For 3 must-see acts, more than just stand-up
With dozens of shows spread over 18 days and 16 venues, SF Sketchfest provides the opportunity for comedians and other artists to shine in various settings.
“One of the most fun things about programming the festival is finding different things for artists to do,” said David Owen, co-founder and co-producer of the 17th annual San Francisco comedy festival. “In some cases, a performer is doing stand-up, improv, a panel appearance and a podcast appearance all on one weekend. It’s great to see them stretch different muscles and try new things.”
It can be a grind, but the exposure for comedians — and the entertainment for fans — is priceless.
“With comedy, it’s one of those things where you want to go on as much as possible,” said Solomon Georgio, who is scheduled for three appearances. “You need to perform.”
Here’s how to catch Georgio and two other must-see comedians performing multiple events at this year’s SF Sketchfest:
Marcella Arguello
In addition to three sets of her own comedy over two nights, the Modesto native will participate in Kevin Allison’s “Risk!” storytelling program.
“Unlike comedy, there are really no rules in storytelling,” said Arguello. “It’s its own beast, and I respect that a lot. When I’m doing stand-up, it’s just joke after joke — setup and punch line. With storytelling, it can be more like taking your time to paint a picture.”
In a typical week at a comedy club, a comedian shares the bill with the same two or three people. At SF Sketchfest, Arguello will perform alongside nine comedians and four storytellers. How will she prepare? By listening.
“You should know what everybody else is doing,” she said. “What if you land on the same kind of material? You never want to tell the same jokes.”
Shows: Audible’s Wish List, 8 p.m. Jan. 18. $15. Doc’s Lab, 124 Columbus Ave., S.F.; SF Sketchfest Dozen with Naomi Ekperigin, 8 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. Jan. 19. $24. Punch Line, 444 Battery St., S.F.; “Risk!” with Kevin Allison, 10 p.m. Jan. 20. $30. Swedish American Hall, 2174 Market St., S.F.
Irene Tu
A Chicago native turned San Franciscan, Tu is not new to the Bay Area comedy scene or SF Sketchfest. She co-hosts “The Mission Position,” a monthly comedy showcase at the Mission District’s Alamo Drafthouse, has been on the bill for “at least three” previous Sketchfests and has opened for comedians W. Kamau Bell, Hari Kondabolu and Aparna Nancherla.
While the length of her sets may vary during this year’s comedy festival, she says she has no problem adjusting her material for the half-dozen gigs she has lined up this month. The hardest part may be choosing which event she’s looking forward to the most. After prodding, Tu said she’s excited to participate in one of the three “Asian AF” variety shows, usually held at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in Los Angeles and New York, along with the show’s creator Will Choi, Bay Area native Kevin Camia and other Asian American comedians.
Shows: “The Mission Position,” 8 p.m. Jan. 17. $20. Punch Line, 444 Battery St., S.F.; with Baron Vaughn and Adrian McNair, 8 p.m. Jan. 18. $22. Punch Line; “Brew HaHa: The Comedy Drinking Game Show,” 10:30 p.m. Jan. 19. $25. Café du Nord, 2174 Market St., S.F.; “Picture This!” 8 p.m. Jan. 21. $22. PianoFight, 144 Taylor St., S.F.; “Asian AF,” 8 p.m. Jan. 26. Gateway Theatre, 215 Jackson St., S.F.; IFC Comedy Showcase featuring Fred Armisen and Friends, 4 p.m. Jan. 28. $25. Swedish American Hall, 2174 Market St., S.F.
Solomon Georgio
The Los Angeles-based comedian will help close out SF Sketchfest with three appearances on the final weekend. Like Tu and Arguello, Georgio says he enjoys being able to hang out with and check out his peers during the festival for some laughs and inspiration. “In general, there’s a lot of camaraderie among comedians,” he says, adding that with SF Sketchfest in particular, “there’s almost a (day) camp element to it.”
See those friendships flourish at Georgio’s first SF Sketchfest gig where he joins Sasheer Zamata of “Saturday Night Live” for a party featuring Bay Area singer-songwriter Thao Nguyen, Brooklyn rapper/DJ Donwill and comic Brooke Van Poppelen.
Shows: Sasheer Zamata Party Time! 10:30 p.m. Jan. 26. $25. Cobb’s Comedy Club, 915 Columbus Ave., S.F.; SF Sketchfest Threesome with Joel Kim Booster and Janine Brito hosted by Matt Lieb, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 27. $24. Cobb’s Comedy Club; Competitive Erotic Fan Fiction, 10:30 p.m. Jan. 27, Cobb’s Comedy Club.