Laraine Newman News

Celebrity Autobiography, the international hit comedy Broadway sensation and winner of the Drama Desk Award is returning to the Groundlings on Monday December 30th at 8pm.

SF Sketchfest has announced additions to the 2025 festival taking place January 16-February 2 in venues across San Francisco.

SF Sketchfest has announced its 2025 comedy festival lineup featuring Bill Murray, Tim Curry, Kathryn Hahn, and JB Smoove.

Award-winning Egyptian American actor/comedian Ahmed Ahmed will host the 2024 PSICF Comedy Awards taking place during the Palm Springs International Comedy Festival (PSICF) on September 21st at Hotel Zoso in downtown Palm Springs.

Award-winning comedian Ahmed Ahmed will host the 2024 PSICF Comedy Awards at the Palm Springs International Comedy Festival, featuring performances and appearances by Cybill Shepherd, Kathy Griffin, and more. Learn more!

Kathy Griffin will return as a special guest presenter at the Palm Springs International Comedy Festival Awards on September 21st, where she will present Mo Collins with the PSICF Comedy Award.

Back by popular demand, Broadway sensation and international smash-hit comedy “Celebrity Autobiography” returned on Monday, April 29 to The Groundlings Theatre. Chcck out photos here!

The 31st Annual Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival (LAWTF) has a roster of accomplished co-hosts for its six programs. Learn more about the hosts here!

SF Sketchfest kicks off its 21st comedy festival with legend Eric Idle at the Castro Theatre on Thursday, January 18 followed by over 200 shows taking place through February 4 in venues across San Francisco.

Actress and comedy icon Jane Curtin has joined a century-old tradition by being honored by a capacity crowd at The Players, New York's landmark members club for artists and arts lovers. See photos!

'NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME' is a new play that will have private industry readings in NYC on December 7 & 8. Find out more about this exciting production.

SF Sketchfest has revealed the initial lineup for the 2024 Comedy Festival in San Francisco. Tickets go on sale on November 19.

Irvine Barclay Theatre has announced more shows for its 2023-24 season. One of the most popular performing arts venues in Orange County, Irvine Barclay Theatre presents renowned artists in a wide range of genres, from jazz, classical, country, Motown, and global music, to comedy, dance, theater, captivating speakers, and more.

Drama Desk winner and Emmy nominee Eugene Pack's The Pack Plays will be presented at the Groundlings Theatre on Sunday, June 25th at 7 pm at the Groundlings Gary Austin Stage (7280 Melrose Ave).

Drama Desk winner and Emmy nominee Eugene Pack's The Pack Plays will be presented at the Groundlings Theatre on Sunday, May 21st at 7 pm at the Groundlings Gary Austin Stage.

While the highly anticipated in-person return of SF Sketchfest brings over 200 shows to venues across the city, for the first time ever, SF Sketchfest will be making its special programming accessible to audiences around the world with livestream viewing available for select festival events.

After being waylaid by the pandemic for the in-person events in 2021 and 2022, SF Sketchfest, the San Francisco Comedy Festival, will celebrate its 20th Anniversary January 20 - February 5, 2023, in venues across San Francisco.

When funny ladies Allison Dunbar and Emily Pendergrast decided to produce a fundraiser for Planned Parenthood September 16th, they simply picked up their phones and called their Sister Groundlings to participate. The roster for September 16th includes current main company members, as well as Groundlings alumni. Deanna Oliver directs Lauren Burns, Patty Guggenheim, Rachel Harris, Phyllis Katz, Lyric Lewis, Karen Maruyama, Laraine Newman, Cheri Oteri, Jessica Pohly, Ariane Price, Lisa Schurga, Annie Sertich, Cathy Shambley, Mindy Sterling, Christen Sussin and Michaela Watkins. I had the chance to catch the very busy Allison to respond to a few questions between her recent nuptials and the fundraiser.

Stars in the House for Ukraine, an 11+ Hour telethon of the weekly streaming show, raised $139,000 for the International Rescue Committee's humanitarian efforts for those affected by the war in Ukraine. That total is inclusive of a generous matching donation by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, which matched the first $50,000 worth of donations.

More celebrity guests have been added to Stars in the House For Ukraine – the 10-hour telethon to raise money and awareness for those affected by the ongoing war in Ukraine. Hosted by Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley, the show will air live on Saturday, March 26th from 12:00pm ET – 10:00pm ET.