SF Sketchfest 2017

From the bar to the boardroom, a well-told tale makes the best impression. The Story Studio’s "Wow Your Crowd" workshop, taught by Kevin Allison, provides students with the tools to grab listener's attention, appeal to their emotions and maybe even inspire their action. Kevin creates a friendly, social environment in which you can rehearse your work and receive feedback. You'll learn how to include the 6 Senses to trigger emotional responses. You'll master the 5 Beats of classic story structure. And you'll learn how to drive a narrative arc toward a resonant end. Your audience will remember the ideas conveyed in your story long after you have gone. This workshop is an overview of some of the tools and principles taught by Kevin Allison in his 6-week storytelling class at The Story Studio in New York City.

Kevin Allison is the creator of the live storytelling podcast RISK!, and a member of the legendary comedy troupe The State, known for their series on MTV. He has appeared in "Reno 911!," VH1’s "Best Week Ever," Comedy Central’s "Viva Variety" and "Stella," and HBO’s "Flight of the Conchords." Kevin has written for The Village Voice, The New York Press, Film Journal and more. He has taught sketch comedy and cinema studies at The Peoples Improv Theater, The Philly Improv Theater and New York University. Kevin is the founder of The Story Studio, a school for storytelling.
$75

Story Pirates is a national troupe of actors, comedians, musicians, and teaching artists whose mission is to celebrate the words and ideas of young people. Founded in 2003 and dually based in New York and Los Angeles, Story Pirates is best known for its acclaimed creative writing programs, which have been profiled in Education Week, on NBC Nightly News, and on "The Today Show." Story Pirates regularly collaborate with top comedians and actors, such as Jon Stewart, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, John Oliver, Kristen Schaal, Sasheer Zamata, Nick Kroll, Aubrey Plaza, Josh Gad, and Ana Gasteyer. Cast members have performed in lead roles in major Broadway productions, often appear on television and film, publish books for young readers, and are on the writing staffs of television shows such as "Late Night with Seth Meyers," "Workaholics," "Saturday Night Live," and "The Daily Show."

The company’s acclaimed programs and professional development services for teachers are in place at over 350 schools from coast to coast, and their podcasts are heard by kids and adults around the world. $20

Hello! I’m Arnie. I fell through a magical dimensional portal behind a Burger King in Chicago and found myself in a strange magical land called “Foon.” I’m still somehow getting a weak wi-fi signal from the Burger King, so I host a weekly podcast from the tavern the Vermilion Minotaur, interviewing monsters, wizards and adventurers. There are worlds other than our own! $25

SOLD OUT --  Tickets may be available at the door night-of. See http://www.sfsketchfest.com/tickets/ for info. 

SF Sketchfest favorite Tig Notaro is a standup comedian, storyteller, and writer originally from Mississippi. Tig writes, produces, and stars in the semi­autobiographical Amazon comedy series "One Mississippi.” Her memoir, "I'm Just A Person," released this year through Harper Collins Publishing, is a New York Times Bestseller. Tig received an Emmy nomination for her HBO stand­up special  "Boyish Girl Interrupted." Her Netflix Original documentary, "TIG," premiered to critical acclaim and is available for streaming. In 2013, Tig was nominated for a Grammy Award for her standup release, "LIVE," which sold over 100,000 units in just six weeks. Tig will be joined in conversation with Jen Kirkman, followed by an audience Q & A during this special SF Sketchfest event. $25

This workshop has been canceled. Refunds will be processed, or enrollment transferred to the either of the morning sessions. We apologize for the inconvenience.

From the bar to the boardroom, a well-told tale makes the best impression. The Story Studio’s "Wow Your Crowd" workshop, taught by Kevin Allison, provides students with the tools to grab listener's attention, appeal to their emotions and maybe even inspire their action. Kevin creates a friendly, social environment in which you can rehearse your work and receive feedback. You'll learn how to include the 6 Senses to trigger emotional responses. You'll master the 5 Beats of classic story structure. And you'll learn how to drive a narrative arc toward a resonant end. Your audience will remember the ideas conveyed in your story long after you have gone. This workshop is an overview of some of the tools and principles taught by Kevin Allison in his 6-week storytelling class at The Story Studio in New York City.

Kevin Allison is the creator of the live storytelling podcast RISK!, and a member of the legendary comedy troupe The State, known for their series on MTV. He has appeared in "Reno 911!," VH1’s "Best Week Ever," Comedy Central’s "Viva Variety" and "Stella," and HBO’s "Flight of the Conchords." Kevin has written for The Village Voice, The New York Press, Film Journal and more. He has taught sketch comedy and cinema studies at The Peoples Improv Theater, The Philly Improv Theater and New York University. Kevin is the founder of The Story Studio, a school for storytelling.
$75

Wild Horses is a long form improv show that will make you feel the breeze of the American frontier ruffle your mane, in addition to laughing. $22

SOLD OUT --  Tickets may be available at the door night-of. See http://www.sfsketchfest.com/tickets/ for info. 
 

Hosts Howard "WieWie" Kremer & Kulap "KuKu" Vilaysack bring the charts of the week to Cobb’s Comedy Club for a rare San Francisco taping of Who Charted? Learn what is hitting in music and movies, and get to know some of your favorite comedians with games like Chart Roulette. With surprise special guests! $25

Join hosts Paco Romane and George Chen for a special FREE event with panelists Cory Sklar, Emily Van Dyke, and Frankie G. as we screen the hilarious and short documentary "Memorial Day 2000" and then turn the mics on for our panel to dissect, debate and discuss with hilarious results. Sup Doc interviews interesting guests about their favorite documentaries and the result are often hilarious and revealing. Past guests include Todd Glass, Emily Heller, Chris Thayer, David Gborie, Jesse Thorn, Esther Ku, Stephen Lynch, Megan Koester, Rodney Ascher and many more!  

Digital Journal had this to say, “Sup Doc a brilliant idea and to say that Sup Doc is a one-of-a-kind podcast is not an exaggeration". Free

SF Sketchfest is proud to present a series of shows with some of the best emerging sketch, improv, solo and musical comedy acts from throughout the country and North America! $15

Remember The Alamo -- and the time that you saw SF Sketchfest take over House 5 for a series of stand-up comedy showcases with some of the best emerging joke tellers in the nation! And a few from Canada, too. $15

Due to illness, Joe Nguyen is no longer appearing. Red Scott has been added. 

Comedian Doug Benson ("Super High Me" and Comedy Central's "The Benson Interruption") hosts a podcast where he talks to his hilarious special surprise guests about his first love…movies! To have a chance at winning some prizes, bring a movie themed name tag! $25

What can you expect from the I Seem Fun podcast? Well, comedian and author Jen Kirkman sits in bed, talks to you-- well, into a microphone -- about what's on her mind. It’s an improvised monologue that weaves random small observations into sometimes bigger stories about her past, her present and just unfiltered thoughts about anything from her life to what’s happening in the world. It’s sometimes funny, sometimes poignant and always random.

“What makes I Seem Fun; The Diary of Jen Kirkman Podcast funny is Kirkman’s inherent knack for cultivating conflict even talking into a microphone in a room by herself. Whether she’s dissecting a negative iTunes review from an angry Christian or seriously considering a class action suit against Robin Thicke for being gross, Kirkman is eternally embattled but she tempers her cynicism with sweetness and, more often than not, she’s right. ” — The AV Club
$25 21+

Recently named 2016 "Best Comedy Show" by East Bay Express, "Man Haters" features the funniest women and queer comics in the Bay Area. Plus one token queer dude (inspired by the many comedy shows that feature just one token woman). Hosted and produced by queer comics Ash Fisher and Irene Tu, with guests Nicole Blaine, Lauren Davis, Jane Harrison, Andrew Johnston, Nina Manni and Melissa Stephens. $15

After sold out shows for their previous Great Debates at Sketchfest, Ms. Ilyse Mimoun and Mr. Matt Price continue their ten-year old feud with their latest debate about the beloved film Revenge of the Nerds. With studied deference to truth, justice, (and possibly a medley from Les Miz), Price and Mimoun will plumb the depths of Lewis and Gilbert's psyches, jumping fearlessly into topics such as “Sex, Lies & Videotape,” “Ogre’s Lament,” and “The National Tri-Lams Don’t Give a Fuck.” Are the Tri-Lams brave pioneers of Silicon Valley or sexual predators with bifocals? Is the Omega Mu sorority a safe haven for future Hillary Clintons, or merely a sad repository for neglected nerdettes?

As always, the lucky audience chooses the debate topics each night with new topics added on the second night! In conclusion...are you ready for the sex, girls? Scratch that. Are you ready for the truth, America? $18

IFC, home of “Always On Slightly-Off” comedy, and SF Sketchfest present a showcase with some of the best up-and-coming sketch comedy groups hosted by Jamie Denbo (“Ronna & Beverly”) and Seth Morris ("Comedy Bang! Bang!"). With sets from local legends Kasper Hauser, Blade Brown (Los Angeles), Dawson's Queef (Phoenix), Naptime (San Francisco), and The Templeton Philharmonic (Toronto).

Due to a change in her schedule, Jessica Chaffin will no longer be appearing. Seth Morris has been added. 

Awards, awards, and more awards. Three of the most awarded magicians Sketchfest could afford. Three completely different styles of magic in one show. From the curious and uncanny magic of Christian Cagigal, to the friendly con-artistry of Robert Strong, to the crazy and cool inventions of trickster Eric Buss. Over 75 years of combined experience crammed into 75 minutes of laugh out loud comedy, amazing magic, and interactive mysteries of the mind. $20