My First Sketch

This week, Josh talks to Julia Schroeder (@jschroeder04 on Twitter) about transitioning from athlete to comedian, not being the funny one in the family, and sharing the obsession of a favorite movie. You can see Julia with her improv team, The Cast, on January 26 and her sketch team, Perfect Storm, on January 28 and February 4. All of those shows are at the Magnet Theater in New York City. Follow her show The Parent Trap: Lord of the Twins Trilogy on Facebook at facebook.com/parenttraptrilogy. Learn more about this year’s Philly Sketchfest at phillysketchfest.com.

This week, Josh talks to Nicole Pascaretta about beginning in Detroit and her roots in comedy there, creating a show out of a shared love for a Lindsay Lohan movie, and moving to New York to start again. Nicole will perform The Parent Trap: The Lord of the Twins (facebook.com/parenttraptrilogy) in New York City at the Magnet Theater on January 3 at 8:30pm. Tickets are available at magnettheater.com. And Philly Sketchfest is happening! May 29-June 2 throughout the city of Philadelphia! Submissions are open: Head to myfirstsketch.com/apply to submit your team.

This week, Josh talks to Susannah Holub (Cups and a Half) about Christopher Guest movies, changing voices of cartoon characters, and I break some news about Ned Flanders and Edna Krabappel to her. See Susannah and the rest of Cups and a Half as one of the featured acts during the Secret Pants annual holiday spectacular called Secret Pants Presents Knights in Santa’s Service at Johnny Brenda’s on Friday, December 21. The show starts at 9pm. Tickets are available at ticketfly.com. Along with Cups and Half, you’ll see Alison Zeidman, Geoff Jackson, Darryl Charles, Randi Warhol, Rebekah Rickards, Lulu the Hula Hoop Queen, and the return of Rowan and Hastings.

This week, Josh talks to Brian from Secret Pants about his earliest comedy memories, his favorite SNL cast member, and why he does comedy. See Brian and the rest of Secret Pants host their annual holiday spectacular called Knights in Santa’s Service at Johnny Brenda’s in Philadelphia on December 21 at 9pm. Announced acts include: Cups and a Half, Darryl Charles, Alison Zeidman, Geoff Jackson, Randi Warhol, Rebekah Rickards, and the return of Rowan and Hastings. Tickets available at ticketfly.com.

This week, Josh talks to David Feinberg about seeing La Cage aux Folles while in kindergarten, Temple Smash, and creating characters. See David with Whiplash before they wrap up their run on Wednesdays at Philly Improv Theater. He will also be performing at Monologues at PHIT on Thursday, December 13 at 730. Follow All Nite Deli on Instagram at allnitedeli.comedy for their new shows in the new year. Go see Secret Pants presents Knights in Santa’s Service at Johnny Brenda’s on December 21 at 9pm.

107 Lucy Erspamer of Writers of the Dorm by My First Sketch

This week, Josh talks to Chara Bauer (@Richie_Dreyfuss) about the differences in acting for sketch comedy versus theater and more. See Richard Dreyfuss at BIG on Wednesday, November 28 in Richard Dreyfuss Auditions for Olga at 8:30pm. Go to bigimprov.org for more information. Then, Richard Dreyfuss will perform at The Premium Hour at Charm City Comedy Project, starting at 8pm. That show will also feature The Big Freakin’ Quiz of 2018, hosted by yours truly. Go to charmcitycomedyproject.com for more information.

This week, Josh talks to Aidan Van Alstyne (@WritersOTheDorm) about majoring in comedy, political satire, and subreddits. Writers of the Dorm performs at ImprovBoston on November 29 during SketchHaus. They will be supported by me, presenting The Big Freakin’ Quiz of 2018. So come to ImprovBoston November 29 at 9pm. More info can be found at improvboston.com. Follow Hyena Comedy at @hyena_comedy. You can also see me hosting another version of The Big Freakin’ Quiz of 2018 in Baltimore at Charm City Comedy Project on November 30.

This week, Josh talks to Dubray Kinney (@RichieDreyfuss) about sketch comedy in college, the comedy scene in Baltimore, and not watching SNL. See Kinney and the rest of Richard Dreyfuss perform at BIG on November 28 and Charm City Comedy Project on November 30. See Josh host Big Freakin’ Quiz at ImprovBoston on November 29 and Charm City Comedy Project on November 30. Follow @myfirstsketch on Twitter and @phillysketchfest on Instagram.

This week, Josh talks to Julie Rigano (Sansom Street Hell House) about a farce set in San Francisco, a future love story, and a family storytelling act. Sansom Street Hell House continues at Philly Improv Theater Oct 25-27, and Oct 31at 9pm. Tickets and more information can be found at phitcomedy.com. If you want to see Josh doing something on stage, head to Sketchworks at Philly Improv Theater on Oct 26 at 11pm.

102 Meg Coslett of Cambridge Footlights by My First Sketch

This week, Josh talks to James Knight about puppets, photography, and the writers’ room. See James and the rest of American Express in Real America at the Philly Fringe Festival. American Express presents Family Business returns to the PHIT stage on September 28 at 10pm. And Tiny Arson should be back later this year.

This week, it's episode 100!

This week, Josh talks to Chris Esperance about feeling late to the game, putting in the hours, and American Express. See Chris and the rest of American Express at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival as they present Real America at the Philly Improv Theater September 12-15. More information can be found at amexcomedy.com.

This week, Josh talks to Allen McRae (artistic director at The PIT) about NYC Sketchfest 2018, the differences between Boston and New York City, and mentoring new talent. You have until September 7 to submit your act to NYC Sketchfest 2018, presented by TruTV and The Village Voice. The festival takes place from October 18-21 at the People’s Improv Theater.

This week, Josh talks to Ash Weir of the Footlights (@footlightstour) about coming to America, the tradition of the Footlights, and panto. Follow the Footlights as they head on tour with shows in Vancouver, San Francisco, Sacramento, Austin, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and New York City. For more information, head to footlightsontour.co.uk.

This week, Josh talks to Jack Presby (All Nite Deli) about The Three Stooges, the goodness of community theater, and improv intersecting with standup. See the debut of All Nite Deli at Philly Improv Theater on August 24 and 25 at 9pm. You can also catch Jack in PHIT Family Time every Saturday at noon and With Mirth and Laughter every second and fourth Sunday. He’ll also be in Villain, an original play written by Marissa and Jon Edelman, September 12-15 during Philly Fringe Festival. All of those shows are at PHIT, so head to phitcomedy.com for more information.

This week, Josh talks to Sam Stralak about Marv n Berry, Rapid Fire Theater, and Josh’s weird obsession with The Red Green Show. See Marv n Berry present Everyone Panic, Please at the Grindstone Theater through August 26 as part of the Edmonton Fringe Festival. Find more information at marvnberry.com.

This week, Josh talks to Jayne Boccella-Perras about the new house team at Philly Improv Theater, Tiny Arson. See Tiny Arson as they finish their premiere on August 10 and August 11 at Philly Improv Theater at 9pm. Tickets are available at phitcomedy.com.

This week, Josh presents the audio from the Community in Comedy panel that took place during Philly Sketchfest. The podcast was moderated by Alyssa Truszkowski (Cups and a Half) and featured Jacquie Baker (The Incredible Shrinking Matt and Jacquie, The Flat Earth), Cameron Wyllie (The Original Arugula Boys, Turbo Gulp), Carson Pinch (The Original Arugula Boys, Turbo Gulp), Keane Cobb (American Express), James Knight (American Express, The N Crowd), and Taylor Plunkett-Clemens (The Hummingbards). Big thanks to Amalgam Comics and Coffeehouse for hosting this panel.