Interview with Rory Scovel

It's time to check in with a local favorite. You've seen him all over the DC area performing. And then you haven't seen him for a while.

He's a Stand-Up. No! An Improvist! No! A Stand-Up! That's right, he's both. And who is the local rising young star? None other than Rory Scovel. Rory started local, has toured around some, and is now taking the Big Apple by storm. We caught up with Rory and found out what he has been up to since last year.

dccf: Hey Rory, Thanks for taking a few minutes to answer a few questions. Sure you are from DC, but people have questions. What have you been up to lately?

Rory: Things have been pretty hectic lately. My girlfriend and I recently moved to Hoboken, NJ to pursue our entertainment dreams. We've been playing in NYC and trying to get some stage time. She was recently cast in 2 productions and I have been doing any standup show I can get on.

dccf: We understand you spent a lot of time in Canada and other northern places last fall. Were you hiding from the police or was it something comedy related that took you out of town for a while?

Rory: I did a yuk yuks comedy tour through western Canada. I was fortunate enough to get a booking with Yuk Yuks through Dave Moroz at Aspen Talent and couldn't see myself turning down the offer. It landed me the opportunity to meet great comics in Seattle, Washington as well, which is what landed me a spot in the 2006 Seattle Comedy Competition.

dccf: Any way people can check out parts of your adventures from last fall?

Rory: On my website (www.roryscovel.com) I have the 17 minute set I performed the very last night of the seattle competition and also a new documentary that I'm working on. The doc is about myself and a few comics and what performing comedy means to us and what effect it has on our outlook on life. We all have different opinions but one bond, we love performing.

dccf: Your website mentions that you have "infectious stage presence". Has this been reported to the Center for Disease Control and what are the symptoms?

Rory: It has been reported and they told me to F off, which I thought was a little immature. Since that day I've been trying to bring down the Center for Disease Control. Everyone has a platform, this one is mine.

dccf: You just finished taping for Live at Gotham. Can you tell us what that was like and where and when we can expect to check that out?

Rory: It was an amazing experience. I never pictured myself getting such an opportunity so the entire weekend was overwhelming. The experience overall was great. All the comics that were taping that weekend were really cool and the actual show itself was more fun than I can describe. I was very nervous prior to my set but then realized the audience was very much on the performers sides. I think the show airs sometime in May or June. i haven't been fully informed but heard that info from a small white rabbit. hahahahaha, see how funny I am?

dccf: Why are we under the impression that you can help us with the purchase of an HDTV?

Rory: I taped a commercial for Circuit City a year and a half ago or something like that. Thanks to my buddy and improv partner Tyler Korba I was given the chance to audition for the shoot. Tyler works with Discovery Channel and they were hired to shoot the commercial. That experience was really cool as well. I'm just glad they were able to find something I said on tape usable. I don't see myself as much of an actor.

dccf: What was the strangest review that you've ever received after a show?

Rory: Hmmmmm. I'm not sure. I don't get reviewed very often. I was told that there was someone in the audience this past christmas in Greenville, SC who found my set to be super cheesy. Nothing pisses me off more than not knowing who that person is so I can ask them why they think that.

dccf: What was the 2006 Seattle International Comedy Competition experience like for you?

Rory: It was a really cool one. I was able to meet a lot of great comics that were competiting who have dropped my name to many people and helped me get random stagetime and attention. Comics help comics more than anyone else and that competition was a great way to meet more comics. I also was given the chance to spend a month in Seattle, a city I have now grown to love more than most. If you haven't visited Seattle, do so. The comedy here is incredible, the scene is thriving and the overall energy in the city is very creative and artistic.

dccf: Now that you are a full time stand-up comic, will audiences who know you from the various improv shows still be able to see you perform some improv?

Rory: Dr. Fantastic will be performing improv at the DC comedyfest this year. If you know anything about Dr. F, you know that we are the greatest improv troupe in the history of time and even before time was invented. This show will see the return of Dr. F cofounder Zhubin Parang. He is a "lawyer" now in NYC and has missed a few Dr. F performance opportunities. It will be fun to play with him again. I use quotations because lawyer stands for drug dealer in the big apple.

dccf: Anything you want us to make sure dccomedyfest blog readers know about before coming to see you at the fest?

Rory: I love money. Bring some money and just hurl it at me while on stage. I love pretending I'm in "showgirls" also. I use quotations because showgirls stands for "Zhubin's living room buying drugs."

Don't miss your chance to catch Rory at the fest. You'll then be able to say you saw Rory before the he "Made It Big". And by "Made It Big" we mean "Made It Big".

You, the blog reader, are probably sitting there thinking "Gee, dccomedyfest, you've talked to top notch acts from the world of improv & sketch, and even talked to a stellar Canadian Stand-up comic. Do we need to prompt you to talk to some homegrown all-star American talent?" The answer, a resounding no. In fact, we sat down and blogged a while with none other than Elon James White.

We think you'll love Elon James, but we'll let him win you over.

dccf: How did you get first get involved with Stand-up comedy?

Elon James: I first started stand-up after being yelled at. I was working in corporate (Information Technology Bitches, WHAT!) and I would go hang out at a little west Indian restaurant and complain. Every day I'd go tell stories about all the people I hated and one of the customers who would come by and hear my complaining told me I should be a stand-up. I argued for about 6 months but then relented and have been doing ever since.

dccf: So far in your career, what has the most interesting place Stand-up has taken you to perform?

Elon James: The most interesting place I've done comedy was at a bar somewhere in the middle of Pennsylvania where people were wearing cowboy hats, but not in an ironic way. They were serious. It looked like the bar from "The Accused"(never heard of it? Wiki that mutha!) Me walking into the town tripled the Black population. I realize that's mathematically impossible, but rest assured it happened. But I had a great time.

dccf: What made you decide to found "The Brooklyn Comedy Company"?

Elon James: Drinking. Definitely started with a little drinking. I was at my favorite bar (Ripple Bar, what!) in Brooklyn and in an effort to rationalize the inordinate amount of time I was spending there, I figured I'd start doing shows there. But I over do EVERYTHING, so next thing you know I was holding auditions, branding a style of comedy that I wanted to push and then boom. We have BcCo. It's been one of the defining things in my comedy career.

dccf: For those of not in the know, can you tell us about "4 Shades of Black" and why it has received so much critical acclaim?

Elon James: "4 Shades of Black" was born out of frustration. A lot of people have one view of a "Black" comedian and its normally shaped by Comic View and Def Jam. I was told "You're not a black comic" 1 too many times. So I decided to create a show with other comedians I know who had similar experiences. I wanted to show that black comedy is quite diverse. And I think that's why the show is well received. It's not conforming to anything. Its comedy that messes with preconceptions.

dccf: What should fans looking to see "4 Shades of Black" at the fest expect to see?

Elon James: A top of the line show. Baron Vaughn was at the HBO Comedy Arts Festival last year and is all over the country now. Michelle Buteau was on Premium Blend, HBO Comedy Arts Fest '07 and has a few TV shows under her belt and Jordan Carlos Just did Live At Gotham and was at the "Just for Laughs" festival last year.. This is a dynamic show that I'm proud to be apart of.

dccf: The other members of "4 Shades of Black" are Jordan Carlos, Michelle Buteau, and Baron Vaughn. Do you all have a competitive relationship off stage, trying to be the funniest person in room? Or is more of a family feel?

Elon: Everyone does what they do. There's not really any competition since we're all very different types of people. It's all about the funny.

dccf: We see from your blog, Catharsis 101, that you live with two women. Do you ever find yourself in and Three is Company moments?

Elon James: If by "ever find" you mean "at all time" then yes. I live with 2 comedians and one of them is my girlfriend so its constantly a full fledged sitcom. 'How can I drive my roommate crazy? Ooooh, I know. Wax the floor! Yeah, she won't be able to walk with out falling, but then again, I did clean the floor, hahaha, Life is grand.'

dccf: Your blog mentions that you didn't try out for "Last Comic Standing" this year but are planning to do so next year. Are you going to watch this year? Is it hard to watch other stand-ups?

Elon James: I'll watch if anyone I know gets on. I do watch an incredibly large amount of comedy in general so I may not be the first one in front of the TV but I'm sure I'll be well versed (since everyone I know will tell me about it)

dccf: Occasionally the audience must do things that catch you off guard. What has the audience done at times that has kept the shows fun for you?

Elon James: I've had audience run up to me after my set to give me updates about my old neighborhood. I come from Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, and occasionally discuss the ghetto of legend on stage. No matter where I am there's always someone who's from there, or has family from there, or has been there on a very unfortunate day. I had a family run up to me yelling "There's an APPLEBEE's! There's an APPLEBEE's IN BED-STUY!" The concept of thugs trying to get an apple turnover, to me? Hilarious.

dccf: What acts at this year's dccomedyfest are you looking forward to having a chance to see in action?

Elon James: Well I'll probably catch Rob Cantrell. I've worked with him a lot in NYC but haven't seen him in a while so it'll be cool to see him do his thing. I'll probably get over to catch Eddie Brill as well.

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

Elon James: A Blazer. I'm pretty sure there's gonna be a Blazer involved.

dccf: Anything you want us to make sure dccomedyfest blog readers know about you and "4 Shades of Black"?

Elon James: That we're awesome. Pretty sure that's all they need to now. oh, and we'll be giving away money and gold and other things that might make people want to come to the show.

If we've peaked you interest head to our shows and tickets page for more details. Then we'll see you at the HR-57 Mainstage: 9:00PM on Friday April 13th for The Tonight Show Audition Show where you'll get to see Elon Audition to be on you guessed it THE TONIGHT SHOW!!!

Interview with Tony Mendoza

So dccomedyfest blog reader, you think we have forgotten the sketch fan do you? We haven't. In fact we have a rare treat for you this year. We are proud to bring you the Annoyance Theater's Showstravaganza PRESIDENT BUSH IS A GREAT MAN!

That's right! SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2006 @ 8:30PM at the Warehouse Mainstage be sure to catch this amazing show brought to us by Chicago's famed Annoyance Theater. Students of Improv and Sketch Comedy are sure to recognize that this is a rare treat that usually requires you go to Chicago for a chance to see the Annoyance Theater folks in action. So if you're quick you can beat the die hard fans to the good seats for this cannot be missed opportunity.

Tony Mendoza, a performer and faculty member at Chicago's Annoyance Theater, took some time to answer a few questions we had about this sure to please offering at the fest. Tony is a multi-talented preformer and playwrite who has held some interesting jobs over the years. We'll let him tell you about them...

dccf) Thanks for taking time to answer a few questions for the dccomedyfest blog readers. Let's start right off with an important question, tell us a little bit about the show PRESIDENT BUSH IS A GREAT MAN!

Tony) It's a silly, smart, stupid, gross, weird, angry, songy sketch comedy about the currently great president.

dccf) What is the best part of being involved in PRESIDENT BUSH IS A GREAT MAN!

Tony) The cast and director have been family to me for awhile. The kind of family you choose to be around. So I liked working with them.

dccf) How did you get involved with PRESIDENT BUSH IS A GREAT MAN! and Annoyance Theater?

Tony) I took classes at Annoyance in 1997 and hung around. I wasn't a crazy weirdo and so they asked me to do shows and eventually teach.

dccf) We understand that you are also involved with Second City, what's it like to be a drummer for Second City Shows?

Tony) Those are fun gigs. It's good to not have to be the funny one and watch your friends struggle to make people laugh. And the musicians get paid more.

dccf) We would love to hear about your play 58, a play about bike messengering. What drove you to write a play about bike messengers?

Tony) For the last 6 years I've supplemented my meager improv earnings by bike messengering. It seemed like each week at the bar, I'd have a new work story to tell...often involving some sort of dumb altercation, or accident, or humiliation. And because people asked me about my job all the time, there appeared to be an interest in the subject. I kept a blog about it: http://home.earthlink.net/~tonymendoza/mess We did a one-man-show-with-people called 58 (which is my messenger number) which was written by me and the city of Chicago.

dccf) How has your play been received?

Tony) It won Best Musical at the 2006 NY Fringe Festival. People have said it has changed the way they drive or perceive messengers. I'm proud of it I suppose.

dccf) What is the strangest, yet still positive, compliment you have received after a performance?

Tony) In reference to my band Let's Get Out of This Terrible Sandwich Shop someone recently said "You guys are the like the Shags! I love you guys!" The Shags didn't know how to play their instruments.

dccf) Relatives often say the strangest things about what people are doing for a living. What has been the best or strangest review you have received from a family member?

Tony) I don't let my family see anything I do. They are very supportive and we have an understanding.

dccf) Is there anything you want to make sure dccomedyfest audiences know before coming to see you and PRESIDENT BUSH IS A GREAT MAN! at the fest?

Tony) Bring your silly frown and let's have fun about it.

Hope this teaser interview has provided you with some answers to questions you might have asked. If you take nothing else away from this blog... GO SEE TONY AND PRESIDENT BUSH IS A GREAT MAN! You won't regret the effort put into checking out this fan favorite show!

For more details about this and all the dccomedyfest shows, check out our show and ticketing web pages.

Interview with Big Black Car's Matt Oberg

Some of you are probably thinking "Gosh, dccomedyfest! I like stand-up, but I'd love to see me some crazy improvised comedy that will make me lose my mind. What do you have that's new and off the hook?" Or some could be thinking "I'd loved to see me something with up and coming artists who I've seen on TV doing comedy but who might not yet be household names. You got any of those acts dccomedyfest?" Other still might be thinking "God, I wish I had a banana?"

Well if you are a person who isn't wishing for a banana, then you are in the right place. We have an off the hook act for you catch at this year's fest that features people you might have seen on TV. They are an Improv group called Big Black Car. Big Black Car is a house team at New York's legendary PIT theatre. They have won critical and fan acclaim, and are drawing crowds where every they go. Matt Oberg (not pictured above) from Big Black Car took a few minutes to answer some questions for us so we could introduce you to this must see act.

dccf: First questions first, What's the story behind your group's name, Big Black Car?

Matt: Truth be told, no one really knows the story behind the name. Sadly, it has been lost to history. Legend holds that it's a lyric from a Tori Amos song. I prefer to believe it is from Leviticus 4:20.

dccf: Who is in the group and how did Big Black Car first get together?

Matt: Big Black Car is Justin Akin, Chris Caniglia, Scott Eckert, Ellie Kemper, Megan Martin, Matt Oberg, Tom Ridgley, and Kristen Schaal. BBC (as our friends call us) formed out of some of the earlier classes at the PIT and steadily worked it's way up to becoming one of the permanent house teams. Chris Caniglia seems to enjoy taking credit for starting the group. "You people would be nowhere without me!" he says. "I have arthritis!" he also says.

dccf: Anything the members of Big Black Car are looking forward to doing while in DC for the fest?

Matt: Personally I look forward to beholding the quiet dignity of many of our nation's capital's monuments. And then making fun of the fat people in ponchos who are leaning against them.

dccf: Some of Big Black Car's member have appeared on '30 Rock', 'Chapelle's Show', 'Ugly Betty', 'Late Night with Conan O'Brien' and a soon to be released Lifetime Original Mini-Series 'Take me Home - The John Denver Story'. Okay, who is in the John Denver Story? Who do they play? What was the experience like for them? And were they disappointed with the ending of the film?

Matt: Again, Chris Caniglia can take the credit on this one. He plays Mr. Denver's estranged brother Derek. When asked about the project Chris said "Being involved with 'Home' was a real privilege. Such a great cast - Lisa Kudrow, Haley Joel Osment, Alfonso Ribeiro, the list goes on. I couldn't be more proud of the work. " When asked about his joint pain Chris said "It's worst in the morning."

dccf: Are there any particular acts Big Black Car cast members are looking forward to checking out at the dccomedyfest?

Matt: A lot of the acts look great. Elephant Larry are friends and they always put on a great show.

dccf: We hear you guys are a pretty popular show at New York's legendary PIT theatre. What makes your show such a draw for audiences?

Matt: Most of us have been improvising for a while, and I think we just have a pretty relaxed informal style that is fun to watch when everything is going well. We split the bill with a great group called "Fancy Dragon" and that's part of it. But to be honest, I think people just can't get enough of my rock solid gags.

dccf: What was the strangest review that you've ever received after a Big Black Car show?

Matt: "That was awful."

dccf: What was it like to be named 'Best Improv Group' by the Emerging Comics of New York awards back in 2005?

Matt: Wow. What a roller coaster ride. I think more than anything it just helped the group's mojo. So much of improv is about the attitude you bring to the stage and if you are under the impression that people enjoy you it helps you to believe that you are good and that in turn makes you good. It's like karate.

Dccf: What should a dccomedyfest audience expect to see when they come to check out Big Black Car at the 2007 dccomedyfest?

Matt: Personally I feel we are one of the best looking improv groups out there. So there's that. But beyond that a very fun, and very funny half hour of state of the art long form improv. I can almost guarantee you we will not ruin your evening. And some day you will be able to say "I saw them in DC before their drug problems became very, very real."

dccf: Anything you want us to make sure dccomedyfest blog readers know about before coming to see Big Black Car at the fest?

Matt: The climate crisis and what they can do about it. Fluorescent bulbs are a lot less booger than they used to be.

If you are thinking "Gosh, I am so excited that I am going to check out Big Black Car at the fest. Where can I get tickets?", then proceed to our tickets page to find out about our open pass system. Big Black Car is only one a many other must see feature performer acts to check out at this years fest. Check them all out on our Acts page. Not enough for you, then come to the fest and challenge yourself to a class? Maybe then you can form your own improv group and be in the 2008 dccomedyfest.

For bananas see any of your local produce vendors for a fine selection of ripe and pre-ripe bananas.

Interview With Jon Dore

Comedy fans have already begun to wonder when they will get their chance to find out more about some of the acts coming to this year's dccomedyfest! How about starting right now! And who better to start off our series of interviews with than one of today's most exciting and fastest rising acts. If you love Stand-up Comedy then let's get to know Canada's own Jon Dore.

Not only is Jon Dore comic who's impeccable timing thrills audiences everywhere he goes, but he has also become a household name as the Roving Reporter for 3 Seasons of Canada's #1 TV Show, Canadian Idol (okay those houses are in Canada, but it still counts). He is a main stay at the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, and was the 2006 Winner of the Canadian Comedy Awards for Best Stand Up Newcomer. If that is not enough he has his own television series in development with CTV & The Comedy Network.

Jon took some time to answer a few of our questions. So without further ado, let's meet a comedian who is sure to be a favorite at this year's fest.... Jon Dore!

dccf: Thanks for taking time to answer a few questions for the dccomedyfest blog readers. Let’s start right off with an important question, how did it feel to be “hailed by TV GUIDE as one of Canada's top ‘rising stars of the future’”?

Jon: I liked being hailed. I had never been hailed before. It was my first hailing and I think I learned a lot from being hailed.

dccf: We are sure that part of this accolade can be contributed to your participation in the Canadian Idol phenomenon. How has that experience been for you?

Jon: Canadian Idol was a wonderful experience. I would rank it 2nd to being hailed.

dccf: What was the highlight of the Canadian Idol experience for you?

Jon: I got to meet Lionel Ritchie aka Nicole's Dad...He signed my breasts. Hail Lionel.

dccf: You are currently in the middle of Hosting the Just For Laughs National Homegrown Comic Competition, how is that going?

Jon: It's been a blast. I've had the opportunity to travel the country and see some hilarious comics. I'd hail them as fantastic.

dccf: The Just For Laughs National Homegrown Comic Competition must be full of chances to have fun and see tons of new acts. How does it feel to be Hosting a competition you once competed in?

Jon: It feels like Canada is giving birth to 10 talented comedians every night and I am there to say push. I would rank it 3rd to being hailed.

dccf: We were reading that you recently got your own show on The Comedy Network, The Jon Dore Show. How did you celebrate such a big moment in your life?

Jon: I threw out my suicide note and called my mom. I am now going to type an exclamation point!

dccf: We see that you appear to go back and forth between having a beard and not having a beard. When did you start going back and forth, and should we start taking bets as which look we will see you in at the fest?

Jon: I hail this question to be rude, superficial, and almost racist...I will answer it. I have a rare genetic condition that causes a random hormonal imbalance resulting in the loss of facial hair. Also...It causes me to lie.

dccf: What is the strangest, yet still positive, compliment you have received after a performance?

Jon: "You're the funniest Asian comic I've seen!"

dccf: Relatives often say the strangest things about what comedians are doing for a living or about their performance style. What has been the best or strangest review you have received from a family member?

Jon: Dad: "I could barely hear your jokes over your mother's heckling"

Mom:"Great set...Can you pay my tab?"

dccf: Is there anything you want to make sure dccomedyfest audiences know before coming to see you at the fest?

Jon: I would like the audiences in DC to keep in mind that: Laughter Is The Best Medicine. It's been proven. People who laugh, live longer than people with terminal diseases. Gotta go hail a cab. Love, Jon.

So DC you have it straight from Jon himself, go hail a cab and come check him out at the dccomedyfest. Check out our shows page to find out when you can see Jon and all our other great acts. Don't miss him at our benefit for the Brain Tumor Society on THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2007. There will be a Post-show kick-off party at Bar Rouge. Hail a cab on your way home from that too.

Be sure to check out www.jondore.com for some cool videos and other info about Jon.