NYC Loves a (Toyota) Summer Festival
An overdue congratulations to the first annual Surf Reality Comedy Festival, held May 3-15, at NYC's Surf Reality, Baby Jupiter, and Tonic. Surf has been a champion of alternative and performance comedy in the '90s. You can check out upcoming events at www.surfcomedy.com .
June is busting out all over, with comics returning to NYC for the seventh annual Toyota Comedy Festival, June 3-12. There are a number of free shows, as well as many opportunities to invest in seeing great comedy (and a wide range of covers, so call (888) 33-TOYOTA for more information). Here are just some ideas.
The 92nd Street Y has a series called "Inside the Comic Mind...Funny People Interview Funny People," and opening night of the festival Thurs., June 3, Joy Behar interviews Richard Belzer at 8 pm. Carolines on Broadway has "An Evening of Gilbert Gottfried" at 8 pm. Gotham Comedy Club stirs up some "Comedy Salsa" at 8:30 pm, featuring Latino Comedy. Run to the Rodeo Bar & Grill at 9 pm to lasso in for free the country music comedy of The Chalks.
The festival has a new feature this year called "Class of 2000"-New Faces for a New Millennium-with shows at a number of venues. Boston Comedy Club features the first, on June 3, at 9:30 pm, hosted by my favorite MC Lewis Schaffer.
On Fri., June 4, opening day festivities are free in Bryant Park at 12:30 pm, hosted by Eddie Brill with festival co-founder Alan King. At Barnes & Noble Chelsea for free at 7 pm, Richard Belzer will talk about "UFOs, JFKs & Elvis." Sunda Croonquist brings her "Femme Fatales" to Boston Comedy Club at 7:30 pm. The lineup includes, among others, Sue Costello, Maleta Apogo from WHCR FM's "Funny Talk," Judy Gold, Felicia Michaels-who won the 1999 American Comedy Award-and S. Rachel Lovey, who hosts the Comedy Store's "Women In Comedy Who Don't Have A Series Yet," with guest "homme fatale" James Harris.
Madison Avenue's main man, Jim Gaffigan will then appear at Boston at 10 pm and 12 am. Marc Maron is featured at 8 and 10:30 pm at Gotham.
Sat., June 5 (also Sat., June 12) at 12:30 pm, The Screening Room features comedy films by Louis C.K., Steven Wright, and Dave Foley. Jamie deRoy brings her comedy hostess with the mostess skills to West Bank Caf 's Laurie Beechman Theater at 8 pm for "Jamie deRoy and Friends." At Cary Hoffman's Stand Up NY, at 8 and 10 pm, "Premium Stand Up" is a great combo, including Zack Galifianakis, Eddie Brill, and Todd Barry.
Sun., June 6, at 7 pm, Hedda Lettuce takes the stage at Stand Up NY for "Gay Comics doing Straight Stand Up." You'll find live variety at Carolines on Broadway at 7:30 pm, with Judy Gold in "It's Judy's Show." The Triad gets into the action at 9:45 pm, with "Bang the Fork Loudly," where people stop being polite and get sassy, featuring Becky Donohue and lawyer-turned-comedienne Karen Bergreen, who's generating quite a buzz.
On Mon., June 7, at 12:30 pm, the free show in Bryant Park hosted by Eddie Brill, features Southern comic with a Northern attitude, Jim David. Luna Lounge at 7 pm celebrates "Eating It," its first annual end of season party and comedy show. The laugh-till-your-ribs-ache Mario Cantone is at Carolines on Broadway at 7 pm.
Tues., June 8, in Bryant Park, watch Eddie Brill, Marc Maron, Keith Robinson, and Judy Gold. Go inside the comic mind at the 92nd Street Y at 8 pm, as Jeffrey Ross interviews a number of headliners, including Dick Capri and Freddie Roman. Gotham presents its "Class Of 2000" show at 8:30 pm, hosted by Sue Costello, with Ellen Loyd, Nikko, and more. The Comic Strip's "Population 10" runs at 8:30 pm, including Tom Poppa and Kyle Dunnegan. At Stand Up NY at 9 pm, it's the Dave Attell show "All Aboard to Fat Girl Island," also featuring Jim Norton.
Wed., June 9, Greg Giraldo joins Eddie Brill for the free park show. Ray Romano headlines at Carnegie Hall at 8 pm. The Comic Strip has its "Class of 2000" show, hosted by Vanessa Hollingshead. I can't wait for Boston Comedy Club's 9 pm roast of Lewis Schaffer with Rich Vos, David J, DC Benny, and more. At Stand Up NY at 9 pm there's "Chicken Soup Comedy." The Sklar brothers will be hosting their underground show at Fez, with a great lineup including Matt Price, Todd Barry, Mike Royce, and Slovin and Allen.
Thurs., June 10, the free park show is not to be missed with Lewis Black, Cory Kahaney, Eric Kornfeld, Wanda Sykes, and host Eddie Brill. Carolines on Broadway has the comedy magic of Caroline Rhea at 8 pm. PS 122 has Marc Maron's "Jerusalem Syndrome." The Comic Strip has New York's best TV writers at 8:30 pm (it's a great list of writers). At Stand Up NY, Susie Essman and the men who make her laugh reign at 9 pm.
Fri., June 11, how can you beat the free park show with Dave Attell, Louis C.K., and Randy and Jason Sklar. There's a 24-hour improv marathon beginning at 6 pm, saluting the late Del Close at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater. At 7 pm, Marc Cohen hosts the 2nd annual Comedy Cellar's comedy cruise with over 40 comics, plus dancing and cruising on the Hudson. At Boston Comedy Club downtown comics stay downtown, including Jordan Rubin and Eric Kirchberger. Another big event not to be missed, Lewis Black with Frank Giresi opening, featured at 8:30 and 10:30 pm at Gotham. Caroline Rhea is at Carolines at 8 and 10:30 pm.
Sat., June 12, Susie Felber's frolics take over the Tripple Inn at 8 pm. Cary Hoffman's Stand Up NY at 8 and 10 pm, has Todd Barry, Paul Mercurio, Billy Jaye, and Zack Galifianakis. Lewis Black returns to Gotham and Caroline Rhea to Carolines. Then at 12:30 am, Paul Mooney takes the stage at Carolines. q
If you can't make it to NYC, don't feel left out. You can log on to www.comedynet.com/toyota for even more Festival information.