Mort Sahl News

The Comedians with Disabilities Act (CWDA) makes its debut at SF Sketchfest at the Alameda Comedy Club. This comedy troupe, founded by the late comedian Michael O'Connell, features talented comedians with disabilities sharing their unique perspectives.

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

The fabulous funny man returns to the cabaret stage for four performances!

In 1966, Cavett wrote and hosted the special, WHERE IT’S AT, produced by Bud Yorkin and Norman Lear. In 1968, Cavett was hired by ABC to host THIS MORNING, which was renamed THE DICK CAVETT SHOW and moved to prime time and then to late night, where it ran opposite THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON.

SF Sketchfest, co-founded and directed by David Owen, Cole Stratton and Janet Varney, the longest-running comedy festival in the U.S. The event mixes major comedy stars and up-and-coming comedians from around the world for sketch, stand-up, alternative comedy, music, improv, films, tributes, live podcasts, workshops, and panel discussions.

BroadwayWorld is saddened to report that legendary Broadway company and general manager Gary Gunas passed away today in his London home after a four-year battle with pancreatic cancer.

The Pandemic Playlist is back with a look at the people who made cabaret what it is today.

SF Sketchfest announced a new series of Live from the Archive videos that will be released each Tuesday beginning on May 5, 2020. The series will feature many never-before-seen performances, tribute conversations and panel discussions from the past 19 years and will include appearances by many comedy and entertainment luminaries.

SF Sketchfest presented announces additions to the lineup for the 19th annual San Francisco Comedy Festival January 9-26, 2020.

In the Field; Conceiving Satire: The Making of This Is The Week That Is, a special documentary commissioned by American Theatre Wing to document the creative process behind 1812 Productions' hit political satire This Is The Week That Is has been nominated for a Mid-Atlantic Emmy Award for Arts Program/Special. Filmed over the course of three months in 2018, In the Field; Conceiving Satire: The Making of This Is The Week That Is followed the cast and creative team of This Is The Week That Is from their initial roundtable conversations through a fully realized production, exploring the show's history and  the role of theatre and comedy in American politics.

Chicago entertainment icon Denise Tomasello pays tribute to another Chicago legend- Mister Kelly's.

QUACK playwright Eliza Clark is very good at sharp, rapid-fire dialogue, and she gives the actors plenty.

SF Sketchfest presented by Audible announces even more additions to the lineup for the 18th annual San Francisco Comedy Festival January 10-27.  The 17-day festival features over 200 shows with  major comedy stars and the best up-and-coming comedians from around the world performing in venues across the city bringing non-stop entertainment including sketch, stand-up, alternative comedy, music, improv, films, tributes, live podcasts, storytelling, family shows, workshops, panels and more. Tickets for all shows now on sale at sfsketchfest.com.

American Theatre Wing, founder of the Tony Awards* (Philadelphia, PA) 1812 Productions is pleased to present its annual political comedy, and a Philadelphia favorite, This Is The Week That Is. A staple of the Philadelphia theatre season for the past 13 years, This Is The Week That Is brings to the stage sharp satire and content that changes with the headlines. This Is The Week That Is opens Today, November 28th at 7pm at Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey Place, in Center City. Preview performances begin Friday, November 23rd. The production has been extended and will play through Saturday, January 5th, 2019. Tickets and information are available at www.1812productions.org or at 215-592-9560.

American Theatre Wing, founder of the Tony Awards* (Philadelphia, PA) 1812 Productions is pleased to present its annual political comedy, and a Philadelphia favorite, This Is The Week That Is. A staple of the Philadelphia theatre season for the past 13 years, This Is The Week That Is brings to the stage sharp satire and content that changes with the headlines. This Is The Week That Is opens Wednesday, November 28th at 7pm at Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey Place, in Center City. Preview performances begin Today, November 23rd. The production has been extended and will play through Saturday, January 5th, 2019. Tickets and information are available at www.1812productions.org or at 215-592-9560.

SF Sketchfest presented by Audible announces the initial line up for the 18th annual San Francisco Comedy Festival January 10-27, 2019, featuring top comedic talent performing in venues across the city. Audiences can expect another outstanding year of programming and fun as SF Sketchfest will host major comedy stars and the best up-and-coming acts from around the world for non-stop entertainment including sketch, stand-up, alternative comedy, music, improv, films, tributes, live podcasts, storytelling, family shows, workshops, panels and more.

American Theatre Wing, founder of the Tony Awards* (Philadelphia, PA) 1812 Productions is pleased to present its annual political comedy, and a Philadelphia favorite, This Is The Week That Is. A staple of the Philadelphia theatre season for the past 13 years, This Is The Week That Is brings to the stage sharp satire and content that changes with the headlines. This Is The Week That Is opens Wednesday, November 28th at 7pm at Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey Place, in Center City. Preview performances begin Friday, November 23rd. The production has been extended and will play through Saturday, January 5th, 2019. Tickets and information are available at www.1812productions.org or at 215-592-9560.

Stand-up comedy stalwart Paul Rodriguez will be taking on the role of God in the revival of Bruce Jay Friedman's cult-classic STEAMBATH opening October 20, 2018 at the Odyssey Theatre. I had the chance to illicit a few serious answers from this funny man amongst his very comical responses.

Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts,  which brings audiences world-class theater, dance and music performed by many of the most sought-after artists,presents Chris Walden Big Band with a program that pays tribute to the "Rat Pack" era on Saturday, October 27, 2018, 7:30 pm,in the Bram Goldsmith Theater at The Wallis. Walden, a seven-time Grammy-nominated composer/arranger/conductor, has scored more than 40 feature and TV films and written more than 1,500 orchestral and big band arrangements for artists ranging from Aretha Franklin, Paul McCartney and Barbra Streisand to Diana Krall and Rihanna, among many others.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre today announced the world premiere of Imaginary Comforts, or The Story of the Ghost of the Dead Rabbit, written by Daniel Handler and directed by Tony Taccone. The new play begins previews on Thursday, October 5 and the show runs through Sunday, November 19. Individual tickets begin at $30 and can be purchased online at berkeleyrep.org or by phone, 510 647-2949. Press night will be on Thursday, October 12.