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By Katy Miessner
The Mira Theatre Guild entices: “Come laugh at our expense” and promises an evening of non-stop laughs with the “three of the best young comic in San Francisco” in Vallejo just to entertain you.
And I think they could be accurate based on the program!
The headliner, Greg Asdourian, has been called the "Best Young Comic in San Francisco". Not sure who said this (couldn’t find a quote attributed to anyone on the internet); Asdourian’s MySpace page says "Greg Asdourian is hilarious! (Sam Hurwitt, East Bay Express)” and “Greg Asdourian is a hilarious individual" (Casey Ley, Pirate Cat Radio). Pirate Cat radio puts their money where their mouth is, Asdourian is a regular with a January 25th gig at Pirate Cat Café in San Francisco that will also be broadcast live. Asdourian—a native San Franciscan—performs his “relatable, endearing, and self-deprecating” (relatable meaning we can relate to it? Not a word I hear often) comedy all over California, including San Jose Improv, historic Purple Onion, Tommy Ts & the world famous Comedy Store in Hollywood.
Also a professional stage actor, Asdourian has performed in Shakespeare in the park and recently appeared as “Fake Shemp” in the West Coast Premiere of 'Evil Dead: The Musical' at the Willows Theatre. Pat Craig of the Contra Costa Times calls the production "A bloody good time … horribly funny in a wonderfully skewered way. One of the freshest, most energetic and darkly hilarious shows produced in these parts."
The evening also features seasoned comedienne Morgan Ruzzo who has been on stages all over the Bay Area, including Naked Comedy at The Clubhouse, Club Deluxe and Harvey’s. Ruzzo—a 57 year-old Transgender woman—tells it like it is from her unique point of view. Her facebook description says of her: “They looked at me like I was standing on a stack of Bibles juggling dildos...” Whether talking about her sexual encounters or dealing with drug addiction, Morgan always makes a personal connection with her audience creating a perfect atmosphere for hilarity.
The Bay Terrace Theatre flyer claims Morgan “was recently thrown out of Marin.” Given the climate in our town of late, will Morgan be thrown out of Vallejo? Let’s hope not! And let’s show her that we have a sense of humor and that Vallejoans CAN embrace people’s differences! (most of us.)
Comedian Danny Cruz is also part of Saturday’s line-up. Trust Cruz for a laugh: his jokes focus on his Hispanic ethnicity and the stereotypes associated with it, sprinkled with gestures and numerous references. Cruz performs comedy all over the Bay Area. He is a part of the all-star "The Chicano Kings of Comedy” at the San Jose Improv and he hosts monthly comedy show at Mexico Lindo in San Jose.
Special guest comic Bob—“Older than Dirt”—Weir is back by popular demand. No not THAT Bob Weir! Vallejo’s OWN Bob Weir: self-proclaimed S.O.B. (Sheriff of Benson Avenue) was last seen on the Mira Theatre stage in January 2008 and we are glad to have him back! Hear his cheeky delivery interspersed with his many Vallejo references.
The evening’s host is the One and Only Sandra Risser, who has produced and performed in a myriad of Bay Area comedy nights, many at the Mira Theatre and she’s even performed at the Edinburgh, Scotland ‘Fringe Festival’. She's young at heart (senile), no prude (single in the 60s & 70s) and she brings to comedy the vibrancy of youth and the wisdom of the ages (she’s older than ENIAC—is that older than dirt?). Risser’s mottos are “remember age is just a state of mind but wrinkles are forever" and “age is just a state of mind, hot flashes are real.”
And remember, while you are enjoying comedy at the Mira, you are also assisting to restore this beautiful theatre which is inextricably linked to Vallejo and Mare Island history! The Mira Theatre Guild has been in existence since 1947; the Bay Terrace Theatre was built as a school in 1920 and became Mira’s home in 1963.
And if you aren’t a comedy fan, please take advantage of Vallejo’s wonderful Symphony, also performing this evening: details here.
COMEDY NIGHT: “Come Laugh At Our Expense”
Bay Terrace Theatre Saturday, January 9, 2010 8:00 pm (Doors open at 7:30 pm) 51 Daniels Avenue, Vallejo General Admission $12.00 (Members $10.00) Advance Ticket Sales: www.BrownPaperTickets.com/event/92476 Free parking available in theatre's own parking lot Reservations call: 707 552-0400 A Mira Theatre Guild Presentation - www.miratheatreguild.org |
Come Laugh at Our Expense