Nantucket Comedy Festival: Simpson’s Night of Comedy

Felt the need for a summer breeze:

The Nantucket Comedy Festival: Simpson’s Night of Comedy took place on Thursday, July 29, 2010 at Jetties Beach, MC’d by comedian Mike O’Malley of television’s “Yes Dear”, “Parenthood”, and “Glee”, and writer Showtime’s “Shameless”. Panelists included former island resident Donick Cary, John Hodgman (“The Daily Show” and Mac computer commercials), and Mike Reiss (writer for “The Simpsons”). Vito Capizzo, former NHS football coach, was roasted for being the inspiration for one episode of The Simpsons. The evening ended with stand-up from Jackie Flynn and Rich Ceisler, with Lewis Black looking on. Photos by Gene Mahon, assisted by Amanda Morgan. More at MahonAboutTown.com.

Nantucket Comedy Festival

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Dumpster Chronicles 3

The Dumpster Chronicles: A Whimsical and Irreverent Guide to Nantucket, Being Part 3

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Previously

I first came to the island with a group of friends some thirty years ago. We rented an old cottage on the bluff out in Tom Nevers; it and the old Navy Base were the only buildings out there at that time. It was a perfect spot to enjoy our summers.

As we were the only folk out there, we had never thought it necessary to bother with bathing costumes; if we wanted to go for a swim, it was a short walk from our house down to the beach. One afternoon after lunch, we decided to go for a dip. It was a perfect summer day with a cloudless sky, soft breezes, and the gentle lapping of the waves along the beach; not a discarded beer can in sight. All was right with the world as we lay in the warm sunshine on the empty, endless beach. We were remarking on how lucky we all were to have this sanctuary with not another living soul in sight, at which point we noticed a movement on the bluff leading down to the beach.

After a few minutes we could clearly make out the shape of a woman and two young children slowly descending the pathway. The entourage arrived and plonked down a bewildering assortment of beach chairs, towels, picnic chests and various beach bags along with a large transistor radio playing heavy rock music. With the entire beach at their disposal, the group ensconced themselves just a few feet from our spot. I could not help but feel a sense of foreboding; these were the first people who we had ever seen out here.

The lady wearing a brightly-flowered stretch one-piece bathing costume settled the children, and then with a determined stride, heaved her considerable bulk with all the inevitability of a centurion tank in our direction. She came to a halt and, assuming a military stance, fixed us with a withering stare. In a voice that sounded like a corncrake with a throat infection, she demanded that we immediately “cover up”!

We tried to point out that we did not bring bathing costumes because there was never anyone else on this particular beach, and anyway, she had ample alternative space from which to choose another more acceptable spot, free from our offensive nudity.

We were treated to a tirade of how disgusting we were and assured that if we did not immediately remedy our nakedness she would call the police. It was all so ludicrous that we decided to simply pretend that she was not there and continued with our sun bathing. Off she wobbled with her entourage back from whence she had come. About half an hour later we saw to our amazement the lady and a police car on the bluff. It seemed that she had been as good as her word.
Our quiet relaxing afternoon was destined to be short-lived. Since we had no form of attire, we were at something of a loss as to how we should proceed. One of the girls found a pair of socks in her bag, which we used to cover our private parts. We walked up the bluff to face the lady and the local constable.

The officer assured us that the law was on her side. “I don’t know who the hell she is but she is a fanatic and if you don’t immediately go and put on some clothing I will have no choice but to arrest you all and you will spend the night in the pokey. Now do me a favor and offer a courteous apology and then get the hell out of here; I have better things to do.”

We were left reflecting that our once sacrosanct beach had been forever soiled by this uncalled for intrusion.

Nowadays one can sunbathe on almost any of the beaches wearing the briefest form of beach attire which covers very little and leaves little to the imagination.

So welcome to Nantucket. You will find that there is much to entertain the curious visitor.

To be continued . . .

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Kerry Hallam was born and raised in the North of England. He was elected to the Royal Society of Artists and later established his first studio in the South of France. Kerry has lived and painted on the island for the past thirty years. He is represented internationally by Chalk and Vermilion of Greenwich, and has held extensive one man shows in the States, Japan, France and the U.K. His autobiography ‘Getting to Nantucket’ was recently published, and in the past few years, he has issued seven C.D.’s of own written and performed music. All illustrations are by Kerry Hallam. This column will appear regularly.

Nantucket Arts News

NEW BOOK BY CARY HAZLEGROVE

Cary Hazlegrove’s newest book of photographs, entitled “Nantucket”, goes on sale this week at island bookstores, and March 25th nationally. Cary has photographed the island for more than thirty years, and this book represents the best 150 of the past ten years paired with quotes from well known islanders.

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JANE CONDON’S ONE PERSON SHOW

Jane Condon will present her one person show, “Janie Unchained”, Wednesday, March 31, 7 pm at the Unitarian Church. Jane is an island summer resident, and the winner of Audience Favorite-NY on NBC’s LAST COMIC STANDING. This show will take you along on her journey from blue-collar Brockton, Mass. to upscale Greenwich, CT. Along the way, she’ll share her reasons for doing comedy.

The Associated Press calls Jane “an uppercrust Roseanne.” The New York Times says of her stand-up comedy, “Condon had the audience cackling, guffawing and in hysterics as she sliced through marriage, husband, kids, politics and other topics.” $15 suggested donation at the door.

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KATHLEEN HAY WINS A 2010 INTERIOR DESIGN AWARD

Interior designer Kathleen Hay has won an Andrew Martin 2010 Interior Design Award, considered the Oscars of the interior design world. Two of Kathleen’s recent projects will be featured in the 2010 Interior Design Review Vol. 14 later this year.

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YESTERDAY’S ISLAND PHOTO CONTEST

Send in your entries for the Yesterday’s Island 40th Anniversary Photo Contest, accepted year-round, with cash prizes to the best photos. Enter here.

Nantucket Comedy Festival Update

Comedian Kevin Flynn and national educator Mike DiSpezio will present an informational training session on Project Comedy’s new Teen Stand-Up Program, an education-based comedy writing and performing program for children and teens.

This year, the festival will be held on Wednesday, July 28th – Saturday July 31st, with children’s comedy workshops, fun community events, and special comedy shows celebrating the power of laughter and the universal appeal of comedy.

Kevin and Mike will present techniques and materials that they will provide to the community to support on-going stand-up comedy and comedy writing classes for local students, who will then be encouraged to write and perform in a year round program that will prepare them for performance opportunities during the Nantucket Comedy Festival this summer. Saturday, February 13th, from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm at The New School. Free. www.nantucketcomedyfestival.org

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Nantucket Comedy Festival Update

The second annual Nantucket Comedy Festival will run from Tuesday, July 28th through Saturday, August 1st, The festival, created and produced by long time local residents and comedians Kevin Flynn and Bonnie Block Levison, was developed to bring top comedic performance to the Island in support of A Safe Place, The Nantucket Arts Council, The Nantucket New School, and The Community Foundation for Nantucket.

Thursday, July 31st: “Fortune’s Funny Money”, an evening of interviews and comedy sponsored by Fortune Magazine and hosted by Fortune Magazine Editor, Andy Serwer and Andy Borowitz of the Borowitz Report.

Friday, August 1st: A night with former Letterman head writers, including favorite bits from the writers’ years of working on The David Letterman Sho, hosted by Harry Smith.

Saturday, August 2nd: Second annual New York Versus Boston All-Star Comedy Smack Down and Gala, and the presentation of the “Man from Nantucket” award, hosted by MSNBC’s Chris Matthews and festival organizer and comedian, Kevin Flynn.

Other shows throughout the week will include an evening with popular comic Jim Gaffigan, a special performance by Tony award-winning actress Judith Ivey playing Ann Landers in “The Lady With All The Answers”, children’s shows featuring professional teen comics, and performances by well-known comedians including Mike Birbiglia, Corey Kahaney, and Tom Cotter.

Tickets for the Nantucket Comedy Festival can be purchased at http://www.nantucketcomedyfestival.com. The week of the festival, tickets can be purchased at the festival tent, which will be located at the Green Hound bus depot. Ticket prices vary for each event. For more information go to www.nantucketcomedyfestival.com.

Nantucket Comedy Festival Update

I spoke with Kevin Flynn (pictured below center with last year’s co-producer Bonnie Levison) to get an exclusive first look at the upcoming second annual Nantucket Comedy Festival, this year to run from Tuesday, July 28th through Saturday, August 1st. Anne Meara and Jerry Stiller will be back, as will Chris Matthews as a guest host.

Here’s the line up:

• Tuesday (28th): Mike Birbiglia’s “Sleepwalk with Me”
  
• Wednesday (29th): Ladies Night and Pre-Party at Gypsy
  
• Thursday (30th): Jetties Beach Big Tent Event and Pre-Show Cocktail Reception
  
• Friday (31st): Jetties Beach Big Tent Event and Pre-Show Cocktail Reception
  
• Saturday (1st): Comedy Gala and Man From Nantucket Award

This year’s Festival will feature the former head writers and comedians of “Late Night with David Letterman”, including Nantucket’s own Donick Cary (pictured at right at The Muse for the Irresistables Reunion). Worldwide Pants is a Peabody Award-winning television and film production company owned by David Letterman, pruducer of “The Late Show with David Letterman” and “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson”. The president and CEO is Rob Burnett, who will be also be here for “Letterman Night” in the big tent at Jetties. So too will be Jon Beckerman, who wrote NBC’s “Ed” with Rob.

Back from last year will be Mike Birbiglia, this time with his one man show, “Sleepwalk with Me”, the story of his struggle with sleepwalking. The show, written by and starring Mike, and produced by Nathan Lane, is currently playing off-Broadway, and just this week extended its run through June 7, 2009 due to high ticket demand. Time Out New York said that “his time has finally come!” and The New York Daily News said “The Manhattan comic has such an endearing, laid back persona, as well as such perfect timing, that it all threads together in a funny, touching whole.” Want a taste. Check out this performance for The Moth, available as a free podcast at TheMoth.org. Photo of Mike at left is from last year’s Festival.

There will an all new Women’s Night, with stand up comedian Wendy Liebman as part of the line up. Wendy started performing in Boston in 1984, and won the American Comedy Award for Female Stand-up Comedian of the Year in 1997. She has appeared on HBO, “The Tonight Show”, “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and “The Late Show with David Letterman”. Wendy is known for starting a joke that leads in one direction, ending the joke, but then adding a quick follow up line that changes the meaning and brings more laughs. Women’s Night will be at the Methodist Church on Wednesday night, July 29.

In place of Political Night, this year will see “A Night of Financial Humor”, hosted by Andy Serwer, editor of Fortune Magazine.

Daytime classes and day and night performances for children and by children will also be a part of the 2009 Festival – more on that as the information becomes available.

In an exclusive pre-festival performance, Tony Award winner Judith Ivey will play Ann Landers in David Rambo’s play “The Lady With All the Answers”, which will open at the Cherry Lane Theatre this fall. One night only at Bennett Hall, Sunday, July 26, a Festival warm up show. Ivey won Tonys for Best Featured Actress in a Play for “Steaming” and “Hurlyburly”. N Magazine article.

The Festival benefits The Nantucket Arts Council, the Nantucket New School, the Nantucket Community Foundation, and A Safe Place. In turn, the children’s comedy program is supported in part by the Nantucket Golf Club’s Children’s Charity Classic.

Only patron passes are available now, which will get you into everything – all performances (except for “The Lady With All the Answers”), parties, the wrap party, and various other shenanigans. The best part about that pass, something most presenters don’t allow, is that your pass is fully transferable – if you can’t make an event, you can give your pass to friend or family. Your name will also be listed in the program as a patron. The best events sold out last year, and a patron pass assures that you won’t miss anything. Information available on the website, or email Patron Liason JoAnn Gordon.

Nantucket Toast: Stiller & Meara

The Nantucket Comedy Festival Tribute to Anne Meara and Jerry Stiller took place on Thursday, July 31st at Jetties Beach, one of the best events of the summer. Check out Plum TV’s coverage here.

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Stiller & Meara 2

Click on any photo to see more from this event or the archive of past events. To order a copy of any photograph, click on the photo, the click on this event on the list on the left and find the ID number. Send an email with the photo number to me at gene@mahonabouttown.com.

If you see anyone you know in these photos, please forward the newsletter to your friends and encourage them to subscribe. Go to the very end of this newsletter, and click the “Forward email” link. (Forwarding through your own email program will not send the correct newsletter version.)

Click on any photo to order a print or see more of this event.

Stiller & Meara 3

Click on any photo to see more from this event or the archive of past events. To order a copy of any photograph, click on the photo, the click on this event on the list on the left and find the ID number. Send an email with the photo number to me at gene@mahonabouttown.com.

If you see anyone you know in these photos, please forward the newsletter to your friends and encourage them to subscribe. Go to the very end of this newsletter, and click the “Forward email” link. (Forwarding through your own email program will not send the correct newsletter version.)

Click on any photo to order a print or see more of this event.