Is This Thing On?

Come see the latest group of developing comedians at Is This Thing On?, a showcase by the Stand-up Comedy students of the Patel Conservatory. This is the sixth term of successful comedians to 'walk the plank' at Patel.

Performing under the name “The Patel Standup Comics,” the students perform on Monday, November 12 at 7:30 p.m. at The Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center's Shimberg Playhouse.

After eight weeks of analyzing, writing, creating, destroying and reworking material, these students will meet the challenge of eliciting chuckles in a 90-minute performance hosted by local comedy vet and instructor "ranney."

Instructor "ranney" is the stand-up comedy, spoken word and scene-study instructor for the Patel Conservatory. "ranney" is an international comedian/poet who has headlined London's The Comedy Store, Dublin's The Comedy Cellar, and various venues at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. "ranney" was the premier comedian at Laff Tuesdays at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. As a spoken word artist, "ranney" won the Universal Poets competition in 2000 and was nominated Best International Poet 2003 by the Farrago Poetry Group of London. "ranney" has developed and performed nine one man shows, with the last one, "Cufflinks and Jolly Ranchers for Dummies" performed nightly at the Underbelly at the 2006 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The tenth, "The Black Plague" will premiere soon.

Is This Thing On? will contain explicit language and themes. Tickets can be purchased at the door or through The Center Ticket Office at 813.229.STAR.

Stand-up comedy 'final' for Patel Conservatory course

See the below email from "ranney" - local actor, author, director and teacher. I've seen his solo act, as well as las year's class final. It's all worth checking out. C'mon, it's only $5, and what else are you doing on a Mondya night?

Come and see the latest class of stand-up comedy grads do their thing. They've been working hard the last 10 weeks (ten weeks of abuse from me; you should come and hand them medals for that alone), and this is a really funny group of ladies and gentlemen.

I'll spoil the suspense now: you will be offended by someone. If I've done a half decent job, we all will be offended by the end of the evening. Lighten up and come take a few punchlines. This is the most diverse group I've had and they need your support.

SOAPBOX MOMENT: Not everywhere, but many places treat stand-up comedy like a bastard artform and then, all of a sudden, everybody wants a comedian to host, sell products, spice up their speeches, etc. I've heard countless performing artist say "It takes such guts! I could never do that." But then they never come out and support comedy (If it doesn't apply, let it fly). Look, this an always evolving artform. Many a comedian is creating - in collaboration with you, the audience - their work right in front of you with the pressure of making a room full of strangers of different backgrounds and personalities laugh. It is ironically helpful when that audience is sizeable and loud (with laughter).

enuf.

Come, bring some peeps, and send some peeps.

And hey, join us for some drinks at The Hub afterwards!

be well and tranquil.

incontrovertably,

"r"

www.itsranney.com

www.myspace.com/mrfunnyblackman

-dj