Sketches! Or It Didn’t Happen
ACT 1
We Have No Idea What’s Coming Next
written by Tom Chalmers
American Shoppers
written by Carin Metzger, directed by Julia Christgau
featuring Carin Metzger, Joe Carroll, and George Awad
for full credits, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJqJ1QWKf5U
World’s Greatest Jazzman
written by Matt Wilson
Your Ancestry
written by Marlene Thompson
Garrett's Kitchen
written by Joe Carroll, directed by Julia Christgau
Job Interview
written by Linda Azar
A Splash of Doubt
written by Tom Chalmers
Garrett's Kitchen
written by Joe Carroll, directed by Julia Christgau
Cry Baby Shower
written by Linda Azar
INTERMISSION
ACT 2
Welcome Back
written by Marlene Thompson
Opening Soon
written by Linda Azar
The Iggy Wiggies
written by Joe Carroll
Regular Person Press Conference
written by Matt Wilson
Zoom for Cats
written by Nora Tramm, directed by Julia Christgau
Murder Hornets
written by Julia Christgau
I, Karen
written by Marlene Thomspon, video directed by Julia Chirstgau
Garrett's Kitchen
written by Joe Carroll, directed by Julia Christgau
Scare Warning
written by Tom Chalmers
Director's Note
When Katie Jones and George Awad sat down with me outside Summit Coffee House many months ago and asked me to direct a sketch comedy show for The Magnetic, I was excited. Directing sketch comedy is what I did in my glory days in New York City, shaping a weekly show as Director of Groundlings East/Gotham City Improv. But I was also immediately anxious. Not only is comedy not pretty, it's not easy, it's not tidy, and it's not very forgiving. Comedy is either funny or not. There are no participation trophies for comedy.
So for the show to be good, I would need to make a series of good decisions. My first good decision was to ask Carmela Caruso to act as my writers' assistant and director's assistant. She was in search of an internship and I was in search of a shepherd for the many assorted details that amass in making a show like this. None of what you are seeing would be what it is without her Herculean assistance. Next was to tap three talented performers who can also craft comedy to occupy my writers room; Linda Azar, Joe Carroll, and Marlene Thompson. And then I increased my chances for success by adding Matt Wilson as a writer and Julia Christgau as writer/producer. After a month of writing and rewriting much of the show, I wisely added three more wonderful actors, Ana-Alicia Carroll, Chris Mako, and Devan Stevens, to create an interesting mix of six.
One more good idea was to seek out other good ideas for the show so I asked Nora Tramm to submit a script that she had created in my Comedy Writing Class, and asked Carin Metzger if we could use a video that she wrote and stars in alongside Joe Carroll, that was directed by Julia.
I am used to doing sketch comedy in small cabaret spaces and on the sets of other shows as part of a late-night series. What a good decision to work with The Magnetic who provided promotional materials and a brand new projector and props and costumes and, yes, our very own set in a straight-up theater..
They also gave this show the gift of Abby Auman, our brilliant board operator. How nice to work with someone with such instincts and experience and patience (when dealing with a perfectionist like me).
So I am still excited and anxious. Not an agonized worry, just a nervous hopefulness that all the elements can come together as planned to put on a show that speaks in some way to the challenging year (or more) that many of us went through, and makes people laugh a lot. That was the idea.
Thank Yous
George Awad, Josh Batenhorst, Mondy Carter, Cheyenne Dancy, David Gwaltney, Jessica Johnson, Tyler Johnson, Katie Jones, Carin Metzger, Miss Tippin, Nora Tramm, and Lady T.
I would also like to thank Rodney Smith and the many others who helped carve the path for original comedy here at The Magnetic with shows like the "Crimes and Missed Demanings" series, The SuperHappy Radio Hour, the "How-to" series, "The Bernstein Family Christmas," and going all the way back to "Magnetic Midnite" and even Reasonably Priced Babies over at the original Magnetic across the street.
Director
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Tom Chalmers
Tom Chalmers (director/writer) is delighted to have the chance to direct a sketch comedy show again. Many moons ago, Tom was the Artistic Director of Groundlings East/Gotham City Improv where he directed a weekly comedy review in New York City. He started his comedy journey as a founding member of Six Milks, Columbia University's student improv troupe. Along with The Groundlings, Tom has studied with Second City, Improv Olympic (with Del Close himself), and The Upright Citizens Brigade. In Asheville, Tom starred for several years as Crumpet in David Sedaris' "The Santaland Diaries." He also wrote and performed in the annual sketch comedy show, "Sottch Tomedy," with Scott Bunn. He teaches at Warren Wilson College, the Flatiron Writers Room, Magnetic U, and The Asheville School of Improv (which he started). He is host and producer of the long-running monthly storytelling series, "Listen to This." He is a member of Asheville's premier improv comedy troupe, Reasonably Priced Babies. And you can hear Tom on AshevilleFM 103.3 where he co-hosts a sports talk radio show, called "Steve Sax Syndrome," Wednesdays from 7-8pm. Let's do that again but faster and funnier.
Actors & Writers
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Linda Azar
Linda Azar is a jewelry artist and health coach living in Asheville, NC. She has written and directed numerous short films, and has participated in the Asheville 48 hour Film Fest. More recently, she has studied improv and comedy writing with Tom Chalmers. You can see her locally either selling jewelry at craft shows, or hanging out in nature with her partner Jim and their little dog, Kaiju.
Julia Christgau
Julia Christgau is an award winning filmmaker, actor, teaching artist and musician. She was born and raised in New York City and relocated to the Southeast in 2017. She currently has three film projects in the festival circuit that have garnered nominations for multiple awards in various categories both in the U.S. and abroad. She is currently in development for her first feature length project. Theatrically, Julia most recently played Lady Macbeth and Rose in the The Flick with The Warehouse Theatre in Greenville, SC, Mercutio in The American Myth Center’s Ballad of R and J and Phoebe (etc) with NC Stage in their premier Shakespeare tour of As You Like It. She would like to thank her partner, Christopher, and their two dogs, Ida and Opie, for their continued love and support.
Matt Wilson
When Matt Wilson isn't writing comedy sketches, he's an author, editor and podcaster. His books include The Supervillain Handbook and Supreme Villainy from Skyhorse Publishing; he wrote the graphic novels Everything Will Be Okay and Copernicus Jones: Robot Detective; his podcasts are War Rocket Ajax and Movie Fighters. When he was a kid, he wanted to be a game show host, and he clings to the notion that you're never too old to achieve your dreams.
Devan Stevens
Devan is just “thrilled” to have emerged from the pandemic more jaded, cynical, and disgusted by the human race than ever before. Before the whole world went to shit, he was in a handful of shows that you probably have never heard of and you definitely didn’t come see. You can catch him performing his original, one-man musical titled, “I’m a big strong boy and well-liked by everybody” nightly in the bathroom shower of his studio apartment, which he is considering starting an Onlyfans to be able to afford. Thanks to Tom, Carmela, and the whole cast and writing team for letting him use the rehearsal process as the free therapy he so desperately needs.
Marlene Thompson
Born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, Marlene Thompson is an improviser, a stand up and an actor residing in Asheville, NC. She moved to the mountains in 2015 from Chicago, where she studied improv and sketch at the Second City Conservatory and iO Chicago. She’s a founding member of and performer with several local improv troupes and teaches with Asheville Improv Collective. She also produces the YouTube political comedy show, From the Ashes with Marlene Thompson. You can catch her all around town doing stand-up.
Ana Alicia Carroll
Ana has been involved with her local community theatre both onstage and behind the scenes in the Bahamas. Since moving to the US, she has worked with The Magnetic Theatre, the Montford Park Players, and HART, as well as various training videos and voiceovers.
Chris Mako
Chris Mako is faking it for this entire show. He fooled Tom Chalmers into casting him by using an old trick he learned from a carny. Sure he used to do things like this a couple of decades ago but these days if you want to talk to him about something he really knows about ask him about his garden or his work as a real estate agent with Town & Mountain Realty. It is his hope that you will read this bio after the show and not before.
PHOTOS by CHEYENNE DANCY
GALLERY
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THE MAGNETIC THEATRE STAFF
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR…………….….. KATIE JONES
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR……………. JESSICA JOHNSON
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR…………... ABBY AUMAN
BOX OFFICE MANAGER…………. TIPPIN
MARKETING MANAGER…………. CHEYENNE DANCY
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
GEORGE AWAD
ELIZABETH MCCORVEY
CARIN METZGER
JASON PHILLIPS
JOSH SULLIVAN
ELIZABETH ZIEGLER