Philadelphia laughs its way into summer with two comedy shows featuring a Comedy Central all-star and a New York Times best-seller. First up, author and playwright Josh Piven (Worst Case Scenario Handbook) presents the world premiere of his craft-brewed comedy Muddled at Drexel URBN Annex from June 16-26, 2016. Then, the laughs keep rolling as Comedy Central’s Natasha Leggero headlines July 4th weekend at Valley Forge Casino Resort on Saturday, July 2, 2016. Details for both shows are below.
MUDDLED
New York Times best-selling humorist Josh Piven brings his unique brand of comedy to Philadelphia with the world premiere of Muddled, A Stage Comedy, from June 16 through June 26 at Drexel URBN Annex (3501 Market St). Penned by the author of The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook and directed by William Steinberger, Muddled gives theater audiences a best-case scenario for what happens when a group of hot-headed headbangers meet the home-grown hipsters of Brooklyn. In this craft brewed comedy, Piven trades navigating alligator pits for navigating mosh pits, and surviving frostbite for surviving the frosty bite of a quick-witted hipster. Muddled is Piven’s second play, following 2013’s hit No Reservations.
Previews begin on Thursday, June 16 and Friday, June 17, and opening night is Saturday, June 18 at 8:00pm. The show runs through Sunday, June 26. Tickets are available now for $30 at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/254659
After being fired from Facebook for some drunken twerking at Mark Zuckerberg’s wedding, Andy decides he’s done with social media, for good. He throws his savings into Library, a 1920s-style cocktail lounge in Brooklyn, with a no cell phone policy. Late one night, Tricky Nicky Slick Andy’s long-lost father and former drummer for the 80s hair-band Black Widow appears, claiming he wants to make amends with Andy and Tina, Andy’s mother, who waitresses at the bar. Nicky embarks on a business plan to turn the wainscoted, bookcase-lined supper club into an 80s-style Miami Vice-inspired nightmare…but something else is afoot.
Muddled is a broad comedic take on the journey from the iconic 80s to modern times. This world premiere production explores the good, bad, ugly and the funny occurrences that happen when we can’t let go of the past, but rely on the past to build the future. The show also touches on themes of our over dependence on social media, and the popular growing trend of exclusive social media-free zones. Are headbangers and hipsters really that different? Can a bar be successful if you can’t tweet, facebook or yelp about it? What happens when phones are away and people are forced to talk to each other? You be the judge!
“In this hyper-sharing culture, privacy is a quaint notion, or something that belongs to the realm of the Edward Snowdens of the world”, says playwright Josh Piven, “The play in some ways compares two cultures that are both me-centric (hipsters on the one hand and the me-decade on the other) but also looks, in a humorous way, about what life was like before…you know, before it became like it is. When private stuff was PRIVATE.”
NATASHA LEGGERO
Celebrated actress, writer and comedian Natasha Leggero will headline 4th of July weekend festivities at Valley Forge Casino Resort. Leggero will bring her stand-up comedy show to King of Prussia on Saturday, July 2, 2016 during the on-going series Valley Forge Music Fair. The timing couldn’t be better for Philadelphia fans, as Leggero is currently in the new comedy Dice! (by Andrew Dice Clay) on Showtime, and her show Another Period starts a third season on Comedy Central on June 15th. Her performance will take place in The Venue at Valley Forge Casino Resort (1160 First Avenue) at 9:00pm. Doors open at 8:00pm. Event is standing room with regular tickets at $45 and VIP tickets for $80. Tickets are on sale now on Ticketmaster, or visit www.vfcasino.com.
Leggero’s appearance is part of the extended holiday weekend of festivities at Valley Forge Casino Resort in honor of July 4th and Independence Day. Valley Beach Poolside Club will officially extend hours to seven days a week that weekend. On Friday, July 1st, look for a special holiday weekend poolside party with DJ and drink specials. On Saturday, July 2nd, look for The FM Band to perform on the poolside stage at 9:00pm. On Sunday, July 3rd and Monday, July 4th, look for poolside music, games, extended hours and special events. That weekend through Labor Day, Valley Beach Poolside Club will open Monday through Thursday, 11:00am to 7:00pm, Friday 11:00am to 1:00am, Saturday, 10:00am to 1:00am, and Sunday, 10:00am to 8:00pm. Admission to Valley Beach is $10 for a day pass, or season memberships are available. Must be 21 or older to visit Valley Beach and to purchase a membership.
Natasha Leggero is an accomplished actress, writer, and stand-up comedian whose garnered attention across film, television and the web. Leggero created, wrote, produced and will star in the upcoming Comedy Central sitcom, Another Period. Set in 1902 as an American period sitcom and spoof on modern day reality shows, Another Period explores the debaucherous life of Newport, RI’s socialites the Bellacourt’s, focusing on fame-hungry sisters Lillian (Leggero) and Beatrice (Riki Lindhome). The series will premiere on June 23, running for 10 weeks and is produced by Ben Stiller’s Red Hour.
Stemming from her breakout appearance on the Comedy Central Roast of James Franco, Natasha was recently lauded as the stand out roaster on the Comedy Central Roast of Justin Bieber, which aired on March 30, 2015. The actress has also recently appeared in an episode for NBC’s Marry Me and the hit show Modern Family in the episode “Fight or Flight.”
On the big screen, Leggero starred in two comedy films including Neighbors alongside Seth Rogen, as well as Let’s Be Cops opposite Jake Johnson and Damon Wayans, Jr. She also had a role in the 2009 romantic comedy He’s Just Not That Into You. In 2012, the actress was featured in the Emmy® nominated web series, Burning Love. Produced by Ben Stiller, the scripted series parodies the popular reality television shows The Bachelor and The Bachelorette.
Leggero has built her body of work with numerous roles on prominent television series including NBC’s Community, FX’s It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Arrested Development, Comedy Central’s Reno 911 and Drunk History, ABC’s Suburgatory, the sketch comedy Key and Peele, Comedy Bang! Bang! Chelsea Lately, and The Tonight Show, among many others. In addition, Leggero’s voice can be heard on multiple animated series such as Comedy Central’s Ugly Americans and Brickleberry, The Life and Times of Tim on HBO, as well as Aqua Teen Hunger Force and China, IL for the Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim.
TICKETS
Tickets are on sale for both shows – for Muddled click here, for Natasha click here.
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