The Milwaukee Comedy Festival
I mean, a comedy scene in Milwaukee? Really? (Laughter)
Matt Kemple, founding director and producer of the Milwaukee Comedy Festival, thinks there is. (Clapping, whistling)
“In some ways, it has a long way to go,” he says. “In other ways, it is really creating something unique.”
“Everyone was driving an hour and a half to go see comedy, and I don’t blame them,” Kemple says. “Chicago is the comedy capital of the world. They have more comedians and sketch and improv comedy per capita than anywhere else in this hemisphere.”
But just as sure as somebody somewhere is hunched over a beer telling a dirty joke right now, there’s great comedy in Milwaukee, too.
“The idea of the Festival was really to promote comedy in Milwaukee – to really say, ‘Look, there’s a lot of stuff going on in town, and you should stop and check it out,’” Kemple says.
Some local groups you can catch at this year’s Festival:
The Gentlemen’s Hour is a troupe of four dapper fellows who regularly perform at ComedySportz and at the Alchemist Theater.
Broadminded
Matching wits with the gents are the four ladies of “Milwaukee’s femme fatale comedy,” Broadminded. They also perform regularly at the Alchemist.
The Show most recently appeared as part of In Tandem Theater’s 2008-2009 season, where the quintet presented a four-week sketch comedy lampoon for the holidays.
Meanwhile is a crew of six ComedySportz alum that do an improv show, often with a guest host. Two-person team LeeRick will also perform.
The M.U.T.E.S. – photo by Rick Aguilar
The M.U.T.E.S. perform short, silent comedy bits, like mimes acting out gag sketches from old Buster Keaton movies.
In addition to Milwaukee talent, groups from around the Midwest and beyond will be represented at the Fest.
The show kicks off with Angus Macabre (portrayed by Madison comedian Doug Gordon) presenting the mock-umentary Meet the Zombeatles. What’s with this zombie-mania trend everywhere? It’s like it just won’t die! (Knee-slapping, laughter)
Chicago group Dirty Water does character-based improv, acting as “a bunch of sports guys from Boston; they come out and sit at a bar and talk in Boston accents,” Kemple describes. “They’ve been [at the Fest for] three years now and we’ve been so happy with them; they’ve become an audience favorite.”
“I even let them crash on my couch last year,” he adds. “They’re the best house guests I’ve had.”
Pimprov
Chicago group Pimprov also does character improv, fully decked out in – yes- pimp wear. But “there is an underlying intelligence behind the humor,” Kemple says.
Another crowd favorite is the Uncle Ukulele Show, a one-man improv act from Minneapolis, back by popular demand. The Uncle’s show is adaptable from family friendly to bar room humor and features puppets, drawing, improv, and – of course – a ukulele.
Lusty Mannequins, a two person sketch team from Toronto, will make their American debut at the festival.
Other special events include the Midnight Improv jam on Saturday night and Teen Comedy Day on Sunday, featuring six teenage improv groups and a teen improv open jam.
Matt Kemple believes that comedy in Milwaukee is evolving – taking on its own character and style. And in some ways, that’s the best reason ever to stop in and have a few laughs this weekend.
“The number one thing people ask me is ‘what is the best show to see?’ There are ten shows over the four days, so I can certainly understand how if people can only see one, they want to know which one to see. I feel bad, but I have to tell people I just don’t know. I’m biased of course, but I think every show is spectacular in its own right. Every show is different and every act is a unique experience.”
With more than 120 talented comics taking the stage over four days, Milwaukee is sure to guffaw, knee-slap and yuk-yuk its way onto the national comedy map. (Applause)
The Milwaukee Comedy Festival runs August 6-9 at the Off Broadway Theater, 342 N. Water Street. More ticket info can be found at www.milwaukeecomedy.com with a full schedule here.
