Local Comedians Try Getting Serious At The Duplex May 16

Several comedians and performers from the New York improv scene will be taking the stage at The Duplex Cabaret Theater on May, 16 at 9:30 pm to do something that no one expects them to do, take something seriously, well kind of. EJW Productions presents: What's So Funny?: A comedy cabaret featuring songs from the musical theater cannon.

The show will feature songs by Frank Loesser, Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich, Michael John LaChiusa, Stephen Schwartz, and Schönberg and Boublil among others.

"I think what most people are going to be surprised about is that a lot of these performers have backgrounds in voice or musical theater," said Adam Shenk, the show's musical director. "It's kind of amazing to see all these people who do comedy, get up on stage and out comes this voice that you weren't really expecting."

The event organized by Evan Watkins came from the large number of people he knew in the comedy community who also had vocal and musical theater backgrounds. He wanted to organize a show that showcased their talents in a comedic way.

"I kept meeting these people who would say 'I was in Gypsy at Paper Mill' or 'I did a couple musicals in college,'" Watkins explained "I wanted to give these people a chance to showcase the talents that many people in our community may not have known they had."

The show will feature performances by Doug Gordon, Kevin Michael Murphy (If It Only Runs a Minute), Lauren Adams, Boris Khaykin, Julia Wiedeman, Megan Maes, Ashley Harrell, John Flynn (ECNY Award Nominee and Gypsy at Papermill Playhouse), Dayna LaRosa, Patty Devery, Kerry McGuire, Brian Waters, Michael Martin, and Evan Watkins, with Musical Direction by Adam Shenk

The show will be held on Monday, May 16 from 9:30 - 11:00 PM at The Duplex Cabaret Theater located upstairs at 61 Christopher Street (and 7th Avenue). Admission is $8 plus a two drink minimum. Reservations can be made here or by calling The Duplex box office at (212) 255-5438.