DSI Comedy Theater to Welcome KEY AND PEELE Writer, Co-Producer Rich Talarico, 5/16-17

DSI Comedy Theater has settled into its new home. The Triangle comedy mainstay is breaking in its new stage with a month of special appearances from notable performers from around the country. Friday, May 16 and Saturday, May 17, DSI is welcoming Key and Peele Writer and Co-Producer Rich Talarico for two 8:30 p.m. shows and workshops throughout the weekend. Tickets cost $10. Tickets, more information about the shows and more information on the workshops is available online at www.dsicomedy.com. DSI Comedy Theater's new location is 462 W. Franklin St.

Rich Talarico is a writer and co-producer for Comedy Central's sketch hit, Key & Peele, which won the 2013 Peabody award. Rich has also written/produced FOX's Mad TV, NBC's Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show w. Jay Leno, Frank TV for TBS and The Sketch Pad for HBO. He is part of the comedy trio Dasariski and has over 20 years of improv and sketch experience. He has learned from Stephen Colbert and Del Close, and toured with Second City's National Touring Company and later co-created five original sketch comedy revues for SC's resident companies.

DSI Comedy Theater is closing out its first decade in a new home. More than eight years ago, the theater moved into its Carrboro space following the continued success of the now 14 year old North Carolina Comedy Arts Festival. Ward, a Chapel Hill native, returned home from Chicago, where he had studied improv comedy and wanted to bring that knowledge to his hometown. The theater was founded to build on the success of the festival and offer year-round performances and classes in comedy. DSI Comedy Theater now boasts a local company of 90+ active local performers and a national network of comedians. DSI has presented shows and workshops during and outside of the festival featuring noted comedians like: Louis C.K., Emo Philips, Chris Gethard, Mike Birbiglia, Kumail Nanjiani, Kevin McDonald, Rich Talarico, Margaret Cho, Eddie Brill, Bryan H. Tucker, Sasheer Zamata, Aparna Nancherla, Sara Benincasa, Eric Hunicutt, Anthony King and Jill Bernard and many others. A dedicated member of its community, DSI supports the greater Triangle region with fundraisers, outreach, and educational opportunities for all ages and abilities. It is the home of DSI Communication, a Corporate Training, Leadership Development and Team Building organization, and the DSI Comedy School, which offers new classes to the public every month, classes in the art of improv, stand-up and sketch comedy.