Comedy – WHYY: Recent Episodes
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What questions do you have about the 2024 elections? What major issues do you want candidates to address? Let us know.
With voting day a month away, 1812 Productions is rolling out its annual sketch comedy performance torn from the headlines.
“This Is the Week That Is: The Election Special” is a variety show of sketch comedy, improvised comedy and musical parodies revolving around the Nov. 5 presidential election.
But the candidates themselves are missing. Impersonations of the bluster and pontification of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are as absent as a straight answer in a vice presidential debate.
“We don’t have anybody playing Kamala or Trump or Vance,” said Jennifer Childs, co-creator and head writer. “I do play Walz. That’s the only spoiler I’m giving.”
Learning precisely how Childs, a barely 5-foot-tall comedic spark plug, can pull off impersonating a 6-foot-2-inch former football coach from Nebraska will have to wait until the show opens Saturday, Oct. 4 at Plays and Players Theatre for a month-long run.
“Everyone does a Trump impersonation now. Everyone does it. I think we’re a little tired of him,” said director Melanie Cotton. “It’s the people who represent them — other politicians, the people who uplift them, those are the people who are funny. I think that’s more interesting than trying to do, you know, the 50th Trump impersonation.”
We talk to NPR host Peter Sagal before a live taping of Wait Wait in Philly. And, a new study found monkeys in PR became kinder and more cooperative after Hurricane Maria.
Easter dominates the events landscape this weekend with the 91st Easter Promenade on South Street — and for the adults, there’s the 26th annual Fairmount Bunny Hop. Plus, as Women’s History Month comes to an end, female musicians are at the forefront in Philadelphia. Rapper Nicki Minaj comes to the Wells Fargo Center on Friday and R&B chanteuse Melanie Fiona is at City Winery. Carole King’s life story is explored in “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” while Janis Joplin’s best live performances are recreated in New Jersey. Even though Taylor Swift isn’t coming to town anytime soon, you can dance to her music at the Taylor Party. Also, after being delayed another 24 hours due to expected rain, the Phillies are back at Citizens Bank Park on Friday for their home opener.
New Jersey | Delaware | Special Events | Arts & Culture | Sports | Kids | Music
New JerseyJust Like Janis!Blues/rock singer Janis Joplin performs at the Newport Folk Festival with her band Big Brother and the Holding Company, July 29, 1968. (AP Photo) Where: Broadway Theatre of Pitman, 43 S. Broadway, Pitman, N.J. * When: Friday, March 29, 8 p.m. * How much:* $30 (Note, when purchasing tickets, click on the date first so it takes you to the right place)
Janis Joplin was a force in her era, known for her heartfelt performances and timeless songs like “Me and Bobby McGhee.” She’s getting her just due in “Just Like Janis!” — a tribute show starring South Jersey native Cat Manning as the iconic star. The concert covers Joplin’s historic performances at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967, at the Fillmore in 1968 and Woodstock in 1969, when she embarked on her Pearl tour in 1970.
Delaware Shakes-Beer in Spring * Where: Wilmington Brew Works, 3129 Miller Rd., Wilmington, Del. * When: Friday, March 29, 7:30 p.m. * How much: $25 – $35
Delaware Shakespeare invites you to their annual Shakes-Beer in Spring, a way to celebrate the Bard with your favorite beer. And why not? We can believe he appreciated a good adult beverage in his day. Master brewer Craig Wensell will curate a special selection of beers crafted for this very occasion to accompany excerpts from Shakespeare.
Anthony Rodia: Totally Relatable * Where: The Grand Opera House, 818 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del. * When: Friday, March 29, 8 p.m. * How much: $49 – $69
Italian American comic Anthony Rodia always wanted to be a comedian but settled for being a finance manager at a luxury car dealership. But in 2019, he answered the stand-up call, returning to his first love. It paid off, as he gained enough traction via social media and a captive pandemic audience to command a one-man show, “Anthony Rodia: Totally Relatable,” at the Grand. VIP tix include a post-show meet-and-greet.
Special Events Easter roundup Grand Marshal Henri David welcomed everyone at 2023’s South Street Easter Promenade and came decked out for the occasion. (Cory Sharber/WHYY) Where: Multiple venues * When: March 28 – 31 * How much:* Various prices
As Muslims celebrate Ramadan, we are also at one of the holiest times of the Christian calendar. Easter Sunday is this weekend, and while it is primarily a religious holiday, it’s also become a secular celebration. Attending church may be your preference, but if not, there are many choices for those who don’t attend Easter Sunday services. You can bring the kids to multiple Easter egg hunts in New Jersey. In Philly, grown folks start the celebration Thursday with Fairmount’s 26th annual Bunny Hop, but the preeminent holiday event is the 91st annual Easter Promenade on South Street. There’s also Saturday’s (free with registration) Hop-a-Long Trail at Franklin Square and Shady Brook Farm’s Easter Eggstravaganza, which goes through Saturday. You can still get on the waitlist for City Winery’s Bunny Baskets and Brunch event on Saturday. There are also still tickets for the Philadelphia Easter Signature Brunch Cruise (but they’re going fast). If you just want some cute Easter pics, head to the King of Prussia Mall for its annual bunny photo event through Saturday.
Miniball 2024 * Where: FringeArts, 140 N. Christopher Columbus Blvd. * When: Thursday, March 28 – Sunday, March 31 * How much: Pay what you wish – $25
The annual Fringe Festival is coming in September. The celebration of creativity and artistic freedom is previewed at Miniball 2024, four days of workshops and performances. An Easter-adjacent Dance Church and an Easter egg hunt are also going on, as well as Scratch Night and the After Hours cabaret.
Abolition Women: The Sisters Who Turned the World Upside Down * Where: Arch St. Meeting House, 320 Arch St. * When: Thursday, March 28, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. * How much: $5
Sisters Angelina and Sarah Grimke were the daughters of a South Carolina slave owner who became passionate advocates for abolition. They moved to Philadelphia and became Quakers who used their status as Southern white women to amplify their cause. The Betsy Ross House and the Arch Street Meeting House combine for “Abolition Women: The Sisters Who Turned The World Upside Down,” a theatrical interpretation of the sister’s lives and legacy. After the performance, stay for a Q&A with the actresses.
Arts & Culture Contemporary Persian Poetry and Music * Where: Asian Arts Initiative, 1219 Vine St. * When: Friday, March 29. 8 p.m. – 10 p.m. * How much: $15 – $25
Contemporary Persian Poetry and Music is one of the last events of “A Utopian Stage,” a recreation of 1967’s Shiraz Arts Festival in Iran. The historic festival started with readings by a group of leading Iranian poets. In a nod to that era, contemporary musicians Mahya Hamedi and Sepehr Pirasteh, along with the Shiraz Ensemble, the Arcana New Music Ensemble and poet Fatemeh Shams, will combine their talents for the performance.
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical * Where: Walnut Street Theatre, 825 Walnut St. * When: Through May 5 * How much: $30 – $97
Singer-songwriter Carole King provided the soundtrack for the ’70s and beyond with songs like “You’ve Got A Friend,” “I Feel the Earth Move” and “It’s Too Late.” She also penned the Aretha Franklin classic “You Make Me Feel (Like a Natural Woman).” With that kind of range, it’s no wonder she has a jukebox musical centered around her life and work. “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” is now playing at the Walnut Street Theatre. It won two Tony Awards in its initial Broadway run.
Sports Philadelphia Phillies Opening Day Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Johan Rojas walks on the field before a spring training baseball game against the Atlanta Braves Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Clearwater, Fla. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) Where: Citizens Bank Park, 1 Citizens Bank Way * When: Friday, March 29, 3:05 p.m. (rescheduled from Thursday due to weather forecast) * How much:* Currently sold out, resellers may have tickets or they may become available before the game. There are still tickets for Saturday and Sunday.
The fightin’ Phils fell short in last year’s World Series, but we’re hoping for a better outcome this year. It’s a long road back to Red October, but it starts on Friday at the team’s Opening Day game against the Braves. It’s the first of a three-day homestand and the beginning of a new season, where fans will look for the team to overcome the disappointment of the last one.
Kids Rock and Roll Playhouse: The Music of Queens for Kids + More * Where: Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia, 1009 Canal St. * When: Saturday, March 30, noon * How much: $22.15
The Rock and Roll Playhouse is specifically geared to train children’s ears for good music by exposing them to classic rock in national musical venues. They keep the volume, song selections and the bands that recreate the hits kid-friendly. The music of Queen, played by Jon Smith’s Voyages, is this weekend’s selection at the Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia.
Music Badu Taught Me * Where: The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St. * When: Friday, March 29, 8 p.m. – 10 p.m. * How much: $7.50 – $30
Tribute bands have become ubiquitous in the cultural landscape, with artists paying tribute to their faves, most of whom have passed on or no longer record together. But not so with Erykah Badu, who stopped through Philly last summer. This year, musicians Jahwula Seapoe, Tylar J and Kito Starr hope to spread similarly high vibrations by performing highlights from her catalog at the Badu Taught Me concert in West Philly.
Nicki Minaj: Pink Friday 2 World Tour Nicki Minaj accepts the video vanguard award at the MTV Video Music Awards at the Prudential Center on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022, in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) Where: Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St. * When: Friday, March 29, 8 p.m. * How much:* $119 and up
Philly goes pink as the head Barbz, better known to her avid fan base as Nicki Minaj, heads to Philly on the Pink Friday 2 tour. She’s here to support her latest project, “Pink Friday 2,” released late last year. You may remember that she once dated Philly rapper Meek Mill, but we’re not expecting him to appear as a guest star.
Tesla Quartet * Where: Black Squirrel Club, 1049 Sarah St. * When: Saturday, March 30, 3:30 p.m. * How much: $15 – $30
Don’t be fooled by the name. The Tesla Quartet has everything to do with music and nothing to do with the carmaker. But their music could be described as “electric,” after 16 seasons of touring worldwide. For their Philly performance, they’ll perform selections by Garrop, Ravel and Hadyn.
County Jawn f. Nico Bryant and Jamicka Bass Where: Ardmore Music Hall, 23 E. Lancaster Ave. * When: Saturday, March 30, 7:30 p.m. * How much:* $25 online in advance, $30 day of show
Delco native and poet Josh Smith curates a lineup of homegrown talent for County Jawn. His co-host, Deja’ Settles, is a musician from a family of the same. They welcome performers Nico Bryant from Delaware, who calls his multi-genre music “jukebox soulquarianstankadelic,” and Jamicka Bass, who leads an all-female band called Black Canvas.
The Taylor PartyTaylor Swift performs during her Eras Tour in Nashville, Tenn. Swift is ‘Time’ magazine’s Person of the Year. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File) Where: Theatre of the Living Arts, 334 South St. * When: Saturday, March 30, 9 p.m. * How much:* $27
Swifties, this one’s for you. Since Taylor Swift is taking some deserved time off to vacation with her boyfriend (a football player you may have heard of), you can’t see her live again until May. (And that’s if you’re willing to head overseas.) But in the meantime, you can party to her music at the Taylor Party in Philly on Saturday night.
Melanie Fiona * Where: City Winery, 990 Filbert St. * When: Sunday, March 31, 5 p.m., 8:30 p.m. * How much: $40 – $65
Toronto native Melanie Fiona brings her powerful voice to City Winery on the Philly stop on her spring tour. She made her debut in 2009, scoring the hit “It Kills Me” about a relationship gone awry. Now a happily married mother of two, Fiona has expanded her brand into motherhood and wellness initiatives. But she can still blow.
Kevin Hart, who rose from the open mics and comedy clubs of his native Philadelphia to become one of the country’s most recognizable performers, will receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at a gala performance Sunday at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Hart, 44, has honed a signature style that combines his diminutive height, expressive face and motor-mouth delivery into a successful stand-up act.
In Hollywood, Hart made his movie debut in the 2002 film “Paper Soldiers” and came to mainstream fame through a string of scene-stealing cameos in hits such as 2005’s “The 40-Year-Old-Virgin.”
Hart’s films have grossed more than $4.23 billion globally.
Now in its 25th year, the Mark Twain Prize annually honors performers who have made a lasting impact on humor and culture. Honorees receive a bronze bust of Twain, the iconic American writer and satirist whose real name was Samuel Clemens.
The Garden State Film Festival in Asbury Park kicks off this weekend, bringing a little Hollywood down the shore. Tribute bands continue their reign, as “The Stones” and “The Beatles” come to South Jersey on Friday for a head-to-head battle. A 74th birthday celebration for the late soul crooner Teddy Pendergrass is happening Sunday at City Winery. In Delaware, Winterthur’s House of Style Weekend features a special appearance by designer B. Michael, who designed custom ensembles for the late Cicely Tyson. Plus, the annual Pancakes and Booze art show is back — and the pancakes are still free!
New Jersey | Delaware | Special Events | Arts & Culture | Food & Drink | Comedy | Music
New JerseyStones vs. BeatlesThe Rolling Stones announce their “Bridges to Babylon” tour beneath the Brooklyn Bridge in the Brooklyn borough of New York Monday, August 18, 1997; The Beatles appear at a news conference after the announcement that the Honours Award of the M.B.E was awarded to them, 1965. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) Where: Levoy Theatre, 126-130 N. High St., Millville, N.J. * When: Friday, March 22, 8 p.m. * How much:* $39.50 – $54
It’s the battle of the tribute bands for bragging rights in Stones vs. Beatles. The Weeklings, who bill themselves as the most unique Beatles tribute band, play the Fab Four’s music as well as some of their own. Keith Call and Bernie Bollendorf do the honors as Mick and Keith in their traveling show “Classic Stones Live.” In this one-night-only show, both bands will battle for world supremacy…er, the audience’s approval.
Garden State Film Festival * Where: Multiple venues * When: Thursday, March 21 – Sunday, March 24 * How much: $15 and up
The Garden State Film Festival brings filmmakers and film aficionados together to highlight the state’s contributions to the film industry. The four-day fest includes panels, screenings and special events, including a filmmaker’s breakfast, the winning screenplay competition table read, a cocktail reception and the already-sold-out awards banquet. A unique element of the festival is the screenings of films made by high school students.
Delaware House of Style Weekend * Where: Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library, 5105 Kennett Pk., Wilmington, Del. * When: Thursday, March 21 – Sunday, March 21 * How much: General museum admission. Friday night with B. Michael is ticketed separately — $15.
The Winterthur opens its doors to a House of Style weekend of fashion, style, gardening and home design. Among the events are a guided tour of rooms designed by Henry Francis du Pont on the former estate’s first and sixth floors, a wine-tasting event with glassmaker Riedel and a night with designer B. Michael, who helped curate the Ann Lowe exhibit and has just released a book “Muse: Cicely Tyson and Me: A Relationship Forged in Fashion” about his longtime work with the renowned late actress.
Special Events Spring Break: Sports and Recreation * Where: Eastern State Penitentiary, 2027 Fairmount St. * When: Saturday, March 23 – Sunday, March 31 * How much: Free with museum admission
The Eastern State Penitentiary is mounting a limited exhibition, “Spring Break: Sports & Recreation,” that incorporates the history of sports in prison. Though it took until 1947 for major league baseball to integrate, Black and white prisoners played side by side. Special programming featuring the sports’ contribution to prison life at Eastern and beyond is explored through tours, talks and interactive installations.
Science After Hours: Spectacular Spectacular * Where: The Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th St. * When: Friday, March 22, 7:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m * How much: $40
The Franklin Institute heralds the arrival of spring with its annual Spectacular Spectacular. The party includes a “secret” speakeasy, live music and dance performances from The Philadelphia School of Circus Arts, Iris Spectre and Bear Trap, Angelo Outlaw, Reese Florence, Opera on Tap Philly and magicians Lindsey Noel and Francis Menotti. Secret Cinema curated a selection of vintage films playing throughout the night.
Cheers to Women: A Celebration of History, Brews & Community Where: Roxborough Pocket Park, 6170 Ridge Ave. * When: Saturday, March 23, noon – 4 p.m. * How much:* Free, pay as you go
We’ll always toast women who inspire during Women’s History Month and beyond. On Saturday at Roxborough Pocket Park, raise your glass to girl power at “Cheers to Women: A Celebration of History Brews and Community.” Brewer and author Tara Nurin will be there signing her book “A Woman’s Place Is in the Brewhouse,” and an all-female vendor marketplace will also be on-site.
Arts & Culture Disney’s ‘Frozen’ * Where: Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St. * When: Thursday, March 21 – Sunday, April 7 * How much: $30 – $150
Disney’s instant-classic “Frozen” moves to the stage in the latest incarnation of the film. Kristen Anderson-Lopez, and her husband, Robert Lopez, won an Oscar for “Let It Go,” a song that has now become part of the pantheon of great Disney songs. That’s reprised in the musical along with new songs, while the relationship between sisters Elsa and Anna gets further exploration in the new medium.
Once Upon a Bridge * Where: Proscenium Theatre at the Drake, 302 S. Hicks St. * When: Through March 24 * How much: $23 – $35
In 2017, a man who was never identified was jogging on a bridge in London when a woman walking by stepped into his path. He shoved her to the ground and she narrowly missed being run over by a double-decker bus. In “Once Upon a Bridge,” put on by Inis Nua Theater, playwright Sonya Kelly imagines a backstory for each of the three people involved.
Pancakes & Booze * Where: Underground Arts, 1200 Callowhill St. * When: Saturday, March 23, 8 p.m. * How much: $10
The annual art show Pancakes & Booze was created to make the world of art collecting more democratic. Adding pancakes helped bring the elitist art scene down to Earth, and since its inception in 2009, P&B has expanded to more than 35 cities worldwide. Organizers advise an early arrival to the popular event, and yes, the pancakes are free (assuming butter and syrup are too), but you do have to pay for the booze.
Don Juan in Hell * Where: Plays and Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey St. * When: Through Sunday, March 24 * How much: $15 – $25
The Irish Heritage Theater presents “Don Juan in Hell,” a George Bernard Shaw play with its genesis as the third act of “Man and Superman,” which is also performed as a stand-alone work. Based on Mozart’s opera “Don Giovanni,” it’s a wide-ranging conversation between four people, including the hedonistic Don Juan and the religious Doña Ana, who is more than perturbed that they ended up in the same hot place.
Rennie Harris Puremovement American Street Dance Theater * Where: Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut St. * When: Friday, March 22, 10:30 a.m. (Student discovery), 8 p.m., Saturday, March 23, 2 p.m., 8 p.m. * How much: $59
Philly native Rennie Harris is not just celebrating his 30th anniversary with a retrospective of his “greatest hits,” he’s also contributing his talent to raise awareness of gun violence. The production is part of Penn Live Arts’ contribution to Toll the Bell, an effort to honor grassroots organizations that combat gun violence and commemorate its victims.
‘Big the Musical’ Where: Bristol Riverside Theater, 120 Radcliffe St., Bristol, Pa. * When: Through Sunday, April 14 * How much:* $20 – $60
The 1988 Tom Hanks classic has become an equally beloved state production. “Big The Musical” centers around Josh Baskin, a dorky pre-teen who discovers a vintage arcade machine. When it grants his wish to become a grown-up, he realizes that adulting is harder than he first thought.
Food & Drink The Return of Rasta Pasta With Watta Kesselly * Where: American Vegan Center, 17 N. 2nd St. * When: Sunday, March 24, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. * How much: Free – $20
There’s pasta, and then there’s rasta pasta. The American Vegan Society celebrates the return of the popular dish with an on-site cooking class. Sure, the class is to get you in the door and proselytize the health advantages of veganism, but it’s also a hands-on weekend event that sounds like fun. Food “enthusiast” Watta Kesselly teaches her vegan-friendly version of the dish, which combines elements of Italian and Jamaican culture.
ComedyJo Koy World Tour 2024Host Jo Koy arrives at the 81st Golden Globe Awards on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) Where: Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St. * When: Friday, March 22, 8 p.m. * How much:* $42 and up
Comedian Jo Koy valiantly tried his best, but as a last-minute add to host this year’s Golden Globe Awards, he struggled some, leading to mixed reviews. But after six Netflix comedy specials, he wasn’t fazed by one tough crowd. He rebounded in a big way, heading to Philly on Friday on the latest stop of his 2024 world tour.
Bruce Bruce Bruce Bruce attends the premiere of “Top Five” at the Ziegfeld Theatre on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014, in New York. (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) Where: Punch Line Philly, 33 E. Laurel St. * When: Friday, March 22, 7:30 p.m., 10 p.m., Saturday, March 23, 7 p.m., 9:30 p.m., Sunday, March 24, 7 p.m. * How much:* $43 – $57
Funnyman Bruce Bruce clocks into Punch Line Philly for three nights of shows starting on Friday. The comic is a household name — if your household includes African Americans — for his decades of work on the Black comedy circuit, as well as his years as the host of the pioneering BET comedy show “Comic View.”
Music Blue October * Where: The Fillmore Philadelphia, 29 E. Allen St. * When: Friday, March 22, 8 p.m. * How much: $72 and up
The band Blue October has been steadily making records for almost three decades. Over time, they’ve included songwriting seminars and exclusive soundcheck experiences as part of their offering. Their latest project, “Spinning the Truth Around (Pt. II),” is the second part of a trilogy of albums that they started releasing in 2022.
Moody’s Klubbhouse Live * Where: City Winery, 990 Filbert St. * When: Saturday, March 23, 7:30 p.m. * How much: $35 – $57
Rapper, entrepreneur, Philly hip-hop ambassador and nice things curator, Chill Moody, debuts the latest extension of his brand, Moody’s Klubbhouse Live. The new artist showcase will be an ongoing series that features the debut of his Chateau nice things wine.
Steal Your Peach: (Grateful Dead and Allman Bros. Mashup) * Where: Ardmore Music Hall, 23 E. Lancaster Ave. * When: Saturday, March 23, 8 p.m. * How much: $16 – $49
The Grateful Dead and The Allman Brothers played together several times in their ‘70s heyday. So, it’s no surprise that they continue to be associated with each other. Steal Your Peach is the band that combines the two, mashup-style, as the loosely affiliated group of local musicians say those classic bands are who got them interested in playing in the first place. They’ll be at Ardmore Music Hall on Saturday night with Apple Juice Jones.
The Official Teddy Pendergrass Band 74 Birthday CelebrationFILE – In this Aug. 1, 2000 file photo Teddy Pendergrass, right, performs at the Good Neighbor Community Outreach Celebration in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Suzanne Plunkett) Where: City Winery, 990 Filbert St. * When: Sunday, March 24, 7:30 p.m. * How much:* $30 – $50
Teddy Pendergrass would have turned 74 this month. The legendary crooner was in a tragic car accident in 1982 but continued to make music until he retired in 2007, despite becoming a paraplegic. At “The Official Teddy Pendergrass Band 74 Birthday Celebration,” his life and legacy are celebrated by four members of his band: Robert “Wah Wah” LeGrand, Bill Jolly, Brett Jolly and Johnny Croom.
Lansdowne Symphony Orchestra Where: Welsh Valley Middle School, 325 Tower Ln., Narberth, Pa. * When: Sunday, March 24, 3 p.m. * How much:* $5 – $20
The Lansdowne Symphony Orchestra celebrates its spring season with a performance of two classics: Rachmaninoff’s Symphony #1 in D Minor, which completes their Rachmaninoff symphonic cycle, and Aaron Copeland’s Pulitzer Prize-winning composition “Appalachian Spring.”
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1812 Production’s annual send-up of current events starts gently. It can be traumatic if you choose to partake in the news cycle. The characters onstage acknowledge that being informed is not always emotionally easy, and confide to the audience: How are we going to write this show? The one you’re watching right now?
You may try to weave and bob your way around stories of congressional stalemates, two major wars, gun violence, and the inflationary “soft landing” gymnastics of the Federal Reserve by distracting yourself with your favorite pop star. But then get tangled in the whirlwind of Taylor Swift nation.
“I need a distraction from the distraction!” cries Jennifer Childs on stage.
Jennifer Childs (right), cofounder and producing artistic director of 1812 Productions, rehearses a skit with Sean Close for ”This Is The Week That Is,” which will be 1812’s 100th production. (Emma Lee/WHYY)1812 has shown it knows how to navigate the minefield of news. For 18 years, it has staged “This Is the Week That Is,” a variety show based on current events.
This year, the play marks the company’s 100th production.
In 1997, Childs co-founded 1812 Productions with the goal of doing nothing but comedy theater, and she has never run out of material.
“I look at everything in the world with a comedic lens,” Childs said. “It’s how I grapple with things that I don’t understand. It’s how I take the power away from things that scare me and transform fear into joy.”
In its 26 years, 1812 Productions has produced 10 world premieres by outside writers and 40 original plays. A student of comedy history, Childs is serious about funny: even her most frothy comedy confection has a core of earnest truth.
“If you tell a joke and people don’t laugh at it, and there’s nothing underneath it, you fall flat on the ground,” she said. “But if you have this base of something that is true, even if they don’t laugh they connect to that truth. Otherwise, what are we doing?”
1812 Productions players rehearse a skit for ”This Is The Week That Is,” the company’s 100th production. (Emma Leee/WHYY)“This Is The Week” is written by a committee, largely in bull sessions starting months before curtain, to get a wide variety of perspectives on news headlines. The writer’s room mantra is: Make fun of the smoke, not the fire. That means the jokes don’t make light of serious issues like disease, war, or gun violence, but rather the way people respond to those concerns.
“It’s a roundabout way to get us to laugh at some of the things without pointing directly at the issues, but how those issues may affect our daily lives,” director Melanie Cotton said. “It’s not about being pointy as much as opening the door for us to maybe even laugh at ourselves.”
The Southern Poverty Law Center recently listed Moms for Liberty an anti-government extremist entity. They label themselves a parent empowerment group. The group kicks off its annual summit Thursday in Philadelphia, with speakers including former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Maddie Hanna joins us.
The United States Supreme Court has ruled that colleges cannot consider race in the admissions process, upending affirmative action after more than 40 years. The court has handed down high-stakes opinions about religious liberties, voting rights, and more. David S. Cohen, professor of law at Thomas R. Kline School of Law at Drexel University, joins us to break down that decision and others, and what these new opinions mean for the entire country and our region.
It’s time for another Trivia Thursday, this week’s contestant is international! If you want to play, call 215-351-0525. Also, Tonya Pendleton has the latest on everything happening in the city and suburbs this weekend, including some Independence Day festivities.
The Philadelphia School District said it hopes improv workshops will help students better prepare for college.
O'Rourke wrote more than twenty books about a range of topics, from politics to cars, and he was a longtime panelist on the NPR show Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!.
Host Peter Sagal brought `Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me’ back to in-person performance at the Mann Center.
Sarcasm, trading insults, in-jokes continue a tradition that began when the first enslaved Africans arrived here back in 1619.
Many don’t perceive jokes that rely on sarcasm and dual meanings. Improv comedy can help with understanding that, and teach other life skills.
When my spouse spent 48 weeks on chemo, I got markers and paper lunch bags, and tried the gallows humor thing.
Philadelphia’s famous drag queen, Martha Graham Cracker, stops by to talk about the rumors of retirement, her new album, and what's next.
Thomas Devaney's new book of poems charts his complicated relationship with his home city of Philadelphia. Then, 1812 Productions, a local political satire group.
A reporter eavesdrops on the give-and-take in the writers’ room during prep for the stage spoof 1812 Productions has produced over the holidays for the past 14 years.
Dannagal Goldthwaite Young argues that conservative talk radio and liberal political satire might be two halves of the same whole for their audiences.
Joel Hodgson joins Marty to talk about his career, the humble beginnings of Mystery Science Theater 3000, and saying goodbye to his robot friends.
MAD Magazine has been skewering American culture and politics for over half a century. Today on the show, we pay tribute to the magazine and learn about its history.
Elshieky talks with Marty about growing up in Benghazi and working as a comedian in the U.S. Then - Marty will discuss the ins-and-outs of Trump's tariffs on Mexican products.
Elshieky talks with Marty about growing up in Benghazi and working as a comedian in the U.S. Then - Marty will discuss the ins-and-outs of Trump's tariffs on Mexican products.
Regan has been "killing" on the road pretty much nonstop since the 1980s. And he also keeps his act clean — free of profanity or explicit jokes.
Researchers say computer learning looks for patterns, but comedy thrives on things hovering close to a pattern and veering off just a bit to be funny and edgy.
The annual Fringe Festival presenter kicks off Blue Heaven, a two-day comedy festival with 10 performances of stand-up, performance art, and a live podcast recording.
Guest: Peter Sagal
PETER SAGAL has been hosting the weekly NPR quiz show “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me” for 20 years. The show is famous for its irreverent topical humor, its quick-witted panel of comedians, unexpected moments, celebrity guests, and yes, it’s limericks. Sagal is also an avid runner and a proponent of the positive effects running has on both the body and the brain. In his new memoir, The Incomplete Book of Running, Sagal talks about discovering running amidst a mid-life crisis, and how running helped manage his depression and anxiety going through a nasty divorce. Today, he joins Marty for the hour to talk about his life, political humor, and why he loves to run.
Guests: Willa Paskin, Mark Dawidziak
It’s been another year with hundreds and hundreds of original television programs all vying for our eyeballs. So this hour, we’ve asked two TV critics to join us to tell us about the best new shows like “Killing Eve,” the shows that continue to achieve greatness like “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” and the most overlooked shows of 2018, like “Lodge 49.” Joining us is WILLA PASKIN of Slate, and MARK DAWIDZIAK of The Plain-Dealer.
Bill Cosby has been in prison for nearly two months now. On this episode of The Why, in production with the team at WHYY’s Cosby Unraveled podcast, we take a peek at his life behind bars, and consider the factors that led to his sexual assault conviction, as well as attitudes about what should become of the products of his towering comedy career.