We pride ourselves on bringing you fantastic news, information and commentary and I am not sure how we missed this in our last newsletter when we recapped the local festivals that are abounding the area, but we did! So, I want to intrude on your day to offer a fantastic suggestion for some weekend fun!

ANNAPOLIS COMEDY FESTIVAL

While some people like to get up and dance and jam, other like to sit back and hold their sides because they ache so much from laughing. And this weekend, yes this weekend, right here in Anne Arundel County..right here in Annapolis you will get your fill of world class, regional and local comedy with the Annapolis Comedy Festival!

It all kicks off tonight with an IMPROV JAM at the Westin Annapolis. Friday kicks into high gear with shows by Tim Meadows (Leon Phelps, the Ladies’ Man from Saturday Night Live), Improv groups from New York, Chicago, and Charleston filling the rooms of the Rams Head On Stage, O’Callaghan Annapolis Hotel, and Annapolis’ newest restaurant the Metropolitan Kitchen & Lounge. Saturday moves to the Loews Annapolis Hotel and the Metropolitan with more Improv and Musical Sketch comedy. It caps off with a local talent stand-up showcase at The Metropolitan and a VIP Rooftop After Party with the stars.

Tickets

The easiest way to get tickets is to get them online right here.

You can purchase tickets for individual shows * or

You can purchase a two day three show pass.

The tickets for the Tim Meadows show need to be purchased from Rams Head On Stage.

* As a reader of Eye On Annapolis, if you enter the code COMEDY during the online checkout process, you will receive a $5 discount on individual shows!

For you last minute folks, tickets MAY be available at the door for individual performances; but our $5 discount does not apply. Play it safe and get them now!

The Players

Tim Meadows 

One of the longest-running cast members in the 33-year history of Saturday Night Live, versatile comedian Tim Meadows will be performing two shows on Friday, July 15th at the Rams Head On Stage. Meadows, a cast member from 1991 to 2000, crafted some of the series’ most memorable characters during his 10 years on the show. Such characters included Leon Phelps, The Ladies’ Man and Lionel Osbourne, host of the fictional public affairs show, Perspectives, as well as uncanny impressions of OJ Simpson, Ike Turner and Sammy Davis Jr.

Plan B Plan B performs a mid-form style that combines short form’s high level of audience input with the scene work associated with long form. The Audience will get to see their suggestions come to life in this fast paced show.Training For Prom

Watch the lives of several characters come to life and intertwine in this Long Form Improv experience. This hilarious show will leave you gasping for breaths between laughs.

Wacky Town

Prepare for the most logical and wacky, rational and bizarre, sensible and outlandish improv journey ever. These players will use their imaginations to take you to places that you never knew were possible. Having trained in Chicago and Charleston, Wacky Town is like nothing you have ever seen.

The Shock T’s

The best part of a rock show meets the best part of a comedy show: The Shock T’s, A Chicago based SECOND CITY CONSERVATORY trained group, is a three-person music act of original material and high-energy comedy. Songs hit topics from ghosts to sex to themselves with clever lyrics and spot-on harmonies powered by the simplicity of three voices and one guitar. Come see why The Chicago Reader says “The Shock T’s are setting the bar too high for the acts to follow.”

 

Outlook of the Poet

OUTLOOK OF THE POET presents an evening of long form improvised comedy with their signature form, an improvised play. Outlook Of The Poet is a popular fixture at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theatre in New York City and is comprised of three of the theatre’s veteran performers. A few of the performer credits are Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Best Week Ever, FunnyorDie.com, and the popular B.P. Spills Coffee video sketch. Over the years they’ve accumulated a strong following and were winners of the annual 3-on-3 tournament. These veteran performers will blow you away with quick witted improvised humor.

Big Dicktionary

This two person long form improv comedy team is composed of Timmy Finch and John R. Brennan. They are award winners of Charleston City Papers ‘Best Local Comic’ and ‘Best Local Actor’ awards. Timmy Finch is a Lawyer, Husband, Father, Iron Man, and Comedian. John R. Brennan one man show ‘The Banana Monologues’ is being produced at the MITF festival in NYC and has been touring nationally for 5 years. Big Dicktionary is high energy, completely made up on the spot and will leave you laughing, crying and laughing at people crying.

Maximum Brain Squad

Maximum Brain Squad is a weird, energetic, and highly stylized hip hop group from Chicago touching down somewhere between nerdy synth rap and outer space. Their live show includes the dopest beats, the freshest tracks and dispels the age old myth that rapping requires wealth, fame, or coherent lyrics. Also, they make jokes! MBS is a collaboration of musicians and comedians originally from Charleston, SC and now rub lotion on the moon regularly in Chicago, IL at The Second City Donny Skybox Theatre, The Playground, The Spot, Town Hall Pub, The Show Below, and many other human venues. Half of MBS, Henry Riggs and Chris Gingrich, received a 2011 Jeff Award for Best Incidental Music for their compositions for the play “That Sordid Little Story.”

Gym Window

A hilarious Long form Improvisation troupe consisting of: Kathryn Carlsen, Bridget Cavaiola, and Thomas Dotstry. Quality time with people who make you question reality. Then give you the answers to reality on a folded up piece of paper when teacher isn’t looking.

Tim Hoeckel

Tim, a Baltimore native, was born with a name for and against comedy. Heckle him from the crowd if you want but he’s been getting it since day one, literally. Tim a company member of Charleston’s improv comedy theatre, Theatre 99, he has been awarded 1st place in Charleston, SC’s Funniest Person contest. Tim is now living in New York City on the quest to pursue his passion and dreams. Tim has a hilarious way to take his views on certain issues (Mustaches, University of Phoenix, and Joe Flacco) then mix them together and create original material that you will not hear from anyone else.

Tommy Sinbazo

When asked about Tommy Sinbazo, Mickey Cucchiella of Baltimore’s 98 Rock said, “He’s strange but I like him, he’s funny.” Tommy has used his quick wit, that has been honed from 8 years of Improv comedy, his odd outlook on life an raw honesty to keep audiences laughing for 11 years now. You may never know what he’s going to say next mostly because neither does he. His views on topics ranging from relationships and childhood, to masturbation and crafts. No topic is safe.

T. Brad

T. Brad did his first comedy set at a little club in downtown Baltimore almost ten years ago – but quickly realized that better audiences were to be found in Philly, NY and Boston – so he did a LOT of driving. As he honed his craft he began performing all over the country. He quit the road in 2006 to write his first book “All Access” which was published a year later. With his second book almost complete, T. Brad is gearing up to hit the road again with an all new set that strikes very close to home and will have you laughing all night.

Jimmy Meritt

Because he’s amazing at comedy, Jimmy Meritt performs in clubs and colleges in 43 states a year! Thanks to his geeky charm, clever writing, and high energy performance, he’s become a crowd favorite across America! Jimmy has worked with Saturday Night Live’s Kevin Nealon, The Cast of ABC’s Whose Line Is It Anyway, Last Comic Standing’s Ralphie May, VH1’s Hal Sparks, and Maria Bamford!

Bill Monaghan

Bill Monaghan has been performing stand up since 2005. Working such venues as Magoobys Jokehouse, Baltimore Comedy Factory and the DC Improv, Bill has developed a set that is fast paced, clever, and definitely not for everyone. If you consider yourself PC, sit this one out.