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November 16, 2006
WILLIAM PATERSON UNIVERSITY TO HOST NEW JERSEY COLLEGE COMEDY COMPETITION AS PART OF COMEDY FESTIVAL FROM NOVEMBER 29 TO DECEMBER 9
—Students and Alumni of University’s Comedy Writing and Performing Course Present the “Best of William Paterson Stand-Up Comedy” on November 29
A New Jersey college comedy competition and stand-up routines by William Paterson comedy students will highlight the two-weeklong festival from November 29 to December 9 at William Paterson University in Wayne.
Situation comedy, improvisation, stand-up and sketch comedy, and the premiere of seven short plays are all part of the Comedy Festival. The festival is sponsored by the University’s Department of Communication. Tickets are $10 standard and $7 for the William Paterson community, senior citizens and students.
The festival kicks off on Wednesday, November 29 with the “Best of William Paterson University Stand Up Comedy” at 8 p.m. in Shea Center. For the past four years, William Paterson students have trained as standup comics, comedy writers, and actors as part of the theatre concentration. Performers will include current students and alumni of the University’s acclaimed course in comedy writing and performing. Each semester, as a final exam, these talented students have delighted packed houses at Carolines on Broadway, a comedy club in New York City.
On December 1 and 2, a competition for “The Funniest College” and “The Funniest College Student in New Jersey” will be held at 8 p.m. in Hunziker Theatre. In addition to William Paterson, some of the competing schools include Kean University, Montclair State University, Gloucester County College, and Richard Stockton College. Each school will have a maximum of six students on their team.
Participants will perform five minutes of stand-up comedy material. The student who wins the title of “Funniest College Student in New Jersey” will receive a spot performing at the Gotham Comedy Club in New York City. A group of professional comedians and comedy writers will serve as judges.
Comedy in theatre, film, and television will be showcased on December 3 at 3 p.m. in Hunziker Theatre. A highlight of this event will be the premiere of seven short plays by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks as part of her 365Plays/365 Days project. The project calls for Parks to write a play a day for a whole year with a stated goal to perform these plays in as many different theaters as possible. William Paterson students will perform.
Other events on December 3 include the best of televised sketches, sitcoms and improvisation that have aired every week on the University cable station. All are written, produced and performed by students. Segments will be shown from the best of Lose the Remote, a student talk/sketch comedy show. Also scheduled are short comedic films produced by students and faculty. Academania!, a short film by Gina Guerrieri, assistant professor of communication, will be shown.
The “Sketch Show Live” will be held on Friday, December 8 and Saturday, December 9 at 8 p.m. in Hunziker Theatre. Students enrolled in the University’s sketch comedy course over the past three years will present their best sketches. The event is directed by Stephen Rosenfield, who originated the comedy program at William Paterson and is director of the American Comedy Institute in New York City.
William Paterson University Comedy Festival
November 29
“The Best of William Paterson Stand Up Comedy,” featuring William Paterson students and alumni, 8 p.m., Shea Center
December 1 and 2
Competition for “The Funniest College” and “The Funniest College Student,” 8 p.m., Hunziker Theatre
December 3
Comedy in theatre, film and television, 3 p.m., Hunziker Theatre.
December 8 and 9
“Sketch Show Live” - William Paterson students and alumni of sketch comedy class perform their best sketches, 8 p.m., Hunziker Theatre
For additional information or to purchase tickets, please call the Shea Center Box Office at 973-720-2371.
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