MTV's Kevin Allison to Headline 2013 Norfolk Comedy Festival

A summer of comedy comes to Virginia this July with the return of the annual Norfolk Comedy Festival, headlined by renowned comedian Kevin Allison of MTV's "The State". In its second year, the Norfolk Comedy Festival is a three-day event that showcases regional and national comedic talent, presented by The Generic Theater and nationally-acclaimed group The Pushers.

Following a successful flagship year, the Norfolk Comedy Festival returns with more sketch and improv comedy and a national headliner. "The goal was to start small with quality and keep building," says The Generic Theater general producer Jeannette Rainey. "We're thrilled for the shows this year and to be on track and in action."

"Our area has been a big destination for established comedy headliners, and now we're starting to generate headliners of our own," says Generic Theater artistic director Matthew Friedman. "The Norfolk Comedy Festival fits perfectly with the The Generic Theater's focus on bringing edgy and provocative entertainment to Hampton Roads," says Generic Theater artistic director Jennifer Murphy. Friedman agrees, "Our thriving local improv comedy community has reached all the way Off-Broadway, and if we keep growing at this rate Hampton Roads may become a bona fide East Coast entertainment hub." "Audiences seek a place to escape reality and even poke fun at it a bit," says Murphy," and who better to make that happen than the hyper-talented group The Pushers?"

"I can't even begin to tell you how much of a success last year's Norfolk Comedy Festival was," exclaims The Pushers founding member Sean Devereux. "As both a performer and as an audience member it was an amazing an unforgettable experience." The idea for the regional comedy festival began in 2011 when Devereux and fellow The Pushers founding member Brad McMurran approached The Generic about the idea. "Brad and Sean were so passionate about the idea of bringing a quality comedy festival to our home town," says Rainey. "The Pushers have worked the east coast comedy circuit for more than 8 years, and they've done a tremendous job not only at developing their own comedic craft but in getting to understand the inner workings of the national and regional comedy industry."

"With the success of last year's festival, plus with the overall comedy boom that's been taking place in the area over the last 3 years, it's just a no brainer for us to keep the Norfolk Comedy Festival going," says The Pushers founding member Ed Carden. "We have been to a bunch of different comedy festivals in cities like Charleston SC, or Chapel Hill NC. Those places are not much different from our area here." Observing the regional appeal of comedy, Carden adds, "People here are a lot more sophisticated in their comedic tastes, and our local stand-up and sketch and improv scene is just getting bigger and bigger all the time." Devereux adds, "Many times when we've performed in larger festivals, the audience usually ends up being mostly other improvisers. At the Norfolk Comedy Festival, the crowd is made up of true comedy fans, many of whom are getting their first taste of long form improv."

"There is something truly magical about long-form improv," says Devereux, explaining the comedic format. "A group of 8 players almost becoming one mind to create a 30 minute show seemingly out of thin air. It is such a unique experience for both audience members and performers, a show that is made up completely on the spot... and because of this it will never be repeated." The Pushers have spent the past two years attempting to introduce long form improv to Hampton Roads with moderate success. With Cats Hugging Cats and The Richmond Comedy Coalition as featured groups in last year's festival, however, audiences were able to see two styles of improv they had never seen before by two groups whom Devereux describes are "absolute masters of their craft."

Returning favorites Cats Hugging Cats and The Richmond Comedy Coalition are featured this year. "We first met the various members of Cats Hugging Cats six years ago on our first trip to The Charleston Comedy Festival," says Devereux, "and when Brad and I first started talking about making The Norfolk Comedy Festival happen, we knew that Cats Hugging Cats had to be a part. The Richmond Comedy Coalition are relatively new friends. Brad was filming a Virginia Lottery commercial in Richmond a year and a half ago and members of The Richmond Comedy Coalition were also in the cast. He struck up a friendship with them, and he and I travelled to see some of their shows. They are a great group and it seemed insane not to have them as part of the festival." Word of the Norfolk Comedy Festival had spread. "Our little festival was all anyone wanted to talk about," says Devereux. "The Cats had spread the word about what an awesome time they had, as did The Richmond Comedy Coalition. They loved our hospitality and how receptive our audiences were."

"This year's festival offers more variety," says McMurran, including sketch comedy from The Pushers and Absolute Uncertainty, short-form improv similar to "Whose Line is it Anyway?" from Plan B, and teen improvisers Occupy Muse, a group formed out of The Pushers' teen improv class at The Muse Writers Center. This year's festival welcomes Bone Cracker. "Bone Cracker is one of the house teams at The Dirty South Improv Theater in North Carolina," says McMurran. "We had a blast with them at The Charleston Comedy Festival and thought they be a perfect fit up in Norfolk."

Regional stand-up comedy has also experienced a tremendous resurgence. "Our stand-up comedy scene has really reached somewhat epic proportions in recent years," says Carden. "There was a time like 10 years ago when I could probably name everyone in the area who was involved in Stand-up. That's certainly not the case anymore." Carden estimates that over one hundred people in the regional perform stand-up on a regular basis, with weekly stand-up comedy events seeming to occur on every night of the week. "It's very competitive," says Carden, "and it's that increased competitiveness that has really allowed a number of amazing local talents to reach the top of their game and thrive in the scene here."

The highly-anticipated event of the Norfolk Comedy Festival is headliner comedian Kevin Allison. "Words can't even begin to describe how excited we are for Kevin Allison," says Devereux, citing Allison as a massive influence during his college years. "The fact that he's coming to our festival just blows me away."

Allison is a member of the legendary MTV sketch comedy group 'The State' and was one of the headliner's at the Charleston Comedy Festival this past January. "Word of our fest must have reached him, because a few weeks after we got back we got an email from him saying he would love to take part," explains Devereux.

Allison is bringing his show "Risk!" to Norfolk. "Risk!" is a storytelling show similar to The Moth podcast heard on NPR, in which Allison assembles a group of people to tell true stories about their lives. The stories are outrageous, hilarious, embarrassing and sometimes even heartbreaking. For the Norfolk Comedy Festival, Allison is working with local stand-up comedians and renowned area musicians. Explains Devereux, "They've submitted their stories to Kevin, and between now and the festival he will be working one-on-one with them via skype and over the phone to help them give the best possible performance." All the stories will fall under a central theme and Allison will close the show with a story of his own. "Risk!" is a live stage show that Kevin performs throughout the country, and is also a highly popular podcast. The stories told at this year's Norfolk Comedy Festival will appear on his podcast, giving the storytellers greater exposure.

The Norfolk Comedy Festival will close with The Improv Jam at The Iguana. "There are rules to improv," explains McMurran, "yes it sounds weird, but there are actual rules. But once you know those rules you can go anywhere and perform with any improviser from anywhere in the country. It's what makes improv so amazing: It's like we all speak the same secret language. Because of that, you can throw improvisers together who have never met before and they can perform like they've been together for years." At The Improv Jam, two members from each of the groups will form an improv super group. "It will be like 'The Avengers' of Improv!" exclaims McMurran, "and on top of that, The Improv Jam is a great way to meet and hangout with people you just saw on stage an hour or two earlier."

"A major part of bringing an event like this together is the support of sponsors. Without their collaboration we wouldn't be able to attract quality out of town acts," says Rainey, citing The Virginia Beach Funny Bone as a major sponsor. "New sponsors this year include Bob's BBQ & Country Buffet, The Iguana, The Muse Writing Center, The Green Onion and Stage Right Lighting."

"We're thrilled for the shows this year and the possibilities in years to come," says Rainey. "Improvisers love it when you buy them drinks," McMurran adds. "Audiences are digging it," says Carden. "Our town likes to laugh, 'nuff said."

This year's Norfolk Comedy Festival runs Thursday, July 18, Friday, July 19, and Saturday, July 20 at The Generic Theater at Chrysler Hall in Norfolk, and is the featured event of the annual Summer Theater Conference.

Tickets: Thursday shows are $10. The 7pm Sketch/Improv shows on Friday and Saturday are $15. Headliner Kevin Allison is $20. A "Laugh Pass" is available for $30 for both shows on Friday and Saturday and $60 for all 4 shows. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit thenorfolkcomedyfestival.com

Norfolk Comedy Festival Schedule of Events

Thursday July 18, 2013

Local Sketch and Improv Showcase

featuring Occupy Muse, Plan B, Absolute Uncertainty and Battle Royal with Cheese

7:00 PM | Tickets: $10

The Virginia Beach Funny Bone presents "Champions of the Clash"

Stand Up Comedy at The Generic

9:00 PM | Tickets: $10

Hosted by:

Tim Loulies

*Apollo Theater

*Hollywood Improv

*Los Angeles Comedy Store

*Head Instructor of the Funny Bone Comedy School

With

Richard Ham

3-time Clash of the Comics winner

Jon Small

3-time Clash of the Comics winner

ODU Graduate

Garrett Barnes

3-time Clash of the Comics winner

UVA Graduate

Fran Spellgatti

First female winner of the Virginia Beach Funny Bone's Clash of the Comics

U.S. Marines

Jim Seward

Nationally touring comedian,

*Cozzy's Comedy Club

*Virginia Beach Funny Bone

*Zannie's Comedy Club

Friday July 19, 2013

Sketch/Improv Comedy

featuring Cats Hugging Cats, Richmond Comedy Coalition, Bone Cracker and The Pushers

7:00 PM | Tickets: $15

Headliner: Kevin Allison presents "Risk!"

9:00 PM | Tickets: $20

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Sketch/Improv Comedy

featuring Cats Hugging Cats, Richmond Comedy Coalition, Bone Cracker and The Pushers

7:00 PM | Tickets: $15

Headliner: Kevin Allison presents "Risk!"

9:00 PM | Tickets: $20

Festival After Party and Improv Jam at The Iguana

11:00 PM