and Elephant Larry. You thankfully have found the place to get you up to speed on both main attractions. Whether you are a fan of original sketch comedy or a lover of great stand-up comedy this show will have something for you. Keep reading below for info and interviews with these two great acts.

If you are thinking to yourself, what about the fans of great short comedy films? Well you are in luck. We have that too. We will proudly present the winner of DC's short film 48-Hour Film Festival "Occupational Hazard" by DC's own WASHINGTON IMPROV THEATER.

Not enough for you! You say you want us to put our mascot, Monty the Monument, on the street with flyers about the show. Well, hate to tell you, your wish is our command. So if you find yourself in the vicinity of Lisner Auditorium on the GW campus keep your eyes peeled for Monty. When he is there, he will have flyers for you to take home to your friends and family. This way everyone has ample warning about the great comedy that is taking place right here in our city. Send them here for more information about this and other dccomedyfest shows.

Still need tickets? CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS ON TICKETMASTER NOW! Keep checking back for info on our upcoming comedy contests (see our main website). The first of which is this Saturday November 5th at the 8-10PM, Cantina Marina. The winner of each contest will open for EMO PHILIPS at the dccomedyfest! Kick Off Show, THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2006. That's two nights this weekend you can spend with your favorite national comedyfest. You won't get this much dccomedyfest in one weekend until The FULL-FLEDGED, MULTI-DAY, MULTI-VENUE dccomedyfest arrives APRIL 6-8, 2006!!