Hairspray Star Improvises Songs in 'Jolley on the Spot'

Lisa Jolley, who is currently on Broadway as Hairspray's Prudy Pingleton, has brought her successful one-woman improvised musical comedy "Jolley On The Spot" to Mo Pitkin's House of Satisfaction for four Mondays in October.   The remaining performances are on October 23rd and October 30th.

"In the return of her one-woman show 'Jolley on the Spot,' musical theater and improv veteran Lisa Jolley spontaneously creates both melody and lyrics to transform audience members' stories and suggestions into hilarious, completely improvised songs," state press materials.

"Having thrilled audiences in Los Angeles, Amsterdam and Chicago, 'Jolley on the Spot' combines Ms. Jolley's instant songwriting ability with spirited banter to create an infectiously entertaining evening of instant cabaret. With the audience controlling the stories and singing styles, every night offers a different mosaic of songs.  And if that's not enough, she weaves together the lives of completely unrelated audience members' into a full-blown musical, (in which she plays all the parts)...On more than one occasion, she has been referred to as a combination of Bette Midler and Wayne Brady."

In addition to her current stint in Hairspray, Jolley originated the roles of Diane, the serious actress/cruise ship performer in Tony Award-winner Jeff Whitty's The Plank Project, and Mrs. Schimmel, the autoharp-playing teacher in the underground hit The Dilemma of Drugs at Fez. TV appearances include "Sex and the City" and "Hope and Faith."  She is a veteran of many NYC improvisational comedy troupes, including Chicago City Limits and The Pollyannas, and she has performed at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater and the 2001 and 2002 Chicago Improv Festivals.  Jolley spent a year performing improv and sketch comedy in Amsterdam with Boom Chicago. 

A graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, her credits include Sweeney Todd at Paper Mill Playhouse with George Hearn and The Musicals in Mufti series at the York Theatre with Celeste Holm.  Jolley's short film, The Penny Marshall Project, a Blair Witch spoof in which she plays the title role, has been screened at numerous national and international film festivals. 

JoiningJolley will be pianist Frank Spitznagel (Chicago City Limits, Comedy Central and Aspen Comedy Festival) and downtown comedy fixture Michael Cyril Creighton performing the role of "Sidekick".

"Jolley on the Spot" returns for four Mondays, October 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th at 7:30 PM at Mo Pitkin's House of Satisfaction, 34 Avenue A, NYC $10 - Call  212.777.5660  for reservations, or visit www.mopitkins.com.