Posted By Jordan Adams on Tue, Jul 13, 2021 at 5:41 PM

click to enlarge

File: Matthew Thorsen ©️ Seven Days

The Vermont Comedy Club

Knock knock.

Who's there?

The Vermont Comedy Club.

The downtown Burlington venue announced Tuesday that it will reopen on Thursday, September 2, with a three-night run featuring comedian Kyle Kinane performing his "So...Where Were We?" tour. The "Paradise PD" voice actor was the last comedian to headline the VCC before it closed in March 2020 due to the pandemic.

Tags: Vermont Comedy Club , Kyle Kinane , Natalie Miller , Nathan Hartswick , Web Only , Image

Posted By Jordan Adams on Fri, Sep 18, 2020 at 2:24 PM

click to enlarge

Courtesy of Jenna Emerson/Isora Lithgow Productions

Still from 'I Want to Be a Sex Educator'

Sex educator Jenna Emerson envisions a whole new world free of sexual stigmas and taboos in her new musical comedy video, "I Want to Be a Sex Educator."

Released Thursday, the clip parodies the classic Disney animated feature The Little Mermaid, specifically the titular mermaid Ariel's heart song, "Part of Your World." In the video, Emerson, a University of Vermont staffer, basks on the rocks at Burlington's Oakledge Park as waves crash around her. It's an uncanny recreation of a pivotal, iconic scene from the 1989 movie.

Tags: Jenna Emerson , University of Vermont , The Little Mermaid , Web Only , Image

Posted By Margaret Grayson on Sun, May 31, 2020 at 7:45 PM

click to enlarge

Courtesy of Anthony Apodaca

The last show at Revelry Theater on March 7

Revelry Theater, a 35-seat black-box venue in Burlington’s South End known for hosting intimate comedy shows, is closing “indefinitely” as a result of the pandemic. Founder and artistic director Anthony Apodaca said the board decided it didn’t make sense to keep the nonprofit theater open when the future of public events remains uncertain. He hopes to preserve funds to hold pop-up shows this summer and someday reopen in a new space.

“We don’t think it’s wise to keep burning cash or going into debt just to have to shut down again in the fall,” Apodaca said, referring to the possible resurgence of coronavirus outbreaks. “We don’t think we’re close to being out of the woods of the pandemic, especially on a national level.”

Tags: Revelry Theater , performing arts , comedy , improv , standup , black box , coronavirus , Anthony Apodaca , Web Only , Image

Posted By Dan Bolles on Thu, Mar 26, 2020 at 12:10 PM

click to enlarge

File: Luke Awtry

Lauren Costello, aka ouzkxqlzn

In this strange new era of social distancing and isolation, going out to see live music and comedy is , at least for the time being, no longer an option. So musicians and comedians are bringing the shows to us through a variety of online streaming platforms such as Zoom and Facebook Live.

For your listening and viewing pleasure, each week we're compiling as many livestream performances by Vermont artists as we can find. We'll do our best to update the below list as more and more livestreaming events are announced, so check back often.  And we'll post a fresh batch of shows every Thursday. Just click the links to each show's event page for relevant details, including where to stream and donate.

Highlights this week include a twice-weekly series of covers by avant-garde cellist and songwriter Lauren Costello (aka ouzkxqlzn), the virtual return of Vermont expat Gregory Douglass, a DJ set from the estimable DJ Disco Phantom, and varied comedy offerings from the Vermont Comedy Club and Revelry Theater. 

BTW, most of these shows are free, but the performers typically accept tips. So maybe donate some of what you would have spent on drinks at the bar, eh?

And if you are a Vermont artist performing livestreamed concerts who would like to be included in future editions of "Almost There," email us with details at [email protected]

Tags: Live-stream concerts , Web Only , Image

Posted By Jordan Adams on Thu, Mar 19, 2020 at 2:35 PM

click to enlarge

Courtesy of Kayhl Cooper

Francesca Blanchard

Normally, Seven Days provides an ongoing, comprehensive list of local nightlife events for our readers. But, because of the recent closures and cancellations due to concerns about COVID-19, there quite literally are no live events to list — that you can attend in person, that is.

In our brave new social distancing world, virtual shows are popping up all over the place. Whether through Facebook, Instagram, Zoom or many other digital platforms, live-streaming concerts and open mics are an elegant solution to stay  connected with the local music and comedy scenes. So we're rolling out a weekly roundup of live-stream concerts by local artists — and maybe a few select expats — called "Almost There."

Below, you'll find this week's edition. We'll do our best to update it as more and more live-streaming events are announced and post a fresh batch every Thursday. Just click the links to each show's event page for relevant details, including where to stream and donate.

And if you are a Vermont artist performing live-stream concerts who would like to be included in future editions of "Almost There," email Jordan Adams at [email protected].

Tags: Live-stream concerts , listings , Web Only , Image

Posted By Dan Bolles on Tue, Nov 26, 2019 at 1:56 PM

click to enlarge

Mindy Tucker

Anya Volz

Comedian Anya Volz's big break rather literally came at the 2015 Vermont's Funniest Comedian contest at the Vermont Comedy Club — or, more specifically, a few nights before. Just prior to the annual local standup competition, Volz broke her leg. It would have been understandable — and probably her doctor's advice — for the comic to sit out the contest. But she chose to compete anyway.

"I was like, 'Oh my God. Am I really gonna do this really intense competition when I really should be in bed on pain meds?'" Volz recalls.

Performing on crutches for three straight nights, and forgoing painkillers in order to keep her mind clear, Volz took second place that year. That result led to regular feature appearances supporting nationally touring acts at the then-brand-new Burlington comedy club. Volz also curated her own regular standup showcase at VCC, called Welcome to Girlington.

Tags: Anya Volz , Kendall Farrell , Mike Thomas , Tracy Dolan , standup comedy , Rachel Lindsay , Maddy Jameson , Vermont Comedy Club , Web Only , Image

Posted By Dan Bolles on Mon, Oct 1, 2018 at 2:52 PM

click to enlarge

Screenshot: Saturday Night Live

Beck Bennett and Kyle Mooney

The long-running NBC sketch comedy show "Saturday Night Live" opened its 44th season on Saturday with actor Adam Driver as host and musical guest Kanye West. Alongside bits on the Kavanaugh hearings and the video game Fortnite — as well as an impromptu speech by West in support of President Trump that didn't air in the original live broadcast — was a sketch that lampooned Vermont, the second whitest state in the country, for its lack of diversity.

Tags: Saturday Night Live , sketch comedy , racism , Adam Driver , Image , Web Only , Video

Posted By Jordan Adams on Fri, Sep 14, 2018 at 4:12 PM

Courtesy photo

Aziz Ansari

Higher Ground Presents announced on Friday that actor and comedian Aziz Ansari will perform on Thursday, September 27, at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts in Burlington. The former star of television series "Parks & Recreation" and "Master of None" is attempting a comeback after being accused of sexual misconduct in January.

Tags: Aziz Ansari , FlynnCenter for the Performing Arts , #MeToo , comedy , Image , Web Only

Posted By Jordan Adams on Mon, Sep 3, 2018 at 12:55 PM

click to enlarge

File: Matthew Thorsen

Tina Friml

The results are in: Tina Friml is Vermont's Funniest Comedian of 2018. The annual competition came to a head on Saturday, September 1, at Burlington's Vermont Comedy Club. Fifteen comics competed for the distinguished honor, out of an original 56 who entered the preliminary round in August.

Last year's Funniest Comedian, Tim Bridge, hosted the nearly three-hour, sold-out showdown. Contestants were given nine minutes to regale the audience with their most hilarious bits. Friml was the final comic to take the mic.

Tags: Standup comedy , Tina Friml , Gladys , Kyle Gadapee , Mike Thomas , Tracie Spencer , Vermont Comedy Divas , Natalie Miller , Vermont Comedy Club , Image , Web Only

Posted By Dan Bolles on Fri, Jul 27, 2018 at 3:49 PM

click to enlarge

Jenni Walkowiak

Carmen Lagala

On July 19, the Burlington comedy scene took a victory lap when comedian and Vermont native Carmen Lagala made her national television debut with a set on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert." Check it out below:

Tags: Carmen Lagala , Stephen Colbert , The Late Show with Stephen Colbert , Kendall Farrell , standup , Image , Web Only , Video