Two of the most original theatre artists in America, the long-form improvisers TJ & Dave, return to The Town Hall, 123 West 43rd Street, for a special one-night-only engagement of "TJ & Dave" on Saturday October 3 at 8pm. This unique theatrical event, produced by The Barrow Street Theatre, will incorporate the musical talents of Chicago's popular alternative country-rocker Robbie Fulks. Tickets, which range from $24 to $31.50, are now on sale through Ticketmaster. To order in advance call 800/982-2787, or visit www.ticketmaster.com or The Town Hall box office.
Dubbed "the premier improv duo working today" by
Jason Zinoman of The New York Times, the Chicago-based TJ Jagodowski and Dave Pasquesi have been returning to New York seasonally -- approximately four times a year -- since 2005. Their four-show weekend stands at The
Barrow Street Theatre are now hotly anticipated by their rabid and ravenous following, comprised in equal parts of theatre fans and fans of comedy improvisation.
As they did in their previous Town Hall appearance in October 2013, TJ & Dave up the ante by welcoming a like-minded musical guest; this time it's the singer-songwriter Robbie Fulks.
Combining slow-burning patience with flashes of virtuosity, TJ & Dave do the improbable, surprising even the most rigorous theatre audiences by the level of literary accomplishment they achieve without pen and paper. Indeed these Wright Brothers of the unwritten create full-length, hour-long plays from scratch (without audience suggestions), complete with highly nuanced scenarios, multiple characters and deeply satirical outcomes.
Stephen Colbert has raved, "One of these guys is the best improviser in the world. And the other one is better." Jane Borden of Time Out NY called them "the Mt. Everest of improv."
In his most recent Times assessment, Zinoman called TJ & Dave "singularly gifted performers," adding, "the big laughs eventually come, but they arrive in the context of a drama that feels more like a play than a sketch."
The most recent of Fulks's twelve highly acclaimed recordings, "Gone Away Backwards," was named one of 2013's best by Rolling Stone and by NPR. The singer-songwriter has appeared on WSM's "Grand Ole Opry," PRI's "A Prairie Home Companion," and PBS's "Austin City Limits." This is his first joint appearance in New York with TJ & Dave.
The Town Hall is among New York City's most historic venues. Built in 1921 by a group of suffragettes, The Town Hall began as a lecture hall and public debate forum and grew to be a landmark institution for arts, culture and education. Today the Hall boasts the hottest acts in rock, pop, folk, cabaret, classical and world music, dance and comedy.
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