Saturday, May 21, 2011

Producing Your Own Live Show Gives You Gray Hair

My podcast Bullsnap decided to put on a live variety show for our one year anniversary. It sort of came about because we needed to raise money to buy more equipment for the show. So instead of just asking around for money, we decided to put on a show! Entertain the masses!

So on May 6th, we had our show at the Comedy Cabaret Northeast on the Boulevard. The weeks leading up to it was so stressful. People backing out without telling me, people being late to the show, people not memorizing their lines (myself included). In my defense, I was worried about everyone learning their lines so bad, that I couldn't concentrate on mine.

This is the flyer we made for the show.


This is Dan and Eric rehearsing their lines outside by the dumpster.


My mom representing the 'Snap.


The "backstage" area. Which was pretty much just an empty kitchen they don't use anymore.


We opened the show with a song that Kim wrote called Jersey Girls. Which is a parody of Katy Perry's California Girls. Since the original singer backed out, 2 days before the show we got Beckie's friends Steph and Lauren to memorize the lyrics and dress up like Jersey girls. Things got a little messed up with starting the music on time and remembering the lyrics. We had to start the song over again. Needless to say, I was shitting bricks watching this all unfold. I kept thinking the crowd is sitting there wondering what the hell they got themselves in to.


So I got up after the song was over and said hello. Loosened up the crowd a bit and told them what they were in for (if they already didn't know).


I brought up the first comedian, Dan Scully. I'm glad I put him on in the beginning because he knows how to energize a crowd. Plus he's always been a part of my huge milestones in my comedy career. So of course I wanted him there for this. And he's been on the podcast a bunch of times, so it's like he's a part of the BS family.


In between the stand up, I wanted the group that I am in, IdRatherBeHere Productions, do some of our new sketches we're working on for this year's Wawapalooza. The first one was called Same Ole, Same Ole about people at the water cooler at work talking about the same old stuff. The girls in our group couldn't make it to the show, so I had my comedian friend Joanne Filan stand in for the girl parts. She did so awesome!


I did my monologue/sketch called Becky Rosenblatt's Yet To Be Titled Vlog. I had a blast doing it so I can't wait to do it for the Fringe show this year.



Then Joanne came on and did her stand up. My mom personally loved her bird poop joke that she did. Good job Joanne!!


Here's me setting up the mics. Working my butt off!


Dan and Eric did their sketch Keep Comin Back about a guy talking to a therapist about his fascination with keeping his cat under his shirt.


The last sketch was called Guys Named Floyd about a creeper guy talking to a girl in a laundromat. The ending made the audience roar with laughter and applause. It was so amazing!


Kim and I went up to introduce the drag queen. The plan was for me to look like a hot mess and then have the real drag queen come out all crazy and fierce. It worked.


It's Mizz Pola Frost!! She stole the show.



She sang happy birthday to my dad. He was so embarrassed but I think he secretly loved it.



After she tore the house down, I went on and did my stand up. My favorite shows are the ones that are full of family and friends. They are the best audience!


We had Pola come back on (after her costume change) and pick the winner of the 50/50. She also did her 2nd number, which was just as hilarious as the 1st!


After the show, we realized it was success and all the hard work and stress paid off.



I wouldn't let Pola leave without a quick goodbye squeeze.



Thank you to my cousin Bill Lemke who took these amazing pictures.