In case you didn’t know, and it is four days packed with 28 shows, all spread out across seven venues in the Charleston area. The epicenter, of course, being Theatre 99, who puts on the fest. (Actually I don’t know if epicenter is an appropriate term. I didn’t study geology. Or geography.) Theatre 99 is an intimate 140-seat theater above The Bicycle Shoppe on Meeting Street and it is perfect for comedy shows.
This festival will have shows with stand-up, music, sketch, and improv, but the festival is built around the latter (because it is put on by an improv theatre). But there are some dang good stand up shows as well, including the Myq Kaplan shows I told you about last week. Other stand-up shows worth checking out include Moshe Kasher (Chelsea Lately, Conan, Comedy Central) and the locally produced Most Races Show On Earth. Also, if you are reading this and live in Columbia, you can check out the Most Races Show Friday at Red Door Tavern at 9.
“If you live in Charleston and you haven’t been to Theatre 99 before, the shows they are going to have are top notch,” is something that was said to me by Charleston comic Dusty Slay, who is appearing in this festival this weekend at The Lighthouse at Shem Creek. “There’s no show I’m going to recommend over any of the others, even mine. If you come to mine, we’re going to make you laugh, but if you go another one, I don’t think you’ve made a bad move.” Dusty also hosts a monthly showcase at Theatre 99 and I have been fortunate enough to do it a few times and it really is one of my favorite places. Each year as a lead-up to the festival, T99 puts on the Charleston Comedy Competition, which Dusty has won twice. You can catch the winners from this year’s competition at The Woolfe Street Playhouse on Friday.
An improv show can be quite different from a stand-up show. I realized that this means that improv offers something that a lot of stand-up crowds want, to be part of the show by shouting out something and taking part in the show. And if you do that at the right time at an improv show, it’s totally appropriate and won’t disappoint or distract the performer, in fact it’s encouraged! Â And if you’ve never been to an improv show, I am not a good enough writer to describe the feeling of energy in the room as the organic humor materializes on stage.
Most of the shows do take place at Theatre 99, but they are also taking place in other theaters all over Charleston, most of which are places that typically do not host comedy shows. Â So if you’ve never been to Theatre 99, go there. If another venue is closer and more convenient, check that one out and still enjoy a great show.
Since I’m not really an improv guy, I figured I would ask Brandy, one of the folks from Theatre 99, to tell me about some of the upcoming shows. (I do know you should check out Local Legend’s from Greenville’s Alchemy Comedy this Friday or Saturday at Redux Contemporary Arts Theatre).
Brandy: Alice and Edward is a 2-two person improv show with Frank Caeti and Susan Messing who are luminaries in the field of improv. Â We are thrilled to have them. Â Squirm and Germ is a 2 person rap duo who have come highly recommended. Really, every show is a winner…and $5-$12.50 is a great deal for these shows. Â Most have 2 or 3 acts/groups on the same bill. Â The Festival Finale is a hot ticket and a crazy wrap up for the festival…a pu pu platter (if you will) of festival artists perform.
JT: It must be a lot of work to coordinate and book everything. What do you guys find the most rewarding about doing the festival? Â
Brandy: We love working with other artists and groups that we respect. Those relationships mean a lot to us. Charleston audiences are so supportive to them so it makes us happy that our community is willing to take a chance on seeing shows. Â The artists really appreciate it. Â The Theatre 99 company and improv community are a huge part of making things happen from selling tickets, doing tech, ushering, performing, etc. That is vital to making the festival work…it’s like a family hosting a party.
JT: Last year you had Wyatt Cenac, who are some of the other big names who you’ve had at the festival?
Brandy: T.J. Miller and Todd Barry are former “headliners.” Â There have been numerous festival artists who have performed here before they “made it.” Bobby Moynihan, Aziz Ansari, Amy Schumer, Casey Wilson, Adam Pally, Rory Scovel, Sasheer Zamata (SNL’s newest cast member), Ben Schwartz, Tim Robinson (SNL), June Diane Raphael, Charlie Sanders (writer, Key and Peele), Neil Casey (writer, SNL), and more.
So just because you might not recognize some of the names on the schedule, does not mean you aren’t in for professional, high-quality show. I’ve said enough. Get out there Charleston! Support your local comedy community!  I’d also like to  thank to Brandy and Dusty for chatting with me about the festival.
There are too many good shows to list here.
For the full schedule, venue info, and tickets, check out:
