My First Sketch

This week, Josh talks to Alexis Howland (Cups and a Half and Fezziwig) about driving five hours to go to a mall, balancing two groups, and enrolling in an improv class on an impulse. See Fezziwig at PHIT August 10, 11, 17, and 18. Alexis’s new PHIT improv team will debut September 6. Cups and a Half heads to the She Makes Me Laugh Femme Fest 2017 at the People’s Improv Theater on September 16. Check out Wild: A Clown Western during Philly Fringe Festival. Philly Sketchfringe takes place September 15 with three shows at the Playground at the Adrienne.

This week, Josh talked to The Incredible Shrinking Matt and Jacquie during Philly Podfest about being comfortable with reactions that aren’t laughter, making videos, and passing on what they’ve learned in comedy. See The Flat Earth July 27 and 28 and August 3 and 4 at PHIT. Then head to Good Good Comedy to catch Jacquie hosting One Minute Monologues on July 29 at 7pm and The Incredible Shrinking Matt and Jacquie with Hot Raw Fire on August 5 at 10pm.

This week, Josh talks to Alex Pearlman (@alexpearlman) about moving to New Mexico, being allowed to fail, and not getting a laugh for a year. Alex will be a panelist on What’s My Line at Good Good Comedy this Friday, July 21st at 7pm. Tickets are $5 and available at goodgoodcomedy.com. Alex can also be heard on the podcast Them Boys. Come see the live My First Sketch at Philly Pod Fest this Sunday at 430pm at PHIT’s Second Stage. Tickets are available at myfirstsketch.com/july23.

This week, Josh talks to Abigail Bruley (Down the Show) about Buster Keaton, recovering from a major car accident in Central America, and why Iowa shouldn’t be so picky. Follow Abigail’s all-female filmmaking group and their upcoming projects at facebook.com/femmeflash or on Instagram at @femme_flash_films. My First Sketch live with the Incredible Shrinking Matt and Jacquie on Jul 23rd at 430pm at Philly Improv Theater’s Second Stage. $5 tickets are available at myfirstsketch.com/july23.

This week, Josh talks to Max Sittenfield (The Worst Generation, Shark Tank: The Final Episode) about learning major life lessons while playing a dog, the bottled water industrial complex, and parodies outliving their sources. See Shark Tank: The Final Episode on July 7 and 8 at 7pm at Good Good Comedy. Go to goodgoodcomedy.com/sharktank for more info and tickets. Come to My First Sketch live during Philly Pod Fest on July 23 at 430pm at PHIT’s Second Stage with special guests The Incredible Shrinking Matt and Jacquie. Audio warning: the interview portion of this episode has some static issues; sincere apologies in advance.

This week, Josh talks to Mike Butler talk about MST3K, college improv, and going one for seven in auditions. See Mike and the rest of Adventure Friends along with Goat Rodeo at Philly Improv Theater on June 22 and 23. Both shows are at 830, and tickets are available at phitcomedy.com. My First Sketch Live during Philly Pod Fest featuring the Incredible Shrinking Matt and Jacquie on July 23 at 430pm at PHIT’s Second Stage. Tickets available at myfirstsketch.com/july23.

This week, Josh talks to Mike DiEva about their time together learning from Kevin Allison, their time together in Judo Range, and some other stuff. There will be a live My First Sketch during Philly Pod Fest at PHIT’s Second Stage on July 23 at 430pm. The guests will be The Incredible Shrinking Matt and Jacquie. Tickets available at myfirstsketch.com/july23.

This week, Josh talks to Marissa Edelman about working with her brother, growing up on Monty Python, and Blackadder Season 4, Episode 6. Marissa can be seen next as The Amazing Flying Edelmen present The Decline of Western Culture on June 10 at 7pm with Trigger Warning opening. Tickets available at goodgoodcomedy.com. Then, Gimmick Show returns to PHIT on June 17 at 1030pm. The Edelmen will also be performing at Couples Skate at PHIT on June 22 and 29, both of those at 9pm. Tickets for those three shows are available at phitcomedy.com. And My First Sketch with The Incredible Shrinking Matt and Jacquie at Philly Pod Fest on PHIT's Second Stage on July 23 at 430pm.

This week, Josh talks to Brian Durkin about podcasting as the goal, not being the next Craig Laban, and the Guess Who forums. Also, Josh admits he doesn’t get Mystery Science Theater 3000, but he loves Cutthroat Kitchen. Head to fullbellylaughs.com for more on the intersection of food and comedy, and go to a live Full Belly Laughs recording at Philly Improv Theater on June 8 at 730pm on the Second Stage.

This week, Josh talks to Matt Jay about quitting Judo Range or being fired from Judo Range or getting ghosted by Judo Range. Josh couldn’t remember. But really, we also talk about being raised on television, how improv can be easier than sketch, and starting a YouTube channel. Watch Matt’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/cartoons101. See Josh perform at One Minute Monologues Saturday, May 27, at 7pm at Good Good Comedy. See a live My First Sketch during Philly PodFest on July 23 at 430pm with special guests, The Incredible Shrinking Matt & Jacquie.

This week, Josh talks to Andrea Duffy (Fezziwig, Sarah and Andrea Should Smile) talks about being on the radio, her therapist talking her into taking improv classes, and her grandmother’s hilarious funeral. See Andrea with Fezziwig on May 18 and 19 at 830pm at Philly Improv Theater or at the Sunday Improv Jam every Sunday at PHIT at 830pm or with Clamor of Harpies. Listen to Andrea on the Sarah and Andrea Should Smile podcast or every weekday from 9am to 2pm on More FM 101.1 in Philadelphia.

This week, Josh talks to Matt Aukamp about Two Mustaches, The Win Show, and Hey, We’re Cool, not to mention Josh’s continuing obsession with Lil Lord Fauntleroy. See How to Be Bad at D&D at the Philly Ren Faire at Fort Mifflin on May 13, 14, 20, and 21. Check out phillyrenfaire.com for more information. And Dungeon Palz returns to Good Good Comedy on May 31st. Tickets are available at goodgoodcomedy.com.

This week, Josh talks to Ian Fletcher (Jon and Ian Have Something to Tell You) about Temple Smash, Tony Shalhoub, and spiteful teachers. Jon and Ian Have Something to Tell You head to Montreal Sketchfest this Sunday, May 7, and Codename Bacchus will debut May 11, 12, 18, and 19 at Philly Improv Theater. Watch episodes of Temple Smash at vimeo.com/templesmash.

This week, Josh talked to Chris Sandiford (@ohchris) and Daniel Carin (@danielcarin) from the Montreal-based sketch duo, Ladies and Gentlemen, about American elections, the Red Green Show, and the fringe show that started it all. Go to myfirstsketch.com to get a link to their YouTube channel. This episode is live from Philly Sketchfest 2017.

This week, Josh talks to Chris McGrail (Goat Rodeo) about starting as a standup, their time together in Judo Range, and Stuart Smalley. You can see Chris in Locked in Julia’s Basement at Philly Sketchfest on Thursday, April 20th at 7pm at the Playground at the Adrienne. Tickets for that show (and every other Philly Sketchfest show) are available at ticketfly.com. Don’t forget about the live My First Sketch, Thursday, April 20th at 10pm.

This week, Josh talks to Eric Singel (The Waitstaff) about theater, characters with a hint of blasphemy, and Josh makes an idiot of himself when he doesn’t know what song comes from what musical. Eric Singel will star in Joan Crawford in Her Own Words during the 2017 Fringe Festival. For more information on the Waitstaff, check out facebook.com/thewaitstaff or thewaitstaff.com. Head to phillysketchfest.com for details on all the shows during Philly Sketchfest, April 19-23.

This week, Josh celebrates one year of My First Sketch by talking to Kevin Allison (The State, Risk!) about Harassment Cafe, the belly of the whale, and comfort with your own voice. Follow Kevin on Twitter at @thekevinallison. Risk! returns to Philadelphia on July 15 at World Cafe Live. Tickets are available now. Philly Sketchfest starts on April 19 with the Sketch Comedy Film Festival at the PSF Roxy Theatre and four nights of sketch comedy following, including a live My First Sketch. Go to phillysketchfest.com for more information.

This week, Josh talks to Molly Silverman about Bye Bye Birdie, Down The Show, and The Flat Earth. See the Flat Earth presents Hot Live Snakes at Philly Improv Theater on March 30th and 31st with Jon and Ian Have Something to Tell You and April 6th and 7th with House of Solitude. All shows are at 830pm. Tickets are available at phitcomedy.com. Then, The Flat Earth perform during Philly Sketchfest on Saturday April 22nd at 10pm at the Ruba Club. Tickets at ticketfly.com

This week, Josh talks to Samantha Russell (Secret Pants, Youth Large) about Keep Your Pants On, Secret Pants, and actors slowly changing their costumes. Youth Large returns to Philly Improv Theater, sharing the bill with Dog Mountain on March 23 and 24 at 830pm. Tickets are available at phitcomedy.com. We’re a month away from Philly Sketchfest, and if you would like to volunteer for an evening, head to phillysketchfest.com to give your info.

This week, Josh talks to Quinton J. Alexander (Adventure Friends and Bully!) about learning about criminal activity from Betty Rubble, renaissance fairs, and a lot of auditioning. Check out Quinton in Bully! presents Two Person Circus at L’Etage on Thursday, March 16 at 8pm, featuring Alejandro Morales, The Amazing Flying Edelmen, Max and Maggy, and Renaissance Noir. Tickets are available at brownpapertickets.com.