NEPA comedians perform in stand-up showcases in Olyphant on Jan. 29 and Emmaus on Jan. 30
From a press release:
Since the coronavirus pandemic largely shut down live entertainment, comedy shows have been few and far between.
Laughs are sorely needed in these trying times, so several Northeastern Pennsylvania and Philadelphia comics are coming together for three back-to-back stand-up comedy showcases at the end of the month.
The first features Brendan Donegan, Zack Hammond, Angelia Petrillo, and Paul Spratt performing at The Bar and Company (415 W. Lackawanna Ave., Olyphant) on Friday, Jan. 29 at 8 p.m.
Tickets, which are $10 in advance, are on sale now via Eventbrite. Only 30 seats are available to keep the show safe and socially distant. For more details, see the Facebook event page.
The other two shows will be hosted by Brendan Donegan on Saturday, Jan. 30 at 7:15 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. at the Emmaus Theatre (19 S. Fourth St., Emmaus) and will feature Zack Hammond, Angelia Petrillo, and Paul Spratt, with the addition of Aaron Bell.
Tickets for these showcases are $15 in advance and available now on Eventbrite. Only 45 seats are available for both shows, and it’s BYOB. For more details, see the Facebook event page.
Brendan Donegan stumbled upon his hidden talent for stand-up comedy after entering and winning first place in the University of Scranton’s Last Comic Standing competition. Immediately, he was hooked.
A South Jersey native, Donegan quickly moved to the nearby city of Philadelphia after graduating to pursue his dream of performing stand-up. His self-deprecating humor and boyish charm continue to keep local moms and movie theaters guessing whether he is 16 or 25. He can be seen performing all over the Northeast, where he won first place in the Northeast Comedy Cabaret Competition and earned himself a spot as a semi-finalist in Helium’s Philly’s Phunniest competition. He was also recently featured on truTV.
Born in Maryland and currently living in Nanticoke, Zack Hammond performs up and down the East Coast and the Midwest in theaters, clubs, fire halls, pizza shops, and anywhere else that wants his brand of dark and intelligent humor.
Hammond has participated in several comedy festivals, including the Cinder Block Comedy Festival in Brooklyn, the Baltimore Comedy Festival, and the Meadowlands Comedy Festival. He has opened for Doug Stanhope, was part of the Devil Cup comedy competition on Long Island, won first place in the inaugural NEPA Scene’s Got Talent contest, and has performed at Wise Crackers Comedy Club, the F.M. Kirby Center, Sully’s Comedy Cellar, and the EastVille Comedy Club. He has also produced four comedy albums: “Sorrow Tree,” “Appalling,” “Utilitarian,” and his latest, “…Because I’m Considerate,” which received a feature article on NEPA Scene last year.
Nothing is off-limits for Scranton comedienne Angelia Petrillo, who has performed practically everywhere in Northeastern Pennsylvania as well as in New York City and with the legendary Second City improv group in Chicago. She produces shows all over Scranton, won Matty B’s Roast Battle II, finished as the top comedian in the latest season of the NEPA Scene Rising Talent contest, and opened for Gilbert Gottfried.
A founder of StreetKar Comedy, Petrillo combines heavy doses of self-loathing and her musical talent to keep crowds laughing.
Originally from Boston, Paul Spratt is a national touring comedian who got his start in Scranton. He has traveled all over the country, opening for many big names in comedy and placing high in comedy festivals and contests, such as the Laughing Skull Comedy Festival and March Madness. He has written jokes for NPR’s “Only a Game” and was featured on “Comedy Juice” and “Trial by Laughter” on Comcast.
Spratt released his first full-length comedy album, “F**K Yeah! Paul’s Here,” in 2017.
Aaron Bell is a Philadelphia Comedy College graduate who has performed all over the tri-state area. When he’s not on the road, he can be found hosting at Comedy Works in Bristol.
He won the February edition of the competition at Comedy Cabaret in Northeast Philadelphia, and he was a finalist at the Suburban March Madness comedy contest in Glenside. He also competed in the Philly’s Phunniest competition at Helium Comedy Club.
Learn more about Angelia Petrillo and local comedy in Episode 25 of the NEPA Scene Podcast:
Photo by Rich Howells/NEPA Scene
