SneakyVarmint by Libby Ward

shakeytownradio: Shakeytown Radio: End of Year Three (1 hr, 10...

Tue, 07 May 2013 05:39:40 -0400

Shakeytown Radio: End of Year Three (1 hr, 10 min)

BFH, Gene & Libby close out the third year of the podcast - a season finale, if you will. As we approach our upcoming summer specials and the start of Shakeytown Year Four, the team looks back at the last year of interviews, tells stories about what happened off microphone, share their recent personal adventures away from the podcast, and chat on the usual tangents about politics, pop culture, and tortured segues and references.

Also, featuring the music of Timbre Timbre and Hickey.

Today! Check out 3 Woman, 1 Woman show starring Maren Lovgren,...

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 15:50:54 -0400

Today! Check out 3 Woman, 1 Woman show starring Maren Lovgren, Haley Lovegren and Kristin Schmitz! A brilliant sketch show that focuses on finding humor in being a woman (or three) in today’s society. Join them…this time in San Jose…for some fun, fabulousness, and Femor (that’s female humor).

Thursday, May 9th @ 8PM & Saturday, May 11th Presented @ ComedySportz 288 S. 2nd Street, San Jose

Tickets: $10 General Seating, available at the door To reserve, email: 3womanshow@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/events/294872513976655/

The gorgeous, talented and hilarious Maren is part of my Second City Chicago family. And I tell you, you haven’t lived until you’ve been a Minnesotan licking ice cream of Maren’s face at Second City! Characters…this girl has characters, accents, silliness and energy, on stage. In life…this girl has characters, accents, silliness and energy! Plus, she’s smart, kind and positive. I’d write this little fireball into anything just to have her around. Take note, Chicago friends…she’s coming back to you in June. <3

Girl trouble?

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:54:28 -0400

Tom Sawyer suggests “Kill the women? No-Nobody ever saw anything in the books like that. You fetch them to the cave, and you’re always as polite as pie to them; and by and by they fall in love with you and never want to go home any more.” Problem solved.

Today! Check out Noise-a-Tron with Lea and Jason Bledsoe! I can...

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:27:12 -0400

Today! Check out Noise-a-Tron with Lea and Jason Bledsoe! I can only describe this awesome husband/wife band as an epic music experience. They tour, they play, they party, they love. They have a show coming up in Seattle, Saturday May 18! Seattle Passive Aggressive Presents:
BORIS AFTERPARTY featuring NOISE-A-TRON, DJ Snakes McBlade (spinning a mix of doom, sludge, hardcore and punk) FREE 11pm Doors All Ages + Bar
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Noise-A-Tron/164982910181009
Use their FB and Twitter @noiseatron for show dates.
Find great music here: http://www.reverbnation.com/noiseatron
Or here: http://noise-a-tron.bandcamp.com/

I am most impressed with Jason and Lea’s incredible dedication to their music but moreover to leaning new techniques, sharing creative ideas and pushing their artistic limits. As many challenges as there are for artists (and we all know there are many), these two will always find a way to keep their music top priority. Besides, they are cheery, giving, fun friends and members of the Greenwood/Ballard community. They support other musicians, and artists of all media, by building a wonderfully creative symbiosis. If karma works the way it should…their supernova moment is coming soon.
(If you had to look any of that vocabulary up, it’s because there are no dull words to describe these two)!

Today! Check out Moby’s Coffee and Tea owned by Jennifer...

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 14:41:49 -0400

Today! Check out Moby’s Coffee and Tea owned by Jennifer Jackson and Patrick Higgins! The yummiest coffee beverages and chillest atmosphere in LA. Moby’s coffee is locally roasted and lovingly concocted with all organic and mostly local ingredients. They have smoothies, a wide variety of teas (Jennifer is an expert and can find you a tea for any need/preference), and bunches of specialty drinks including…The Shiny Squirrel! Oooooh. Jen and Patrick are the bestest! Knowledgeable, fun, and great community builders. Come by for Craft Night! Open Mic! Yoga! See the goings on here:
https://www.facebook.com/mobyscoffeeco?fref=ts

Jennifer and I maaaay have been separated at birth. Muppets?! Yaaaaay! We love them! Dinosaurs?! Raaaawr! We each have our own dinosaur mug kept at the shop. Marshmallow topped delicious coffee beverages of deliciousness? She makes ‘em, I drink ‘em. Match made in heaven. We Bar Trek (Nathan Pata), we drink at fancy cocktail joints (Like The Varnish, Niki Lindgren), we watch magic shows (Joel Ward). See how all my awesome friends are connected by a web of amazing creativeness?! Jen is also a brilliant make-up artist. Sometimes she makes me look pretty, sometimes she creates Universal Studios’ Whos, sometimes she turns men into monsters, and sometimes she glues bees to people’s faces. Who else does all those things?! No one. Waldorf, Statler, and I give her a, “Yay! She’s wonderful. She’s wonderful! Yaaay!”

Today! Check out the second of my Twofer 48 hour friends Jesse...

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 19:43:57 -0400

Today! Check out the second of my Twofer 48 hour friends Jesse Klein and Ben Parks! Two great friends with two great shows…(pssst they’re in both of them together). Today see both of them in Cakewalk at Second City. https://www.facebook.com/events/188430361308901/

Then! Go see them April 28th, in The Death Count Show presented by Handsome Dan, their regular (and awesome)! iO sketch team. Sunday 4/28, 7:30p, iO Mainstage, $5. Whooo!

Jesse has a super fun range of characters, shares my nerdy sense of humor and my penchant for collaboration. He’s a pleasure to have at table reads because he brings the commitment and the funny. He’s a pleasure to have a parties because he brings the beer and snacks. Jesse is lucky to have my same Second City intern job of keeping bums out of the theater. Do come to Second City. Don’t be a bum. Do see Jesse perform with Cakewalk AND Handsome Dan! :D

Today! and Tomorrow! Twofer 48 hour friends Jesse Klein and Ben...

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 18:26:15 -0400

Today! and Tomorrow! Twofer 48 hour friends Jesse Klein and Ben Parks! Two great friends with two great shows…(pssst they’re in both of them together). Today check out Ben Parks and Cakewalk, a kick-ass sketch show at Second City Tuesday! Tuesday! Tuesday! April 23, April 30, May 7 at 9pm! As if $5 wasn’t a sweet enough deal…FREE CUPCAKE with Second City ID! (Performing each night with a different guest team).

https://www.facebook.com/events/188430361308901/

Ben and I studied together at UCB and practiced and played on the independent team: Whoa! Dinosaurs! Great thing about Ben is that he can always be relied upon to show up AND “show up.” He can be counted on to be where you expect him and give 100% I’ve never seen him half-ass it which makes him a dynamic performer, character and pal. Come see

Cakewalk…it’ll be easy!…and fun!

Today! Check out the magic of Joel Ward! Master...

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 20:14:00 -0400

Today! Check out the magic of Joel Ward! Master prestidigitator…sometimes solo, sometimes with an assistant. ;) Joel tours all over the world, performs often at The Magic Castle and always amazes. My favorite thing about his shows is the inimitable Joel Ward style: hyper energetic, goofy, and always completely surprised by his own illusions…Whaaaat the fuuu?…maGIC!

This Sunday (4/21) a rare opportunity to see him in a show open the public: noon at The Madhouse Comedy Club San Diego $20 (and a charitable cause). http://www.autismtreeproject.org

Much to my dismay, after much early research, I have determined that my roommate is not actually a wizard. Though he can’t just snap his fingers and make the dishes disappear, he never leaves them in the sink. We can cooperatively share our orange juice supply and we’re great party co-hosts. This super fun dude has an affinity for 90s jams, surfing, and Bacardi Gold. He’s recently joined the Second City training center. AND, he ties his own bow tie! Whaat? Aaamaaazing!

Oh yeah! http://www.joelwardmagic.com/
and on Twitter @joelward
and his awesome Shakeytown Radio interview:
http://shakeytownradio.com/post/39906380232/shakeytown-new-year-2013-w-magician-joel-ward

Today! Check out the 30 Min Musical: Roadhouse with Dan Wessels!...

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 13:23:46 -0400

Today! Check out the 30 Min Musical: Roadhouse with Dan Wessels! As if Roadhouse could get better…well it did! A take on the 1989 film starring Patrick Swayze as a bouncer at a newly-refurbished roadside bar who protects a small town in Missouri from a corrupt businessman (while wearing very high-waisted jeans). Shorter and jauntier with original music co-written by Dan Wessels AND music direction by Dan. Dan forgot to call and tell me more so I assume he, too, will be wearing his pants up to his nipples. Get tickets to see that, here:

https://www.facebook.com/events/152116061614556/163836750442487/?ref=notif¬if_t=plan_mall_activity

Dan is also a musical director at Second City Hollywood, and a fun, smart, man-about-town. He’s an excellent party guest and relatively new in LA so go on…invite him over…corrupt him. And don’t let his seriously dapper facial hair fool you, this guy’s got jokes. :)

Today! Check out my most wonderful and greatly missed of...

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 14:56:22 -0400

Today! Check out my most wonderful and greatly missed of friends Tom Music…who Lymphoma killed, in a shady back alley, without remorse, today in 2011. Whilst I continue to be angry with Cancer in general, I’m highlighting Tom as my friend of the day so all can bask in his amazingness!

Here, check out “Winners Never Lose,” my favorite of his Toastmaster speeches and a mantra to live by:

http://youtu.be/JeVDQ6Ipg5A

Or, visit some community building and super fun websites he created:

http://obeythedecider.com/wa/seattle

http://haikoo.org

I love many things about Tom but a few things I especially love about him: the breadth of his vocabulary, his insatiable curiosity, his clever sense of humor, and the calm logic with which he approached all problems.

But wait! There’s more! I’ll keep it brief. I’d rather talk about Tom than the disease but I feel it would be unfair not to share the wonderfully funny and logical way that he dealt with it in this blog: www.lymphomartini.com (there’s a great video link here too).

To help save other people’s friends you can donate blood or platelets. To honor Tom and yourselves, you can create something amazing and share it with the world!…also, hug your friends! :D

FAIR DIG

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 21:48:33 -0400

FAIR DIG:

Brodie Foster Hubbard is a writer and musician who likes stories, vegan food, fitness, and an…

Today! Check out Fair Dig by Brodie Foster Hubbard! The Fair Dig zine and blog represents one kind and skinny man’s foray into Mixed Martial Arts. Trials, triumphs, and a whole lot of learning. Visit Brodie’s blog to explore his journey with him.

Brodie is also a vegan and now an avid fan of cross fit. In addition to being buff and healthy, he is an excellent singer/songwriter/guitarist. He is an avid promoter of music and zines and truly of the entire artistic community. Also a co-host and co-founder of The Shakeytown Radio Hour (http://shakeytownradio.com). He has a lovely wife, bunches of adorable critters; he is an incredibly gracious host, kindred spirit, and loving soul.

Today! Check out Imps the Relentless produced by Nathan Pata!...

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 19:52:01 -0400

Today! Check out Imps the Relentless produced by Nathan Pata! A Star Wars imperial empire satire: http://www.impstherelentless.com/tek9.asp

An epic documentary…of the best damn job in the galaxy. Curious how storm troopers feel about their jobs? Now you can find out! Nerdiness AND comedy?! Yes please!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxJ9ECMS8Us

Nathan is a master of Cosplay disguise. Traveling to cons all over the U.S. to delight and/or frighten fans. He’s a great imaginer of things and an even better executer of them…not one to let awesome ideas stay shelved. Nathan throws better parties (than even me)!…themed, clever, organized…and I love that I can count on his social circle to be my kind of people because they’re just like him! Sometimes Trekkies: www.Facebook.com/barfleetcommand

Today! Check out Makeda Coffee owned by Prashanthi Reddy! Best...

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 16:09:36 -0400

Today! Check out Makeda Coffee owned by Prashanthi Reddy! Best coffee in Seattle? Heck yes it is. Roasted locally by 7 Roasters. Not to mention my favorite community hang in Seattle. Makeda not only has delicious coffee, custom ice cream flavors for affogato, beer, wine, pastries…they also have awesomest baristas around, monthly rotated local art, and games to play on site. Check out their FB for hours, specials, events: https://www.facebook.com/MakedaCoffee?fref=ts

Prash is dedicated to quality over quantity, a trait I hold dear as well. She’s a wonderful listener and conversationalist, and always game for a fun adventure or social event. An avid dog lover, she has the cutest pal Mingus and welcomes furry pals to visit. She’s a brilliant fosterer of community. I miss hanging out with her and our Greenwood neighborhood friends around the shop…and reading our Free Will Astrology from The Stranger (she’s a fellow Cancerian). :)

Today! Check out There Will Be Snacks with Licia Shearer!...

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 20:09:57 -0400

Today! Check out There Will Be Snacks with Licia Shearer! Eight of LA’s most talented female writer-performers engaging in some serious girl-on-girl sketch comedy action. This sketch show of epic epicness will leave you begging, “Bitches, Please!” Show next Thursday 4/18 at Second City Hollywood. Check out their FB page for future dates!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/There-Will-Be-Snacks/552606711426951

Licia and I drop-in and play at iO and Second City…bunches of fun ‘cause this hilarious girl is so full of energy! Friendly, outgoing, and exciting…Licia starts the party anywhere she goes. I’m impressed by her rare blend of self-confidence and humility and always happy to have her around. :D

Today! Check out the comedy of Evan Berke! This hilarious...

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 18:15:29 -0400

Today! Check out the comedy of Evan Berke! This hilarious Charleston based comic performs every week, regularly hosting and headlining locally and booking gigs farther afield…recently at The Comic Strip, Neeeew Yooork City! For upcoming opportunities to laugh at this nutball check out his Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/evan.berke?fref=ts or Twitter @evanberke

A member of my Second City Chicago family, Evan is a great great great collaborator both on stage and in the writers’ room. I am in complete awe, however, of his incredible dedication to stand-up comedy and so inspired by his perseverance and his ability to always play “Evan.” His voice is unmistakeable and his stage presence is electrifying. I cannot stress enough my appreciation for his equal dedication to lifting up and supporting other artists. This guy! :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9d6I-Av1yg

Today! Check The Sunday Bash hosted by Kevin Mosteller and our...

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 21:29:43 -0400

Today! Check The Sunday Bash hosted by Kevin Mosteller and our mutual pals Kasey Needham and Mishal Samman. ;) A weekly improv play, share, learn, watch, and enjoy event at The Complex Theater Hollywood [ 6476 Santa Monica Blvd. Hollywood, CA 90038 ] Admission is FREE! Starting at 8pm, and the open Jam (welcome to all improvisers) is at 9 pm!

In the Flight Theater upstairs for April. In the Ruby for May. And back upstairs June.

Kevin is an awesome improviser, graduate of The Second City Conservatory, and super sci-fi nerd* with bunches of great impressions up his sleeve. For me he has been Pacino, Brando, Pesci, Clinton, and best of all himself! Best of all because Kevin is funny, smart, generous, kind, supportive and unfailingly wonderful to be around.

*Kevin IS the talent you’re looking for.

Go enjoy Sunday Bash! And…I was trying not to include things I’m involved in but…if you want to see Kevin’s awesome Clinton impression: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0Ubf-C9kwE

Today! Check out the music of Highlight Bomb and drummer Scott...

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 22:22:34 -0400

Today! Check out the music of Highlight Bomb and drummer Scott Maass! This kick-ass Seattle Alternative Rock band can best be described…well, I’m not a good describer of bands so just listen here: http://www.reverbnation.com/show/9811476

These dedicated rockers have several Northwest shows coming up:

Wed, 10APR: Spokane, WA: Mootsy’s

Thurs, 11APR: Missoula, MT: VFW Hall

Fri, 12APR: Whitefish, MT: The Craggy Range

Sat, 13APR: Richland, WA: The Marquee at the M

You can grab a download at one of their shows OR get their albums for $5 iTunes or CD Baby.

Besides being a drumming fiend (a man after my own thumping heart) and a skilled producer of music, Scott is excellent at recording and producing sound for film, he’s a skilled auto mechanic, and a clever zine editor. Monthly, Scott releases WakeUp(253) and WakeUp(206) fanzines promoting local art/entertainment events in Tacoma and Seattle Washington. Not to mention, he’s an entertaining conversationalist and a generous friend.

Check out the band’s page here: http://www.facebook.com/highlightbomb?fref=ts

Watch their live recording of 1-800-FightUs (great song title)! here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiB7MbZo7aY

Today! Check out Steve Goff coach of The Fearless Fools of...

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 18:17:16 -0400

Today! Check out Steve Goff coach of The Fearless Fools of Bridgeport, WV. The region’s FIRST year round professional Improv and Sketch Comedy Team! Who doesn’t love improv and sketch?! Well, it sure as heck was hard to find in West Virginia…until now! In July of 2012, in recognition of this inventive approach to improv and creativity, Steve received a 2012 Individual Artist Professional Development grant from the West Virginia Commission on the Arts, with funding coming the National Endowment for the Arts and the West Virginia Division of Culture and History. Awesome!

Now (thanks to this wonderful grant) Steve is part of my Second City Chicago family. Second City student, veteran comic, actor, writer, Steve is aaaaalso a wonderful positive, sharing, and supportive person. And so inclusive! Inviting anyone and everyone to share in his passion and joy for the comic and theatrical arts.

They will make their comedic debut on Saturday, April 13, 2013 at the Uptown Event Center in Downtown Clarksburg at 8:00p. Tickets can be reserved by emailing VintageTheatreCo@gmail.com or calling 1-855-VTC-8588.

Today! Check out Funny, Cuz It’s True and the outstanding...

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 23:08:00 -0400

Today! Check out Funny, Cuz It’s True and the outstanding story telling skills of word-smith Kevin McGeehan! Every other Tuesday, Second City Hollywood, 10pm, Kevin will regale you with amazing true tales from his own crazy-pants life and you…yes, you…will have the opportunity to have your name selected from a lottery to tell your very own true and probably crazy-pants story.

Kevin is also a player and instructor at Second City, visit his improv drop-in Sundays 12-2. He is an absolute joy to play with, for, near, around…as well as many other prepositions. I know he’s always got my back in an improv fox hole and assume he’d show me the same support in an actual fox hole (whether in war or in fuzzy Canidae domicile). He is excited and exciting as a human, friend, and performer. Recently (Yeah, last Thursday)! he met a personal goal and was hired, and performed, in The Moth Mainstage Show! You can check out this super cool dude in real life oooor download his great Funny, Cuz It’s True podcast here:

http://www.comedypodcastnetwork.com/shows/funny-cuz-its-true

http://www.facebook.com/FunnyCuzItsTrue

Today! Check out the incredible illusions of Magic Clerk...

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 14:13:16 -0400

Today! Check out the incredible illusions of Magic Clerk Michael Carbonaro! Michael surprises and amazes unsuspecting convenience store customers on the great Tonight Show bit: Magic Clerk. I’ve been lucky enough to catch his show live at The Magic Castle. If you follow him on Twitter @M_Carbonaro he’s sure to tell you the next time he has a performance open to the public. His magic is without fail original, amazing, and he’s the most gifted charmer.

Michael is also an actor…I don’t suppose he self-identifies as a comic but I find him hilarious. He’s a cat lover, deeply devoted to his kitten and very sweet to my Cami and Leo. Creative, helpful, fun, with a bright easy smile and kind words for everyone…yup, simply adore him.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Magic-Clerk/590414397653934

Be amazed! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTbfkQox2uk