Barry Crimmins, a stand-up comedian and political activist of 30-plus years, has announced that he will return to New York for two intimate comedy shows this October. Crimmins is the subject of Bobcat Goldthwait's new, award-winning documentary "Call Me Lucky"; which will be released on DVD and Blu Ray Oct. 13.
An inspiration to comics like
David Cross and Marc Maron, Crimmins is returning to New York City with an hour of new material for the first time in years. Crimmins, who gave up touring comedy clubs regularly in 1988 in favor of performing in music halls and other independent venues long before that became the norm for stand-up comedians, should feel right at home at during these upcoming shows.
Crimmins, an internationally renowned political satirist and author of the acclaimed book, Never Shake Hands With A War Criminal, helped bring the Boston Comedy scene into the modern age when he founded two of Boston's most renowned comedy clubs: The Ding Ho and Stitches. Many of the biggest stars in stand-up comedy, such as Steven Wright, Paula Poundstone, Bobcat Goldthwait and
Kevin Meaney were mentored by Crimmins and cut their teeth in Crimmins' comedy rooms.
"Barry lives about an hour south of where I grew up, so I'd heard of him for years," said Jimmy LeChase, co-founder of Mood Swing Comedy. "I saw 'Call Me Lucky' and was floored. We have mutual friends, so one day I took a shot and reached out to Crimmins on Twitter. An hour later we were on the phone planning these shows. He's got a voice that needs to be heard, and it's an honor to be able to help bring him to Manhattan."
The first show is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 18 at 7:00 p.m. at Bunga's Den (137 West 14th St). Bunga's Den is an intimate, 50-seat, comedy venue and bar that hosts free and low-cost shows seven nights a week near Union Square. The second show is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 19 at 9 p.m. at Brit Pack (34 Pell St., 2nd Floor, NY, NY 10013); which is a larger, independent venue in Chinatown that has been hosting some of the most talked about underground comedy shows in Manhattan.
Tickets for Barry Crimmins Live at Brit Pack are $10 online at barryatbritpack.bpt.me and $15 at the door the day of the show. For more information contact Mood Swing Comedy at
moodswingcomedy@gmail.com or visit moodswingcomedy.com.
