San Francisco Chronicle

Sketchfest 2019 lineup announced

- By Peter Hartlaub

SF Sketchfest will feature a blend of rising stars and classic comedy when it returns on Jan. 10, with Aparna Nancherla, W. Kamau Bell, Bruce Campbell and comedian Carol Burnett’s first Sketchfest appearance, organizers announced Friday, Nov. 16.

A mix of offbeat events and comedy stars has been a Sketchfest staple since the early 2000s, when the founders invited Fred Willard to their small festival. Willard will return with most of the cast and the creators of “Best in Show” for a tribute to that 2000 Christophe­r Guest movie.

Other acts that will be performing at the festival, which runs Jan. 10-27, are Jen Kirkman, Mar- garet Cho, Moshe Kasher, Doug Benson, Adam Savage, Paul F. Tompkins, Wayne Brady and Laraine Newman.

Among the local acts, Sketchfest will present an all-star roast of drag performer Peaches Christ, with Jinkx Monsoon, Coco Peru and Mink Stole.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 18, at www.sf sketchfest.com.

SF Sketchfest was co-founded in 2002 by Cole Stratton, David Owen and Janet Varney, who rented small San Francisco venues to showcase local improv groups. Since then, Sketchfest has featured hundreds of performers in dozens of locations, from the Castro Theatre to the California Academy of Sciences.

Along with the return of many regulars, including Wil-

lard, David Cross, John Hodgman, Rachel Dratch, Michael McKean and Dana Gould, this year’s show will also feature a salute to animator Bill Plympton.

The Red Room Orchestra will be back, with live performanc­es of music from “The Big Lebowski” and “Twin Peaks.”

Among the new events next year is the debut of “SF Sketchfest at the Speakeasy: An Immersive Comedy Experience,” with six shows at a secret location that will include a casino and two-story cabaret. Performers include Michael Ian Black, Janeane Garofalo and Jen Kirkman.

Sketchfest will also honor the movies “Evil Dead II” with Bruce Campbell and “Local Hero” with Peter Riegert in attendance.

More performers and events are expected to be announced.

Peter Hartlaub is The San Francisco Chronicle’s pop culture critic. Email: phartlaub@sfchronicl­e.com Twitter: @PeterHartl­aub

 ??  ?? Carol Burnett
Carol Burnett
 ?? FilmMagic 2017 ?? Comedian Aparna Nancherla, seen performing last year in S.F., will be at next year’s Sketchfest.
FilmMagic 2017 Comedian Aparna Nancherla, seen performing last year in S.F., will be at next year’s Sketchfest.

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