I. Sketch comedy is having, as they say on the Internet, “a moment.” With Alec Baldwin’s turn as a particular “short-fingered vulgarian,” and the popularity of “Inside Amy Schumer,” and how no one wanted “Key & Peele,” or “Chappelle’s Show” to end, it seems that sketch comedy shows are ubiquitous on television these days, and for good reason: a funny 5-10 minute sketch is one of life’s great pleasures.
II. Seattle has a deep and rich sketch comedy scene. There are dozens of different sketch troupes across Seattle, with some of the more popular ones being Day Job, Drop the Root Beer and Run, and Villains. They are fun to watch, and deserve your support.
III. It’s not just a local festival, with participants like Success 5000 from Edmonton, Good Game from Toronto, Totally Real Friends from Los Angeles, and Becca Schall from New York.
IV. This:
V. Super famous celebrities could stop by. They probably won’t, but still could. A few years ago, I went to one of the Ashley Judd Comedy Hour’s shows at what was then the People’s Republic of Koffee, and afterwards, I asked the late Tristan Devin if anyone was confused by his group’s name and he said most were in on the joke but one Ashley Judd fan showed up expecting her and when he told him it was a joke, the fan asked, “Did Ashley personally tell you she won’t be here? Then she still could be here.” True!
VI. Also this:
VII. Sketchfest has a long history that spans millennia. It was founded by famous monologist Mike Daisey in 1999.
VIII: And this:
IX. Standup comedy from some of the funniest local comedians. I became a fan of Rachel Walls last year when I saw her at Bumbershoot.
10. SketchFest includes the 10th annual Seattle Comedy Film Challenge” with a collection of very funny short films. The press notes say, “Join SketchFest and celebrity judges for an evening of food, booze, and hilarity! Featuring a live set by Seattle favorites Villains.” That sounds too good to resist.
{SketchFest runs through Saturday, September 23, with shows at Pocket Theater, Central Cinema, and Annex Theatre. Tickets and more info can be found here.}
