The Hawaii Sketch Comedy Festival 2016

Special Guest Performers

Sam Brown (Los Angeles, CA)

is an American actor, comedian, writer and founding member of the sketch comedy TV series “The Whitest Kids U’ Know” on IFC. Currently living in Los Angeles, Sam is best known for his work on for The Whitest Kids U’Know, The Civil War on Drugs and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Trailer: Entourage Parody.

Ann Maddox (Los Angeles, CA)

has been writing and performing at Upright Citizens Brigade Theater Los Angeles since it opened in 2005. She has performed improv with her Harold team Lincoln’s Bedroom, and written sketches for her Maude teams Nice Kitchen and Hot Mess. She wrote radio sketches for Marketplace on NPR and was a writer/performer for the 2011 CBS Diversity Showcase. She has appeared in several national and regional commercials, and television shows such as The Office, Two Broke Girls, Garfunkle and Oates, The Birthday Boys and Grandfathered. She will soon be appearing on ABC’s The Real O’Neals, premiering this March!

Featured Performers

STEENK (Los Angeles, CA)

was founded by Eli Lutsky and David Kane when they found it growing under the sink. Live sketch comedy for the price of your sanity. Steenk is a scream of consciousness. Ahh!

Improvhi (Honolulu, HI)

is the first child to #hisketchfest founder Kimee Balmilero. Primarily an improv comedy troupe, Improvhi also produces live sketch shows and original comedy videos throughout the year.

Goof Troop Riot (Honolulu, HI)

is a lively mashup of various improv and sketch performers on Oahu. Goof Troop was named the very first HISF Start Up Team in 2015 and performed to a nearly sold out crowd last year at The Honolulu Museum of Art. Goof Troop Riot is: Trevor Danielson, Jasmine Fernandez, Jose Ver, Sheldon Lo, Sean Koegel, Anthony Silano, Micheline McManus, Tom McManus

Fernando Pacheco (Honolulu, HI)

was born and raised on the island of Oahu. Growing up on a dairy, the first thing he wanted to be was a cow. He has not achieved this goal.

Although many music fans know him from his work with the bands Go Jimmy Go and PIMPBOT, he is also easily recognized as the host of Almost Local on OC16. After entertaining radio listeners for over a decade, fans continue to hear his voice on the Hudson & Scotty B morning show on KUCD Star 101.9 FM and Fernando’s Walk of Shame podcast.

HISF Start Up Team

Beet Box (Honolulu, HI)

has been writing sketches and performing improv together since September 2015. Like all great things, Beet Box was born out of the Oahu improv community. As the 2016 HISF Start Up Team, Beet Box will work with a professional writing mentor in Los Angeles via web conferencing once a week. Their goal will be to produce at least 2 live sketches and 2 original videos. Catch them on March 31st for our opening night show, “Live in Honolulu!”

Featured Videos

Rap Reiplinger (Honolulu, HI)

was a Hawaiian comedian, whose humor is an integral part of Hawaii today. After attending Punahou School, he began performing professionally. In 1974 he helped create the comedy ensemble Booga Booga with James Grant Benton and Ed Ka'ahea. In 1982 he received an Emmy Award and bronze medal from the International Film and Television Festival of New York for "Most Outstanding Television Production" for his TV special "Rap's Hawaii", which he wrote and starred in. (video footage courtesy of Mountain Apple Co.)

Rachel Bloom (Los Angeles, CA)

is an American actress, comedian and writer, best known for creating, writing and playing the lead role of Rebecca Bunch in The CW comedy-drama series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, for which she won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy^[4] and a Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series.^[5] She created the Hugo Award-nominated music video “Fuck Me, Ray Bradbury”.

J.Elaine Marcos (Los Angeles, CA)

is an eight time Broadway actress/comedian. Favorite roles: Lily St. Regis in Annie opposite Jane Lynch, scene stealing Cynthia in Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Connie in A Chorus Line. TV: 30 Rock, Law & Order. FILM: St. Vincent, Before I Disappear, Morning Glory. www.facebook.com/jelainemarcos/ for more comedy and stuff.

Orig Media (Honolulu, HI)

is a Honolulu based film, TV, and video production company. We currently produce two TV shows on OC16. Plus, we create commercials, corporate, and event films.

Jeremy Belanger (Los Angeles, CA)

is originally from Chino, CA, and nearly used a half a tank of gas on his sojourn to Los Angeles to become a writer and director. Jeremy studied screenwriting at Chapman University, though he wished he studied bio writing. His sketch team, The Mutiny, has performed at Chicago Sketchfest and San Francisco Sketchfest. His work have been featured on Tosh.0, MTV.com, and The Huffington Post. He is currently writing for Yahoo’s Superfan. Jeremy can also be seen every Friday night on his couch, eating cheese.

Special Musical Guests

Chris Lind (Honolulu, HI)

Honolulu’s Manifold Magazine writes about Chris Lind, “His soft and indie approach to love songs make the chickies swoon. Think Ray LaMontagne meets John Mayer.” A few years after catching fire with his singles “What Is Not Yours” and “A Story of US” – which were featured in two episodes of The CW show “Smallville” – and his debut EP Home, the soulful-voiced Lind takes a long look at the colorful history of where he’s been with his upcoming EP Stay. Even before the “Smallville” breakthrough, Lind was earning high praise from various media outlets. Peter Aaron of Chronogram Magazine compared Lind favorably to two of his top influences: “A dazzling singer-songwriter a la Jeff Buckley and Nick Drake.” Growing a loyal fan base over 10 years in NYC with regular performances in Los Angeles and Honolulu, Lind has also opened for John Cruz and the legendary Michael McDonald. While he’s enjoyed his recent relocation to his father’s hometown of Honolulu, he’s looking forward – with the recent release of his single “Drive” and an up-coming move to LA – to performing at more venues throughout the U.S.

Chris is the special musical guest for the “Live from Honolulu” show on March 31st at The Honolulu Museum’s Doris Duke Theatre. chrislindmusic.com

(live music sponsored by Let Them Eat Cupcakes)

Erika Elona (Honolulu, HI)

Special musical guest for the "Two Scoops Funny" show on April 1st at The Honolulu Museum's Doris Duke Theatre.

(live music sponsored by Let Them Eat Cupcakes)

Simple Souls (Honolulu, HI)

Featured musicians at the March 31st opening night reception from 6pm – 7pm.

2016 Schedule

March 31st: Opening Night

Live from Honolulu!

Location: Doris Duke Theatre at The Honolulu Museum of Art
Time: 6pm - 9pm (Opening reception starts at 6pm. Show begins at 7:30pm)
It's the day of the show y'all! Live comedy performances by Sam Brown from IFC's "The Whitest Kids You Know," Ann Maddox of "The Birthday Boys" and "Comedy Death Ray," Los Angeles based comedy duo STEENK and Hawaii's newest sketch comedy team, Beet Box! Live music by Chris Lind.
Opening Night Reception: Food and drinks by DDT will be available for purchase. Live music provided by Simple Souls.
Ticket Cost: $20 - $35
Purchase tickets for the March 31st opening night show

April 1st: Live Performance

Two Scoops Funny

Location: Doris Duke Theatre at The Honolulu Museum of Art
Time: 7:30pm

The Hawaii Sketch Comedy Festival continues. Join us for a night of LOLs featuring a mixed plate of local comedy favorites including: Improvhi, Almost Local and Goof Troop Riot.

Special Musical Guest: Erika Elona
Purchase tickets for the April 1st "Two Scoops Funny" show

April 2nd: Workshops

Intro to Sketch Comedy Writing w/ Ann Maddox

Experience Level: For beginning and aspiring writers with little to no experience with sketch comedy writing.
Location: Manoa Innovation Center – Board Room
Time: 1:30pm – 4:30pm
In this class, students will be introduced to the fundamentals of good sketch writing, with a strong emphasis on the “game” of your scenes. We’ll watch a few classic sketches and discuss what makes them work effectively, then practice pulling ideas for sketches from every day interactions and anecdotes from life. Participants should come prepared with a notebook and pen/pencil, a laptop or tablet.
Class Cost: $50
Register for this class

The Writer's Room w/ Sam Brown

Experience Level: For intermediate to advanced writers who are currently working on sketches.
Location: Manoa Innovation Center - Board Room
Time: 10:00am - 1:00pm
In this workshop, we will go over different types of collaborative brainstorming as well as the steps that it takes to write a great comedy sketch. Along with these ideas we will also be talking about format and themes found within sketch comedy. Participants should come prepared with a notebook and pen/pencil, a laptop or tablet.
Class Cost: $65
Register for this class

Intro to Comedic Improv w/ Ann Maddox

Experience Level: Beginning improvisers and actors with little to no experience in comedic improv
Location: Manoa Innovation Center - Presentation Room
Time: 10:00am - 1:00pm
In this class you will learn the fundamentals of improv, and how to apply these techniques when performing. Through exercises and scene work, we will practice agreeing, listening, and responding truthfully. We will learn how to support each other in a scene, while playing to the top of our intelligence.
Class Cost: $50
Register for this class

Comedic Acting w/ Sam Brown

Experience Level: Actors with some experience
Location: Manoa Innovation Center - Presentation Room
Time: 1:30pm - 4:30pm
We will take a hands on look at different scenes and learn how to put them on their feet. We'll talk about proper preparation, keeping track of the technical elements of our performances, the differences in live and taped performances, and above all how to do our jobs as actors and still keep it fun.
Class Cost: $50
Register for this class

April 2nd: HISF Pupus, Panels and Party

Location: The LaSalle at The Pagoda
Time: 7:00pm – 11:30pm (Networking begins at 7:00pm. Panels begin at 7:30pm.)
Join us for a night of pupus, panels and partying! Featuring industry professionals sharing their stories on what it’s like to be in “the business.” Pupus and drinks for purchase. PARTY TO FOLLOW!
Guest Speakers:
Casting in Hawaii w/Brent Anbe 7:30-8:30pm
This discussion will focus on what goes on in the audition room and how we as artists can better prepare to do our very best. Brent Anbe is a Hawaii based casting associate whose credits include: “Hawaii Five-0,” “Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates,” “Jurassic World,” and “Godzilla.” He’ll share with us his “dos and don’ts” and also tell us how the tool of improv helps in the audition world.
So You Wanna Be A Professional Comedy Actor w/ Sam Brown and Ann Maddox 8:30-9:30
In this panel, Sam Brown and Ann Maddox answers the meaning of comedy life and why it’s possible to make a living in this funny world of writing.
See Sam and Ann’s bios here
Party starts at 9:30pm! WE DID IT!
Ticket Cost: $10
Register for these panels