American Comedy Institute News

Thursday, March 26, 2009

COME SEE OUR UPCOMING SHOWS:

Vet Shows:
July 17th @ 10pm @ The Broadway Comedy Club - this show will feature ACI alum and headliner Tom Shillue.

July 31st & August 14th @ 10pm @ The Broadway Comedy Club- these shows will feature ACI alum and headliner Jessica Kirson.

Workshop Shows: Saturday, July 25th @ 5:30pm & Sunday, July 26th
@ 6pm. These shows feature some of the best up-and-coming comedians.

THE COMPLETE PERFORMER starring Emmy Award Winner and ACI-er Ted Greenberg and Directed by ACI Director Stephen. Soho Playhouse Theatre 15 Vandam St. June Shows Saturdays 9pm; July 4th is dark; July 11th through August 22nd @ 10pm. For current information go to www.THECOMPLETEPERFORMER.com.

ACI NEWS

ACI on Starz Comedy A ten part series on what it takes to make it as a stand-up comedian. Follow six new comics as they go through orientation and workshop classes at the American Comedy Institute, culminating with their graduation - on stage performances at comedy clubs in The Big Apple. If can be funny there, you can be funny anywhere.

The series is hosted by Michael Somerville, recently voted one of New York's "Ten Hot Local Comics" by The Improper magazine and a veteran of the ACI workshop. This series first aired on Starz Comedy in 2007.

Stephen Rosenfield is the director and writing consultant for The Complete Performer starring Emmy Award winner, Ted Greenberg. The show has received rave reviews from The New York Times and the New York Post and is currently in an open-ended run at the Soho Playhouse. Stephen is also the director and co-author of two time Mac award winner Rock Albers' one person shows at the Gotham Comedy Club. Stephen starred in the Starz series "Stand-Up or Shut Up." In addition to serving as Director of the American Comedy Institute, Stephen is Director of the Comed'in Comedy Institute in Portugal and is the Professor of Comedy at William Paterson University.

ACI ALUMNI NEWS

Jim Gaffigan is currently starring My Boys, a sitcom on TBS. He performs stand-up regularly on The David Letterman Show, and headlines at comedy clubs throughout the country, including Carolines.

Tom Shillue has appeared on Conan O'Brien and the Daily Show as well as hundreds of commercials. He also starred in a half hour special on Comedy Central Presents. His comedy album Overconfident was one of the top ten comedy albums of 2007 according to the Boston Globe.

Michael Somerville is starring in the new reality series Wingman on FLN.

Jessica Kirson has been featured on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Comedy Central's Premium Blend and Fresh Faces, VH1's Awesomely Bad Shows NBC's Last Comic Standing seasons 2 and 3, and Last Call with Carson Daly.

Alison Larkin wrote a novel that was published by Simon and Schuster entitled The English American. Vogue labeled the book as one of the most powerful books of the season. The English American has been optioned by ABC for a half hour TV series.

Megan McCormick is the co-host of Globe Trekker on PBS

Esther Ku was a finalist on last season's Last Comic Standing and is now performing her stand-up in clubs all over the country.

Carmen Lynch was a finalist on Last Comic Standing on NBC

Ted Greenberg's one man show, The Complete Performer, was the only stand-up show selected for the 2008 NY International Fringe Festival. The show won the Producers Award and received rave reviews in The New York Times and the New York Post. The Complete Performer is currently in an open ended run at the Soho Playhouse.

Wendy Spero has performed on NPR, Comedy Central, VH1, NBC, and the Food Network. Her most recent one woman show. "Who's Your Daddy?" was produced at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Wendy has been featured in the New York Post, New York Magazine, the New Yorker, and the New York Times and she has been named "Best Female Comic of The Year" by TimeOut NY.

Dana Eagle has appeared on Comedy Central's Premium Blend, the Oxygen Network and numerous commercials. She performs in comedy clubs nationally. Dana earned the title of "Best New Comedian" at the Bud Light Ladies of Laughter Competition.

Stephanie Blum won the 2002 Bud Light Ladies of Laughter Competition at Madison Square Garden. She was chosen by HBO's US Arts Festival to be their 2003 "Breakout Performer". She was also a winner of Star Search on CBS-TV. She performs at such venues as the Mohegan Sun Casino, Carolines, The Comic Strip and Stand-Up New York.

Rock Albers is the two-time MAC award winner for best stand-up comedian in New York. His one person shows, directed and co-authored by Stephen Rosenfield, have won rave reviews in the New York Post, Village Voice, and TimeOut NY.

Rose Courtney wrote and starred in the vaudville comedy Cycle which was produced by the NY International Fringe Festival in 2008.

Sean Conroy has performed stand up comedy on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and Comedy Central's Premium Blend . His one-man show TAUGHT was selected for the 2001 HBO Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen. He appears regularly at Luna Lounge and Stand Up New York.

Eric Slovin is a staff writer for Saturday Night Live

Michael Rose co-starred in the movie, "Dogs In The Basement" which won the first feature award at The Montreal World Film Festival.