PHIT Comedy Seeks Submissions for 2017 Black Today Comedy Marathon

For the fourth consecutive year, the Philly Improv Theater (PHIT Comedy) will be the site for a 40-hour comedy marathon. The 2017 Black Friday Comedy Marathon (BFCM) starts Friday, November 24 at 9 a.m. and lasts until Sunday, November 26 at 1:00 a.m.

BFCM first occurred in 2014 as a venue for Philadelphia's comedians to showcase their talents in a fun atmosphere together over a holiday weekend and as a way for PHIT to support other locAl Small businesses.

BFCM acts have traditionally included stand-up comedians, improv ensembles, variety acts, experimental performances, and musical comedians. All performances will be at PHIT in the Adrienne Theater, located at 2030 Sansom Street.

Executive producer Tom Hannigan has announced his production team: Nicole Yates as stand-up producer, Kayleigh Liggitt as assistant improv producer, Patric Ciervo as assistant sketch producer, and Alyssa Al-Dookhi as assistant variety producer. Hannigan says of the assembled group, "I'm really excited to have such a great group together for this event. There's such a wealth of talent and experience between everyone here that I think we'll be able to bring the best aspects of the comedy community together like never before."

"It means a lot to me that we have an incredible community of comedians in Philly who will do something like this, year after year." explained Greg Maughan, PHIT's founder and executive director.

The Marathon production team is now accepting act submissions in the categories of Stand-up, Sketch, Variety, Improv, and Bits up until September 15.

PHIT is located in the Adrienne Theater at 2030 Sansom Street and regularly hosts performances on both the Mainstage and the newly renovated Second Stage, seven days a week throughout the year.

Since its opening in 2005 PHIT Comedy has been the heart of Philadelphia's rapidly expanding and nationally recognized comedy scene. PHIT Comedy produces over 1,000 performances annually, with shows on multiple stages, 7 nights a week, every week of the year. Beyond Philadelphia, PHIT Comedy's performers tour regularly making appearances at the most prestigious comedy venues across North America. Dedicated to developing talent locally, the PHIT Comedy Training Center teaches over 1,00 children and adults how to improvise, write sketch comedy, and perform stand-up each year. Alumni and performers seen on PHIT's stages have worked on Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show, 30 Rock, The Late Show, Two and Half Men, Raising Hope, Key & Peele, Kroll Show, The State, Girl Code, Guy Code, Orange is the New Black, and The Kids in the Hall.

For more information on PHIT Comedy, visit phitcomedy.com, and for more on the Black Friday Comedy Marathon, go to blackfridaycomedymarathon.com/2017 or check out the Facebook event.

ABOUT THE PRODUCERS:

Tom Hannigan: Executive Producer - Tom Hannigan has been studying and performing improv for over five years. Tom's been a member of PHIT improv house teams Metropolis and Outside Voices as well as in short run shows "Stay Dead!: An Improvised Horror Comedy" and the 2013 Philly Fringe Festival's "Reasonable Doubt." At PHIT, Tom has taught workshops and hosted his pick up improv show, Super Human Horse, for over two years. In the Fall, he'll be the director of one of the two Harold teams performing every Wednesday night.

Nicole Yates: Stand-Up Producer - Nicole Yates is a Philly-based Standup Comic who has appeared all over the country in shows at clubs, bars and back rooms of burrito restaurants. She has also appeared in a bunch of silly viral videos, wrote for some late night local talk shows and sketch teams and is the proud Co-Founder of the BFCM. In her free time she enjoys sleeping, various nerdy stuff and collecting things your mom yelled at you for having right after stepping on and then threw out. She also really likes pizza.

Kayleigh Liggitt: Assistant Improv Producer - Kayleigh has been performing improv for about 7 years. She is currently on PHIT house team Hoffman, she runs and performs in the show CORE, and she produces indie shows Free Improv at the Grape Room and Improv Under the El. When she is not doing improv she likes to bike, do yoga, keep tiny humans alive and play Sims.

Patric Ciervo: Assistant Sketch Producer - Patric Ciervo is a comedy writer from Philadelphia who has been active in the sketch comedy scene since Fall 2013 with his project Patric Writes Sketches. He is also a member of the PHIT sketch house team Fezziwig. His greatest life achievement is that he once sold Tina Fey a Betsy Ross House Christmas Ornament.

Alyssa Al-Dookhi: Assistant Variety Producer - Alyssa Al-Dookhi is an Arab-American comedian, writer and game show host living in Philadelphia. She produces and hosts various shows all over Philadelphia, including the game shows "Eat Your Beats!" and "Make Up Or Break Up." She can be seen frequently at The Punch Line Comedy Club in Philadelphia and has been featured at the annual Bechdel Test Fest and the Philly Women's Theater Festival.

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