D3B features a group of eclectic and talented
comedians. They don’t take themselves too seriously and they
are seriously funny. Read on for some profiles.
2008
Stacy Yannetty
Stacy
Yannetty started doing standup comedy in Boston and has expanded into
clubs in LA, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Houston and is a regular at
the Riviera Comedy Club in Las Vegas. Stacy has competed in several competitions and festivals including the Boston Comedy Festival and has worked with Joan Rivers. She also worked for Norwegian Cruise Lines in a comedy duo.
Her theatre credits include "That Takes Ovaries", "Isnt It Romantic" by Wasserstein, "Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You" and "The Actors Nightmare" both by Chris Durang, The Minute Play Festival at the Stuart Street Playhouse in Boston, "Lovers and Other Stragers"
by Joseph Bologna and Renee Taylor, among other modern plays, one-acts
and commercials. When home, Stacy can be seen regularly at Nick's Comedy Stop in Boston, Giggles in Saugus and the Comedy Connection in East Providence, RI.
In Her Own Words...
When did you fall
in love with the art of comedy?
My husband put me
on stage at The Comedy Vault [in Boston];
I didn't have anything prepared; and I hadn't written anything; I wasn't even
an aspiring comic; but being a painter, a writer and amateur playwright .
.it interested me.I didn't go up again until a year later, when
I thought I had written something worthy of trying out.
What was the
strangest show you have ever done?
A sushi joint in Hollywood.
Talk about a time
you fell down in public.
The only thing
that comes to mind is falling forward and landing flat on my stomach on roller
blades. I am a figure skater so when you
get me on blades; if I start fooling around.. there are teeth in the front of
figure skates that stop you if you go forward with your weight; those same
teeth do not exist on blades. I just
remember it was painful - my stepdaughter was laughing... and I was thinking
I'll get her back later...
Sandy Asai
Using
a deadpan delivery, combined with a riveting view of the world and
extotice appearance, Sandy keeps the audience wondering what will come
next. In just over five years she has worked every major room in Boston.
Besides performing regularly at the Comedy Studio in Cambridge, The Comedy Connection, Nick's Comedy Stop, Dick Doherty's Comedy Vault, and Emerald Isle, Sandy has enchanted students and faculty at Harvard University, Northeastern University and Wellesley College, and has been a hit at Cambridge Fringe Festival and Boston Comedy Festival.
In Her Own Words...
When did you fall in love with the art of comedy?
I fell in love with the art of comedy when my
father first cracked me up as a child. It was the best feeling in the world to
laugh, and he did it with such simplicity. What a great thing!
What was the
strangest show you have ever done?
The strangest show I have ever done is the first time my mother came to see
my show. It is, to me, kind of like inviting my mother to sit in my room and
listen while I chat with my friends.
Talk
about a time you fell down in public.
I do it often. It is always so
dynamic, I crack me up. People around me a horrified, though. They are so nice.
Deb Farrar-Parkman
The Boston
Globe calls her “one of the most consistently inventive
performers” on the Boston comedy scene. A storyteller
who pontificates on the circumstances that we endure in life, Deb spent the
major part of her professional career in television production. The co-founder
and producer of ColorStruck: Women of Color in Comedy, she has performed in
First Night and has been featured in
Boston Magazine’s Best in Boston Comedy edition on up
and coming comedians in the area.
Her TV appearances include Lifetime’s
Girls Night Out, WCVB's (ABC) Chronicle and Cityline, and
WBZ’s (CBS) Women’s View. She will be featured in an upcoming national
documentary film, Kolorgirlz, about women comics who have used the stage
as a major vehicle for overcoming traumatic experiences in their lives. Deb is
also an Emmy-award winning freelance documentary producer who has
performed with: Tony V (of HBO’s The Brotherhood), Jimmy Tingle (CBS
60 Minutes II), Louis CK (HBO’s Lucky Louie) Patrice O’Neal
(Comedy Central’s Tough Crowd With Colin Quinn), and Michael Winslow
(Police Academy films), among others.
In Her Own Words...
When did you fall in love with the art of comedy?
After working as a writer and field producer on
a limited-run series of women’s comedy specials for WGBH TV and the Lifetime
Network more than 10 years ago, my interest in comedy was rekindled. All those
vivid memories came flooding back to me of being a kid and watching all the late
greats: Richard Pryor, Moms Mabley and George Carlin and laughing hysterically,
yearning to do what they did. I’ve always known that I wanted to do stand-up, but I
was afraid to put myself out there like that, to be that bold and daring. Then I
had an epiphany: I’m 99.9 % more likely to die of a heart attack or cancer
than I am of embarrassment, so I decided to give it a shot.
What was the strangest show you have ever done?
It was a
birthday party for an 80-year-old woman. All of her family were there. Young
children were running around the place. There were 3 of us slated to perform.
One freaked out when he saw the kids and refused to perform because he didn't
have any kid friendly material. The other person was the booker so he made me
bite the bullet as in go first, which, as it turned out worked really well for
me. I did a 10-minute set, just before the kids got too
rambunctious and started making a lot of noise. Then an argument broke out at
the table nearest the stage in the middle of the next comic's set. Apparently
someone in the family had died recently and you know how families get about
'loved ones' wordly possessions.' It was wild. My husband's family is always
trying to get me to do comedy during one of their family reunions and I always
think of that birthday party, shudder and say, 'I don't think
so.'
Talk about a time
you fell down in public
It
was about 4 years ago, the afternoon before Christmas Eve
and because Christmas is the season to be rushing, I decided to
run across the street in Coolidge Corner. I made it
across the street, but tripped hard over the curb and went flying
smack dab into the side of a building, a brick building. I was so
embarassed, I immediately jumped up and tried to keep walking like
nothing happened even though everyone came over and asked me if I was
alright. I said I was fine, but by midnight I was in the
emergency room. The painkillers doctors gave me those first few days
sent me to another galaxy. I don't remember what they were, but I
do know I'll never take anything that strong again. Oh, sure they
helped ease the pain but I when I woke up Christmas
morning, I swear I saw the Easter Bunny and Santa Clause sneaking out
my back door!
2006
John is a great comedian.
Rick Younger
A
multi-talented Baltimore native, Rick started singing and acting at the
age of 4. He has made television appearances on BET's "Comic View" and
"Teen Summit", FOX's "30 Seconds to Fame", "It's Showtime at the
Apollo", and NBC's "Last Comic Standing". He most recent appearance on
TV has been in Verizon commercials.
Kelly
is animated, clever and full of sass. Sharing her life experiences in
the unique way that only she can, Kelly leaves audiences pleasantly
surprised by her candor. Kelly was featured in Boston Magazine's 2003
'Best of Boston' issue and has also had several appearances in the
Boston based magazine, the Improper Bostonian. Kelly was first runner
up in the 2003 Comedy Central Laugh Riots Semi-Final Competition in
Boston and will be appearing this fall on Comedy Central’s Premium
Blend. You may also recognize Kelly from season one of NBC's newest hit
reality series, The Biggest Loser. Catch her unforgettable act at
comedy clubs and theaters from Boston to New York!
In Her Own Words
Funniest show you have done?
I did a show in NH last spring. It was outside and we told jokes on a
flatbed trailer. The person who was up before me had bats around her
head. I just sat there watching these black shadows dive at her head
for 20 minutes. When it was my turn, I found myself talking really low
in a deep voice, and I tried not to move to much.
Most embarrassing fashion moment?
I tucked my skirt into my tights once. It was the middle of winter and
I had a long coat on. I went into a meeting, removed my coat and my
whole backside was exposed. I just untucked, shook my skirt out and sat
down. Graceful.
Last community service project? I did a triathlon in July. All the
proceeds went to breast cancer research.
Mugga
is a seasoned professional comedian. A "true to life" Brooklyn girl,
Mugga's comedy talent has taken her around the world (Italy, Germany,
Caribbean) to the hottest comedy clubs. Here in the States, Mugga is a
regular at The Comedy Store, Boston Comedy Club, Caroline's, The Comic
Strip to mention a few.
Film: The Interpreter, Something's Gotta Give, The Arrangement, Jungle Fever
Television: Chris Rock Show, Def Comedy Jam, Showtime At The Apollo, Comic View.
Steve Donovan
This
local 104.5 FM WXLO funny man gets paid to make people laugh not only
on the Zito and Jen Morning Show, but also as a stand-up comedian.
Steve was born and raised in Malden, MA, then headed off to Syracuse
University. After graduating, Steve briefly came home to teach junior
high school but then returned to NY to break into the comedy scene.
Steve earned a regular spot performing at New York’s The Comic Strip,
famous for alums like Jerry Seinfeld, Adam Sandler, and Chris Rock to
name a few. The rest is as they say, history…
In His Own Words
Funniest show I have done?
When I was in the third grade, I had a "show", involving my playing the
accordion. Yes, the accordion. The idea that the sounds I was making
could be considered "music" is funnier than any joke I could ever
write.
Most embarrassing fashion moment?
This was a moment that was embarrassing for some; I was pretty proud of
it, myself. My friend on the west coast wanted to go on a cruise for
his 30th birthday (last March). It was a three day cruise, one day of
which was spent at sea. The weather that day was overcast and 60
degrees. Everyone else onboard (all from the west coast) thought it was
unbelievably cold. Coming from Worcester, I was psyched and spent the
entire day (24 hours) in my bathrobe. God Bless America.
Last Community Service project?
We're pretty community-minded here at the Zito & Jen Morning Show
(my day job). The big ticket item every year is a fundraiser for breast
cancer research held every October (Breast Cancer Awareness Month).
This year's will be the 4th Annual "Raise for a Cure" - where I'm stuck
on the roof of the Rotman's Building until we hit our fundraising goal.
Last year, it was in the neighborhood of $30K. That's a nice
neighborhood.
