Fest Spotlight On MITCH FATEL!

Just over one week left before the fest and you still want more info on the acts coming to the fest! You've come to the right place. You've already had a chance to meet the people behind POW, MEAT, ELEPHANT LARRY, kevINda, BABY WANTS CANDY, and UPHILL BOTH WAYS. We've even hooked you up with dish from EMO PHILIPS and ROB CANTRELL. But you want more, don't you?

Maybe you want to know how it's all going to end? Maybe you want to know more about Mitch Fatel, co-headliner of our BIG FINALE SHOW at Lisner Auditorium on SATURDAY, APRIL 8 at 9:30PM? You have your tickets don't you? Well okay, well give you some inside scoop on Mitch. But only because you asked so nicely and were so eager to learn more.

Mitch is that comic you know and love for getting away with saying stuff that rest of us can't say in any company. Clever, for sure! Mischievous, yes! Funny, undeniably! And here is your chance to get to know him better. Mitch gave us a few minutes of time and answered the Spotlight Interview questions. Let's see what he had to say on muffins, making the big time, and joining us at the fest:

dccf: We hear that you have a thing for muffins! Where did that come from?

Mitch When I was a child I fell naked into a tray of fresh hot muffins. This defining moment, though painful at the time, changed my life forever.

dccf: What was it like to win "Album cover of the Month" in the February issue of Stuff Magazine for your Super Retardo CD? Who did you beat to win the honor?

Mitch: I didn't really beat anyone, they just give out an award every month. Suddenly one day all my friends started calling saying "You won best album cover of the month in Stuff" My first thought was "My friends read Stuff?" Then my second thought was how friggin cool it was. The amazing thing about it is you remember working on it months earlier, making choices, agonizing over changes and hoping you're right and that people will dig it. Then one year later to actually see it getting recognized in that fashion is truly a thrill. It's the exact opposite feeling of getting your penis caught in your zipper.

dccf: If you won a Grammy for one of your comedy CDs, who would thank?

Mitch: Satan for somehow convincing the Grammy committee that a guy writing jokes about putting his secret ingredient on a girls face is some how deserving of an award. (PS: Listen to the track "Secret Ingredient" on Super Retardo to follow along).

dccf: What would you like to be doing if you hadn't gone into Stand-Up?

Mitch: Hard Time. Seriously though, that wasn't an option. I knew from 5 years old I would be in show business. There was never ever even an inkling of a thought I would be doing anything else but be a stand up. People used to tell me it was a stupid dream and that was the one thing in my life I never cared what people had to say. I just knew.

dccf: What is the strangest complement that you ever received after a show?

Mitch: One time a girl, who was hot by the way, showed me that she had actually peed in her pants. I mention she was hot because it makes the story sexy. Lets be honest if it was Janet Reno saying it, it wouldn't have been a compliment it would have been a very sad and uncomfortable encounter.

dccf: What is the most interesting place you found material for your act?

Mitch: In girls pants. I still can't believe how much more I have to write about Vagina's and Panties. I have just now begun to scratch the surface of material about this wondrous area.

dccf: What was it like to see yourself as a cartoon on Comedy Central's "Dr. Katz"?

Mitch: My greatest honor to date. I used to watch that show and think you're not really a comedian till you've been on Katz's couch. When they called and asked me to do it I felt this sense of arrival. After taping it I went home and threw out my waiters uniform which I had kept for 10 years after starting standup.

dccf: For dccomedyfest audience members who haven't been lucky enough to see you perform yet, what can they expect to see?

Mitch: Time permitting I'm going to make comedy history and make love to one lucky audience member live on stage (never been done before, we're just awaiting the zoning permits).

dccf: Any thing you want us to make sure dccomedyfest blog readers know about you?

Mitch: Honestly, I don't need any more muffins. Every show people have been bringing me dozens of muffins and although it's appreciated I'm beginning to want to puke at the sight of another muffin. Next time just bring me some Sushi.

Now that you have the inside info, come check out Mitch along with Ryan Conner, MEAT, and Demetri Martin. You won't regret it. Although come prepared, if Mitch and our dccomedyfest t-shirts are correct, you'll pee yourself at the 2006 dccomedyfest. And this time it will be from laughing.

Fest Spotlight on 161

Question time once again. You're thinking "Okay, dccomedyfest. I see you have lots of local acts, but where in the heck is WIT? I see ComedySportz, Poppycock, Grimprov, Season Six, Caveat, Jackie, T-Rexx, Chris White, Ryan Conners, Alicia Gomes, Dr. Fantastic, Bright Young Things, Baltimore Improv Group, Screaming Puppets, Basil White, Biscuitville, Rory Scoval, Seaton Smith, DCUP, Well Sung Players, Joe Recca, Rob Cantrell, Al Goodwin, TJ Miller, John Mumma, Danny Rouhier, Justin Schlegel, Vijai Nathan, Andy Campbell.... wow, that's over half the people who are from around here, but you get my point dccomedyfest, but where is WIT? No slight intended to acts from DC at the fest that weren't on this, but answer the question!"

We have WIT, but under their new onesixtyone name! Let's find out more about the change via spokesman Topher Bellavia:

dccf: What is the concept behind onesixtyone's new show?

Topher: We've always prided ourselves on our no rules, take no prisioners style of play. For this new run we've decided to try to color within the lines and take some prisoners. We've gone back to the basics. You know, like Picasso doing landscapes. Exactly like that.

dccf: How do the members of onesixtyone describe the show to their friends and family?

Topher: We don't try to explain ourselves. With longform improv the only explaination is to actually see it. It's undescribable, yet unmistakable. Like poetry. Or pornography.

dccf: Who makes up the cast of onesixtyone?

Topher: The show you'll be seeing is made up of Mark Chalfant, Tyler Korba, Topher Bellavia, Katie Carson, Brian Coleman, Michael Bass, Dave Johnson and Natasha Rothwell. That's also the order in which we entered the group. That's the only way I can remember it without forgettinganyone.

dccf: Any thoughts on onesixtyone's up comingappearance at the dccomedyfest?

Topher: Last year we did a fully improvised musical and the dccomedyfest show was the first time in the run that it really clicked. It was all sunshine and roses after that. We know that the comedy fest show will be the best one of the entire run, so were psyched to get to share it with all the fest peeps from across the country.

dccf: What is the most interesting review aonesixtyone show has received from an audiencemember?

Topher: The woman introducing us came out at the endand said, "Thank you. That was different and interesting." Which is another way of saying, Holy fuck. That was a train wreak.

dccf: Which acts coming to dccomedyfest are members of onesixtyone keen to check out?

Topher: You gotta love Bassprov. They rule over allcomers. I'm also picking them up at the airport. So they get an entire awkward trip with me telling them how cool they are. ChuckleSandwich has one of our alumni in it. They are awesome. Personally, I'm excited to see Emo Phillips. I grew up listening to his stand up in the way other people grew up listening to their favorite band.

dccf: Being from DC is there anything dccomedyfest audiences might be surprised to find out about the onesixtyone experience?

Topher: Maybe. In that DC has longform improv that stacks up admirably against Chicago, New York,L.A. I think locals can be proud of us.

dccf: Anything you want dccomedyfest blog readers to know about onesixtyone?

Topher: We're an old group with a new name and timeless comedy.

That about says it all. We hope to see onesixtyone and all the home grown talent kick some comedy butt at the fest. Don't forget your tickets.

Fest Spotlight On POW!

Nope, POW! isn't a reference to the mighty fist of the Batman on the faces of cartoonified villains! Nope, it isn't some ham-handed reference to the stellar acting of Chuck Norris! Just say a silent prayer to the memories of those who were Prisoner's of War, as this is not a veiled homage to them either. Nope, it's a chance to for you to familiarize yourselves with the comedy of POW: PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES WORKSHOP.

Sit back and enjoy as you attend a workshop show at the dccomedyfest that will change how you see all other meetings/workshops/trainings/events that you have attend in your adult life. This workshop is not only fun it's funny. Take off your tie, remove your ID badge, and put the kids in night care (day care usually is just for the day time). It's time to check out POW: PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES WORKSHOP.

Who is POW: PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES WORKSHOP? Good question! We asked them some questions so you can find out for yourself. Matt Oberg of POW was kind enough to speak for himself and Bob Wiltfong. Let's see what Matt had to say:

dccf: How did the two of you originally get together and decide to do POW!?

Matt: Bob and I met at the 2004 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Bob was there with Neutrino and "Anchors Away" and I was there with a show called "Fatboy". I was a guest improviser with Neutrino some nights and Bob and I realized we had a somewhat similar look and vibe. We were both goofy looking white guys who part their hair. Bob had already started to develop the POW show and needed someone to play the Brooks to his Dunne. The rest is history.

dccf: Do you get requests for bookings that sometimes indicate that people think you are strictly a business training company?

Matt: No one has yet been fooled into believing we are actually giving a legit workshop. Although we would be honored if someone was dumb enough to do that. If and when it happens we will let you know.

dccf: How does Matt working with "Chappelle's Show" and Bob working with "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" effect your dynamic?

Matt: Well, my work on Chapelle while exemplary and ground breaking was very brief. Bob's work on the Daily Show doesn't really effect our dynamic on stage, but off stage it creates a tremendous amount of tension. Bob went out and had a Daily Show varsity jacket made with his face embroidered on the back. And on the front he had them put a nickname that he gave to himself: "Da' Sizzler". It's awkward for all of us.

dccf: What's it like to work on a national show like "Chappelle's Show" or "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart"? They must have very different production styles.

Matt: Again, I am not a recognized authority on either production, but both were very rewarding experiences for us. It's great to have shows like that based in New York. It gives people in the New York scene a chance to get some really great exposure. We are both grateful for the opportunities and look forward to someday maybe even producing our own show that will have it's own style. We are still honing that style but both Bob and I are drawn to "Business Casual".

dccf: What, for each of you, has been the most rewarding "Professional Opportunity" you've had? No Pun intended, Sorry!

Matt: I trust that Bob will agree, but beyond the fact that we both now have a tremendous team of representatives who somehow see the chance of us making some money some day, our most rewarding "Professional Opportunity" was the recent birth of Bob's son Sawyer. That kid is cute, and with his old world charm and Bob and my knack for writing hooks in the studio we are optimistic that his album will go platinum. Look for "Baby Baby Baby" to drop sometime in July.

dccf: What is the strangest review you have gotten from an audience member directly after a show?

Matt: "I feel like I'm going to vomit, but I'm going to vomit diarrhea."

dccf: What should dccomedyfest audiences know in order to prepare for attending a POW: Professional Opportunities Show?

Matt: That the only true god is Allah and Mohammed is his messenger. And that you don't need to have worked in a bad office to get our jokes. If you enjoy grown men wearing sweaters and talki ng loudly, then you will love "POW".

dccf: Anything else you want to make sure our audiences know about?

Matt: Yes. They should know that I hate Avery Johnson and that Bob has two cats named Mariska and Hargitay.

Want to know more, why not come see them perform at one (or both) of their two shows at the dccomedyfest? You'll also get to see Elephant Larry both times. So it's a two for one special on comedy when you come see the guys of POW do their thing. Get your weekend pass now, and don't miss a second of the fest or POW!

Fest Spotlight On Elephant Larry!

By now you're thinking "Ok dccomedyfest! I thought I've heard that you will be bringing back that group LAWRENCE THE PACHYDERM . I've loved their appearances at last year's fest, and at last November's Taste of the Fest with Daniel Tosh. Where is their interview?"

Good question. First and foremost, the group you are thinking of is ELEPHANT LARRY (maybe you are confusing them with the Missouri based "Lawrence County Pachyderm Club" (a republican group in, you guessed it, Missouri). Secondly, yes you did love them at both of those appearances. Thirdly, their interview is right here.

Geoffrey Haggerty of Elephant Larry sat down and answered a few of questions about what Elephant Larry has been up to since we last saw them.

dccf: What has been happening with Elephant Larry since we last saw you guys back in November?

Geoffrey: I could tell you but I'd have to kill you! Hahaha! No seriously, we've been all over the place: Chicago, Charleston, and more excitingly, rural Virginia and Pennsylvania. We've even performed in New York City! Apparently, that's where we live.

dccf: Some folks might know you all are podcasting some of your sketches. Are you guys getting a good response to your podcast?

Geoffrey: It's been very strong so far. It's cool to have a place where we can constantly create and try out new things while having an instant cyber-audience at the same time.

dccf: How does it feel for you guys to know that people might be using an iPod(or similar device) to check out your sketches on a bus, during a business meeting, or even while taking a home pregnancy test in Lodi, CA?

Geoffrey : Creepy. 1984 is here. And by the way, we would NEVER allow our material to be broadcast in Lodi, CA. We have standards, thank you.

dccf: Anything you guys are looking forward to doing while in DC for the fest?

Geoffrey: Well we've checked out the Smithsonian and the Supreme Court, so I assume we're done at this point. In fact, we checked out the Supreme Court mere days before that big hunk of marble fell off the facade. So we should probably just stay in our hotel rooms.

dccf: What do the Elephant Larry guys watch for laughs these days?

Geoffrey: A lot of stuff on the internet, to be honest. The SNL digital video shorts that have been circulating are quite awesome. We're also huge fans of the Colbert Report, and the dear departed Arrested Development. Thank God for TV on DVD.

dccf: Are there any particular acts the guys of Elephant Larry are looking forward to checking out at the dccomedyfest?

Geoffrey: Yup, a LOT of particular acts! Our comedy mothers/sisters/girlfriends MEAT are gonna be in DC, as well as our comedy brothers/sisters/cousins/uncles(?) Fearsome. They are both awesome. Bassprov was amazing last year and we'll definitely be checking them out again. From DC itself, Rory Scovel is one of our good friends so anything with him in it we will follow feverishly. And not only will our guy Alex be at the Madame Funnypants show, he'll be IN the Madame Funnypants show.

dccf: This will be Elephant Larry's third trip to DC for a dccomedyfest event (we are counting). What can our audiences expect to see this time around?

Geoffrey: Well first off, expect the unexpected. Since that's kind of an innate oxymoron, expect some songs, some video, and whole lotta wordplay.

dccf: Anything you want us to make sure dccomedyfest blog readers know about?

Check out elephantlarry.com, elephantlarry.blogspot.com, and myspace.com/elephantlarry for more info. As Geoffrey said "That's the kind of stuff they should probably know. " We agree.

And now you do. Elephant Larry is not to be missed if you can avoid it. Try not to miss them. If you want to know more about the Lawrence County Pachyderm Club why not try a yahoo search! Don't forget to check out the main dccomedyfest page for links to all the awesome groups coming to the fest.

Fest Spolight On EMO PHILIPS!!!

In the last two posts, you blog readers have challenged us to show you we had political comedy & West Coast Based comedy coming to the fest. It's challenge time again. So get out your thinking caps (yes, it can be baseball hat from your college of choice) and prepare to ask the big question. That question is "Sure you have comedy coming to DC and sure it's not stuff we've seen before, but what kind of big name comedy acts do you have coming to the fest. Bet you don't have Emo Philips! DO YOU? DO YOU?"

Hold on to your thinking hats (or caps)! We do have Emo Philips coming to the fest. For not just one big show, but two nights of fun, laughs, and memories you won't soon forget (unless you have no long term memory, and then you can hardly blame us or Emo if that is the case). Fan's of stand-up comedy will remember Emo from his top shelf HBO special, his 2 comedy CD's (or tapes) from the 1980's (now available in one package) and mutiple appearances on other TV shows (Cinemax, Late Night with David Letterman, etc). Movie and television fans may also remember seeing him in Weird Al's "UHF" movie, animated on Dr. Katz, and most recently as himself in "The Aristocrats". After 30 years in the business of comedy, Emo has resume that shows he has what it takes to bring you the laughs.

Some might say "I'm not even from the United States, and I love Emo's material. How is that possible?" Emo has performed for audiences worldwide. He has made friends & fans at all of his appearances. Most notiably in 1989, Emo charmed the fans at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival before continuing on to tour the UK. This set him up for a triumphant return to the fest in 2001 where fans flocked to his shows. He's even managed to win the adoration of English speaking audiences in Paris, France. So you know him because he is just that big of a deal.

For those who love Emo and those who will soon see their first Emo Show, we asked him some questions. He was kind enough to answer. Here's what Emo had to say about his 30 year career and his upcoming appearences at the fest:

dccf: This year is your 30th Anniversary as a stand-up comedian. Thinking back on the beginning, how has the journey been for you?

Emo: Apart from whatever else I have achieved, my proudest boast is this: I have spent my entire adult life exclusively in show business. My entire adult life! It's like riding a commuter train from a distant suburb all the way into the city without ever being asked by the conductor for your ticket. And not once did I have to hide behind a newspaper!

dccf: What is the biggest change you've seen since 1976 in the world of stand-up comedy? Is it a good change?

Emo: The biggest change is that, back in 1976, there was almost no profanity on the comedy circuit, and now it is pert near ubiqitous. And it's a very bad thing, not only because it offends a large segment of the audience, but because when a comedian swears it's the swear word that gets the laugh, and not the comedian, and the comedian is never forced to learn how to be funny on his own for real. I realized this years ago when, just for an experiment, I inserted the "f" word into the absolute weakest, suckiest joke I had...and it got a gigantic laugh. And I thought, why not just pump nitrous oxide through the vents?

dccf: Our research shows that you're not only a fan favorite here in the United States, but thanks to your success at events like the Edinburgh Fringe Festival that you have quite an international following. How do your international fans differ from those here in the U.S.?

Emo: In all my years of performing in the UK, I have found only one significant difference between what people laugh at over there and what they laugh at over here: the British never ever ever laugh at jokes about mowing the lawn. And I really have no idea why. My best guess is that over there they all either live in cities, or use sheep.

dccf: What would you have liked to be doing if you hadn't gone into Stand-Up?

Emo: I would have also accepted: film comic, circus clown, mime...or pretty much anything else as long as it involved being funny and performing. If I couldn't have been a performer, then I think I would have enjoyed becoming either a) a cartoonist, or b) the author of a series of humorous books about either a) a dolphin or b) an African toxic waste site (I haven't bothered to choose yet, and the way things are looking will probably never be forced to.) As a last resort, I would have considered writing for others...but only as a last resort, because it would have been very rough on me emotionally; if I wrote a joke for a famous comic, everytime I heard him or her do it I'd feel like one of those poor women in a 1930's weepy film that gives up her baby to a rich woman and then becomes the maid in the mansion where the kid is growing up and at the end she has to choose between telling her child the truth, thus destroying his bright and happy prospects, or else never ever seeing him again, and by this time, everyone in the movie theater is sobbing uncontrollably. I admire comedians who can write for others...but I doubt if I could ever have been strong enough to.

dccf: What is the strangest complement that you ever received after a show?

Emo: Once after a show a woman of eighteen told me that, when she was four, her mother would repeatedly play the video of my Hasty Pudding Theater concert over and over, day after day, so that as a young child she learned my entire performance by heart. Then when she started kindergarten, the teacher overheard her saying a few of my jokes, found them offensive, and punished her. So the strange (yet wonderful) compliment is this: since I can get away with telling my jokes, but she could not, it follows, with inescapable logic, that I am cuter than a four year old girl!

dccf: What was it like for you to see yourself turned into a cartoon on Comedy Central's "Dr. Katz: Professional Therapist" show?

Emo: I think the subconscious appeal of "Who Killed Roger Rabbit?" is that, deep down, everyone thinks of him or herself as a cartoon character: ageless, immortal, impervious to permanent injury. So my theory is that in Heaven, we will all be our respective cartoon characters...because I don't see any other way it can possibly work. And I will always be grateful to the Dr Katz team for allowing me to experience Heaven on earth.

dccf: For dccomedyfest audience members who haven't been lucky enough to see you perform yet (and they have had ample chances), what can they expect to see?

Emo: In addition to my act, which I have been three decades augmenting and (in collaboration with six thousand audiences) honing, I will be doing something very special that I can only do in a theater: I will be showing an eight-minute silent comedy film I made a few years ago called "The Can Man"... and which I vow to accompany on my clarinet.

dccf: Many folks here in Washington D.C. are looking forward to seeing both yourstand-up act and your appearence with Bassprov at the dcccomedyfest. What are you most looking forward to when you join Joe Bill and Mark Sutton for some improvised fishing?

Emo: The improvised fish fry afterwords. Mmmmm! That's good imaginary eating!

We hope you'll join us at Thursday 4/6 at Lisner Auditorium to see Emo Philips live. It's bound to be an experience that you be telling your friends about for years to come. Hopefully that will get you to pop over to the Warehouse Theater to see Emo join Bassprov (an improv duo that is a must see for any fan of improv) for some fishing. Both shows are sure to be highlights of the fest. Plus, 30 years of comedy can be wrong.

Fest Spotlight On Uphill Both Ways!

You are sitting there, at your computer, and mustering up the courage to scream "Ok dccomedyfest, sure you have a lot of East Coast and Mid-West Groups! But do you have any cool acts from California? I've heard that California, along with several other states on Pacific Ocean exist, and that they have funny people too. Maybe even folks who live in the hills where land costs nearly $100,000 per square inch, and they have a Golden Gate Bridge that's actually Orange. Do you have any cool acts coming from there?"

Well brace yourselves, WE DO! Meet Uphill Both Ways. This San Francisco based sketch group are seasoned veterans (think comedy Paprika) of the comedy festival circuit (even though it's more a zig-zap maze of festivals, we still call it a circuit,... It's all loosely connected through the love of comedy). Uphill Both Ways doesn't seem to shy away from any topic, and is picking up fans wherever they go.

But who is Uphill Both Ways? Let' find out via their question based answers (one of the top methods of getting answers being used by both journalism and research organizations in our modern age) to our queries into the experience that is Uphill Both Ways:

dccf: Audiences checking out the 2006 dccomedyfest will get their first chance in DC to see Uphill Both Ways. What do they need to know about Uphill Both Ways to prepare for your style of sketch comedy?

COLIN: Just because we're from San Francisco doesn't mean that we're gay and eat Rice-A-Roni... That being said, Dave is gay.

DAVE: And Colin eats Rice-A-Roni.

dccf: Every group has a dynamic that the audience never sees. Can you give us a glimpse into
who the members of Uphill Both Ways are off stage?

DAVE: Well, Colin and I are old friends; we met while members of the Cornell Skits-O-Phrenics, the same sketch group that spawned NYC's 'Elephant Larry' and 'Madame Funnypants' so we have a long-lasting dynamic. It helps that we get along so well as friends and as comedic colleagues' we've worked together for so long we tend to agree on 99%of everything, and I let Colin win the 1% that we argue about.

COLIN: Damn straight.

dccf: How do the members of Uphill Both Ways describe the show to their friends and families?

DAVE: I usually say something like, 'hey, check out our new show 'I'm playing a giant cat, a gynecologist, a tree, and the Pope, and Colin's playing a Styrofoam tray full of leftovers, an imaginary friend' and 'OH, he's gonna wear that dress with the lemon pattern! Check it out!'

COLIN: You're obsessed with that dress.

DAVE: I wish it fit me.

dccf: Great sketches don't just fall out of the sky by themselves. What kind of process does Uphill Both Ways use to bring them to the stage?

COLIN: Most of the time, we come up with ideas on our own, whether from real-life experience or from the delusional exhaustion of being up at 4:30 in the morning for no apparent reason. Then, we'll meet up at one of our apartments and I'll blurt out something like, 'Oh hey, I had this idea the other night for a rock/paper/scissors peace conference', and then Dave will think it's brilliant (or pretend not to hear me), and one or both of us will sit down and write the script. From there, we are always editing, right up through the dress rehearsal, and when we improvise a moment on stage and it's well-received, it becomes part of the script.

DAVE: We have a combined experience of 16 years in sketch comedy -which basically means we've seen sketches of all shapes and sizes... and our combined experience can legally drive. Ultimately, we always strive to write unconventional stuff. If it's going to be something more conventional, though, like a doctor sketch, it better be something new or unexpected, like a patient with an immaculately-contracted STD.

dccf: What has been the most surprising thing Uphill Both Ways has encountered while
bringing its shows to the masses?

DAVE: Turns out you can't always predict which of your new skits will bean audience favorite. I wrote a skit on an airplane once called 'Before Microsoft Word... There Was Helen', and I thought it was so terrible that I didn't even want to bring it to the table and it's become one of our signature pieces - mainly because of Colin's use of paper clips and his lemon dress.

COLIN: It won't fit you. Seriously. I'm starting to think you have a fetish for dresses with citrus patterns.

dccf: What is the most interesting review you have received from an audience member after a performance?

DAVE: I once overheard a friend say to another friend, 'you haven't lived until you've seen Dave lick himself and bite on a rubber chew toy'. He was talking about a skit where I played a tiger. I think.

dccf: Anything that we should make sure our 2006 dccomedyfest audiences know before coming to check out an Uphill Both Ways show?

COLIN: Well, once again, just because we're from San Francisco doesn't
mean we'll do a 45-minute rock-opera tribute to 'Hair' and pass out huge bags of
quality reefer and rolling papers to every audience member

DAVE: That's right. We're only doing a 30-minute rock opera and we've only got smack, blow, dust, rocks, shrooms, ludes, whizz, poppers, doves, dots, giggly, jellies, and smileys. Sorry everyone.

We here at the dccomedyfest think those answers stand for themselves. So now that you've had your free taste, come by a sample the pay-per laugh experience. I think you find our quality top notch, and the value for you dollar unbeatable. Besides, we weren't paying attention when we interview them, but it sounded to us like they said something about bringing Rice-A-Roni. Yummy, tasty Rice-A-Roni.

Fest Spotlight On kevINda!

Maybe you are sitting at your computer and scratching your head while thinking "I see funny stuff, but do you have a group that would describe themselves as a 'smart mix of racially-charged political satire'? Bet you don't have that dccomedyfest! Do ya? Huh? Well do ya? Maybe I'm not making myself clear here dccomedyfest I want an answer. I wish you would pay attention when I ask questions, it hurts my feelings....blah, blah, blah". Well, if you are thinking that, you'd be wrong. Very wrong.

Let dccomedyfest provide you with your second chance to meet kevINda in DC. Kevin Douglas and Inda Craig-Galvan make up a duo like none other you will see performing anywhere. Hailing from Chicago, they combine Second City training, years of performing experience, and just plain brilliance into an act that will make you think, make you laugh, make you wonder if they can really say that, surprise you, and then make you laugh again even harder. While that description may seem as complex as putting together the EFFEKTIV workspace series (a fine workspace series if ever there were a fine workspace series) from IKEA, it boils down to one simple fact. They will make you laugh hard.

Inda was nice enough to send us some answers to our questions (more than a few were about kevINda). Take a look and get to know this returning dccomedyfest favorite. We loved them so much we had to have them back.

dccf: How did you and Kevin come up with idea to do kevINda?

Inda: Kevin held one of my kids hostage. At this point you say, "Inda, you have kids? How is that possible? You look so young and fit." But we digress. Kevin and I met while attending a class at The Second City Training Center. We did a student show together a while later, then both got cast as part of an "outreach and diversity" ensemble there. Eventually I got tired of Kevin saying, "We should write a show together," and we just did it. His name was Arthur back then. kevINda is much catchier than arthurnda. And the letters don't match up in the middle. Thanks for being a team player, Art.

dccf: kevINda has performed in a lot of interesting places recently, what has been the most interesting place you have gotten to perform?

Inda: If by "most interesting" you mean "scary-bad idea," then I'd have to say a mid-week, afternoon, outdoor show in the middle of downtown Chicago where families with little kids gathered to hear us say things like "tell him you got crabs" and "fuck Spike Lee" and, my personal favorite, "what's that pussy scent?". It started out as a well-intentioned effort by the Chicago Comedy Association. Actually seeing the acts you book before they perform might take that idea a little further.

dccf: How do you and Kevin describe the show to your friends and families?

Inda: It usually starts off with, "Me and my writing partner...." It sounds so legit. Writing partner. Ha!

dccf: Where do you and Kevin most often look for inspiration for your sketches?

Inda: The things that piss us off usually end up providing the most laughs for our audiences. Kevin and I will complain to each other about the absurdity of FEMA's response to Katrina, or about the ridiculousness of a furniture store running radio ads for a Dr. King Day sale (because the father of the civil rights movement was all about free financing and delivery of a living room sectional), or the not-too subtle similarities between the Curious George children's book and the African slave/middle passage history. One of us will complain for so long that the other one will say, "Just write a fucking sketch about it, will ya? Stop telling me about it or I quit." Neither of us is ready to go solo.

dccf: What has been the most surprising thing you and Kevin have discovered since you started performing together as kevINda?

Inda: You know, that line from Shoeless Joe (the novel) and Field of Dreams (the film)-- if you build it, they will come -- that shit is true. Once we started focusing on our own work and putting up a good product, opportunities came flooding in. Windows and doors are constantly opening. Letting go of that negative stuff and getting to work on something that we believe in allowed us to do all sorts of stuff that we hadn't expected. Not to sound all self-helpy, but once you get busy doing what you love and you stop waiting for "them" to put you on/hire you/cast you/fix your life for you, stuff just starts to happen. That's been the biggest surprise. Nope. I take that back. Kevin's not gay. That was it.

dccf: How do your friends and families describe the show to their friends and families?

Inda: Our friend (and Def Poet) Kevin Covall said "you wonder if you should laugh at it. It's okay to laugh." Or something like that.

dccf: What is the most interesting review you have received from an audience member after a performance?

Inda: One time...(reminiscing music here) a Chicago Tribune reviewer said, "...most sketch comedy groups are white..." as part of a much longer sentence, but that one portion got picked up by another local paper as if that were the entirety of the review.

dccf: kevINda rocked the dccomedyfest last year with some awesome sketches, what can our audiences expect to see in 2006?

Inda: More nudity, more penetration...oh, you meant in our show?! Got it. Well, definitely more angry colored folks dissing Bush, more social satire aimed at putting down Bush, and maybe even some Bush-bashing! And a surprise visit from Osama. Kevin,was I supposed to keep that a secret? See, you should have never made me the contact person for the group.

dccf: Anything that we should make sure our 2006 dccomedyfest audiences know before coming to check out kevINda?

Inda: The government WILL put you on a list for being there. kevINda out!!!!

Even if you are not a government agency, make sure to put kevINda on your list. You won't regret it. dccomedyfest out!

Fest Spotlight On Rob Cantrell

Have you been too lazy to go see live stand-up comedy? Crave it, but not enough to enough to put on pants?

Well maybe, just maybe, you've been waiting for one of those guys you've seen on TV to come to a theater near you. Well we have the guy for you. And we're going to give you three chances to see him with some other pretty awesome comics! Who could this be? It's none other than Rob Cantrell (hope the title above and the picture didn't give the surprise away)! That's right, DC raised, comic Rob Cantrell (Yep! He's the guy you saw on the "Last Comic Standing!").

When Can you See him? Try:

• Thursday April 6th, at 9 PM at with T Rexx (a one-two punch of comedy)
• Friday April 7th, at 9 PM in the LETTERMAN AUDITIONS: The Pros. You get to see Rob plus Vince Averill, Andy Campbell, Kevin Downey Jr., Al Goodwin, Andy Hendrickson, David Landau, TJ Miller, Vijai Nathan, T Rexx, Tony Woods & Dwight York
• Friday April 7th, at 11 PM with Andy Campbell (another killer comic with DC roots)

Check out the dccomedyfest site for location and ticket info!

We took a few moments to get some answers from Rob about himself, his start, and what we can expect to see at the fest. If you already aren't sold on coming to check him out at the fest, you will be! You will be!

dccf: What made you decide to head out to San Francisco to pursue stand-up comedy?

Rob: In 1999, I was twenty five years old living in an apartment in Glover Park in DC with a couple friends, I was three years out of college with a job placing Computer geeks with temp work. It was a rock n roll day dream gone wild. The truth was I was really bored with what I was doing, but it afforded me the ability to move out of my Mom’s house, drink heavily and to wear lots of business casual clothes with hamburger stains. I was creative and funny but I never really put it together where to start with Stand Up comedy. I majored in English at Denison University and I took a couple acting classes but nothing serious. Three years of a two hour commute on 495 was enough motivation to rethink my future career. I put together a plan. The last year I worked a ‘real job’, I moved back home to my Mom’s house on Capital Hill where I was born. I saved up 6,000 dollars, then quit my job and traveled all around Asia for six months. I never had time away from the US. I went to Thailand, Bali, Hong Kong, Cambodia and the Philippines, after that I ended back in the states on a friends coach in LA. I had another friend from college in San Francisco who had room for 375 a month for a limited time, so I moved right up there and started working at a sporting goods store during the day. At night I discovered the desperate world of open mike comedy. It took me two years but I worked my way up to getting paid at the club level. I never lived or really been ‘Out West’ till then. San Francisco is a funky town with plenty of music, art, culture and comedy. It was a great place to learn how to write a joke and far enough away from people that I know to see me completely bomb with that joke. I lived in San Francisco off and on for three and a half years. I always wanted to be Stand Up comic, it took me moving to California to start doing it.

dccf: What was the most fun part of doing “The LastComic Standing”?

Rob: Getting paid to be yourself and do stand up on national television during prime time, plus all the free cake.

dccf: Do you ever get confused for any of the other comics from “The Last Comic Standing”? If so, are there any that you consider to be a compliment, when compared to wanting to be confused for yourself?

Rob: No, Yes, No, Yes, Right there, stop, wait, who ate all my cake?

dccf: You have appeared all over, and have had chances to be seen via many different types of media. Which appearance do you consider to have been the most fun?

Rob: The most FUN!, remove money, is performing Stand Up comedy live!, being that free to express yourself is a blessing, getting that instant reaction of laughter is hard core fun, I love it!!; TV is great for the ego and a mind blowing experience but it can be stressful. Radio is a trip but it can be tricky as well, but there is nothing like the feeling of doing a great live show where everybody is loving it. I did a night at The Great American Music Hall, a classic old rockclub in San Francisco right after I was on Last Comic. I put a bunch of friends/peers on the show and we sold it out. The crowd was great, everybody killed and I think we got some shakes and steak sandwiches after the show. That was one of the most fun times I have had on stage, it is on my DVD that I sell on my website robcantrell.com. I like it simple.

dccf: You are originally from the DC area, what’s it like when you come home to perform? Do DC audiences treat you differently than when you are performing in other towns?

Rob: I love DC, the Redskins, Go-Go Music, the Metro and shady Hill staffers, what more do you need. The last time I played here, I was at the State Theater in Falls Church and it was packed with smart, cool, down to earth people from the DC area. I have family and friends around here. It feels like I am recharging my batteries when I come back home, plus my Mom still doesn’t mind washing my underwear.

dccf: In the most recent “What’s Happening…” section onyour web site you talk about songs you downloaded from iTunes. What kind of feed back do you get from your fans about your taste in music? Any surprising reactions?

Rob: It’s been good. A chick on myspace told me it should be in Time or Oprah magazine.

dccf: How do your parents describe your act to their friends?

Rob: My Mom sends my DVD to my older relatives and tells them to turn the volume all the way down. I understand, I set up one joke with the line “Pitbull raped my Grandma!”- this is not a true story- the words sound funny, I love pitbulls and Grandmas.

dccf: What is the strangest, but still nice, review youhave received from audience member after a show?

Rob: You were great, can I get a ride home.

dccf: For dccomedyfest audience members who haven’t been lucky enough to see you perform yet, what can they expect to see?

Rob: You, Me, Them, big stacks of Pancakes, 50 Exotic BellyDancers with tiny little cymbals on their fingers, reunited Dread Zeppelin or maybe just a man having the time of his life telling goofy jokes and funny stories about life.

dccf: Any thing you want us to make sure dccomedyfest blog readers know about you?

Rob: I do love cheese but not cheesy people.

Our thanks to Rob for answering our questions. As you can see his shows will be a treat! And maybe if you ask nicely, he'll give you a ride home after the show. If not, we are metro accessible. Do remember to put on some pants!

Fest Spotlight On MEAT!

We aren't talking about a Spotlight on Ground Chuck here folks, but we are Spotlighting MEAT. If they were a popular cut of the beast, they would be Prime Rib! MEAT is a group of ladies that is putting their own brand on their herds of loyal fans (not to call us cattle, but a metaphor is a metaphor). This amazing foursome makes up one of the funniest sketch troupes working today.

People who attended the 2005 dccomedyfest will remember their performances with awe. It's not every day you are so scared that you laugh until it hurts (see our write-up the Evil British Children). And the raw fun of sketches like Shelac alone will be putting people in the seats for their return visit to our nations capital. So don't miss your chance to see these ladies do what they were meant to be doing.

We talked with MEAT and they were kind enough to fill us in about the phenomenon that is MEAT:

dccf: How did the members of MEAT originally get together?

MEAT: We met at an audition for a different project. I think it is one of the things that makes MEAT unique. Most groups come with a history from college or high school or were started by two friends, etc, but we REALLY met for the first time at that audition and got together out of a mutual respect for each others' writing and acting abilities. We have of course become friends more like family, but the respect is still there, which I think allows us to be more honest about our work.

dccf: What kind of process does MEAT use to generate it sketch ideas?

MEAT: It varies. Sometimes one person will have an inspired moment and write a complete sketch and it's brilliant and we just let it fly and then tweak it after a performance or two. Let us be clear that this sort of confidence comes from working together for so long. More often, someone brings something in and we all give our feedback and they make the call on what suggestions they want to use-- our rule is that if you wrote it, you make the call. We will also get together and write something with one other person... each of us has a distinct sensibility, and so it can be very useful (for example, Biz is the queen of the high energy, ridiculous and insane sketch, Becky's the queen of the experimental and absurd, Livia is the queen of mean people and fast paced dialogue, and when it comes to high drama and camp, nobody does it better than Reggei). The other thing that we'll do is just hang out with each other and ideas will come from that- we all chime in and it becomes sort of like conversational-improv. One of our favorite sketches, "Mr. Knickerbocker," came from that.

dccf: What has been the biggest surprise for the group since it formed?

MEAT: How well we've been received around the country. When you live in New York (and some of us have been here a looooooooooooong time!) it can become isolating... like, we think, "How can anyone vote for George Bush? He is the worst president EVER." Well, it's obvious now that when it comes to that issue, we're really out of touch with how a huge portion of the population thinks about him. (Although not anymore! Ha-ha!) Anyway, sense of humor is particularly relative-- Blue Collar Comedy was a hit and Arrested Development was yanked: what is funny to New Yorkers is not necessarily going to be funny to college kids in the Midwest or people who blow glass in Portland, Oregon. But we've been lucky-- our shows have been appreciated by all sorts of audiences, and we are very appreciative back. We work hard for our audiences and we want them to have a great time while being true to our voice. We aren't just writing sketches for our drunk friends.

We would also like to note that we have been excited at the discovery that there is an incredible sketch community out there, across the country. There are amazing people doing brilliant sketch comedy and we encourage you to search it out. You can always check out our links page at our website to check out the groups we love from around the country.

dccf: MEAT has appeared at many different comedy festivals in the last several years. What has this kind of exposure done to your fan base?

MEAT: It's allowed us to bring them closer to Christ.

dccf: What is the strangest review that MEAT has ever received?

MEAT: I guess this is a review. At one of our shows we had a drunk guy stand up and repeatedly yell "Asshole" at us. We were doing a sketch about priests. While he did not like that sketch, he apparently loved our sketch about George Bush Shitting in the mouth of America. It turned out that we was a priest, by the way. A shitfaced priest.

dccf: If dccomedyfest audience members saw MEAT perform last year, what can they expect to see this year?

MEAT: They can see new "episodes" of some of our reoccurring characters like the Evil British Children and Shelac. I don't believe we did Velvet Scrunchie last year which is our acapella punk band. We also have several new sketches covering everything from mixed cds to Pacman. This will be all new for DC.

dccf: Any thing you want us to make sure dccomedyfest blog readers know about MEAT?

MEAT: We have a new website up with some videos of our sketches and a blog we maintain poorly. Ha ha ha. We also have some fun projects going on, like Biz has a popular blog called "Princess Pony Party Amazing" with Jordana Barnes from Portland's The 3rd Floor, Livia hosts a variety show every week and is working on a solo show called "Goodnight, O.J." and Becky is in the awesome sketch duo Becky and Noelle and a kickass band with other talented NY comedy ladies called "Stickerbook." We are also going to be doing a series of short films with the brilliant and talented Michael (Baz) Balzer from the Chicago sketch group, "Animal Club."

So get your number at the butcher's counter (more specifically order tickets now) to catch them either at the Warehouse Theater or during our fest fanale at Lisner Auditorium. You won't regret your decision to spend some time with MEAT.

Fest Spotlight On Baby Wants Candy

With just under a month to go before the 2006 dccomedyfest you may be wondering what you can expect to see at the fest. In an effort to bring you up to speed so that you don't miss any of the totally awesome acts at fest, we present you with our Fest Spotlight series of interviews. Each interview will offer you the chance to get to know these acts you may not yet be familiar with, but won't be able to stop talking about once you've experienced them.

Today's Spotlight is on BABY WANTS CANDY. They are an improv group that offers up a one hour improvised musical. In addition to great critical reviews, Baby Wants Candy has great street creds. Every improvist that this blogger has talked to is eagerly waiting for a chance to see BWC at the fest. Seats will probably fill up fast for their shows (check the dccomedyfest schedule for your chance to see them at the fest).

We got Emily Dorezas, Baby Wants Candy's Executive Producer, to answer some questions to help you decide to come check out their shows.

dccf: How do the members of Baby Wants Candy describe the show to their friends and families?

Emily: Improvised musical Simpson's Episode

dccf: Who makes up the cast of Baby Wants Candy?

Emily: On Stage we have 7 people that we rotate in from a cast of 25. We are accompanied by our piano player or full band.

dccf: What kinds of suggestions have you all gotten for shows in the past? Any favorites?

Emily: "Maple Syrup Urine Disease", "The Revenge of Thomas Jefferson","I Just Slept With my Best Friend's Girlfriend"

dccf: In musical improv, are there some types of suggestions that are more difficult to work with than others?

Emily: Typically what is a challenge for one person may come easier for another with in the group. We try to cast a show with a variety of strengths.

dccf: What is the most interesting review a Baby Wants Candy show has received from an audience member?

Emily: We thought we were coming to see a burlesque show and this was kind of like that.

dccf: Is there anything dccomedyfest audiences need to do to prepare for the Baby Wants Candy experience?

Emily: Think of a title of a musical you want to see that has never been performed before and be ready with it as soon as BWC asks the crowd for a suggestion.

dccf: Anything you want make sure dccomedyfest blog readers to know about Baby Wants Candy that we haven't covered?

Emily: Some folks don't know that we've done over 1300 different musicals and typically Fleming farts on stage.

Thanks Emily for filling us in. Now that you are prepared for what to expect, start thinking of titles for musicals you want to see. Just remember it could be your wife or grandmother sitting next to you that gets out their title first. So be prepared to yell out "Abe Lincoln Vs. The Gobots" if that is what you really want to see rather their equally interesting suggestion of "A Tale of Two Snack Cakes". On second thought, those suggestions are already taken for an upcoming episode of Judge Judy, so best to come up with your own original suggestions. Long story short, don't miss BABY WANTS CANDY performing what could be your idea for a musical! Take that Andrew Lloyd Weber!

Spotlight Interviews

After a month of Silence, you may be wondering what's going on with the 2006 dccomedyfest.

IT'S COMING!!

And we have more great acts than you could hope see in one place, including:

Emo Philips
Rob Cantrell
Demetri Martin
Mitch Fatel
Eddie Brill
Tony Woods
T Rexx
Mickey C.
MEAT
Elephant Larry
POW
KevInDa
Uphill Both Ways
UCB TourCo
Baby Wants Candy
WIT (161)
and many more.

Check back regularly during the coming week(s) for exciting interviews with many of these groups. We can't wait to hear what these folks are thinking, or for you to read all about it.