Carlie & Doni

Any good comedy duo is a study in contrasts — and Carlie and Doni, a rising musical comedy act in Los Angeles, is no exception. “She’s the lesbo and I’m the straight girl,” Carlie says.

A few years ago Carlie Mantilla and Doni Carley were rolling their eyes through theater classes at community college. Now they’re playing all over Los Angeles, including a benefit performance this weekend at — and for — the Santa Monica Playhouse, presented by Lily Tomlin, whom Carlie and Doni met in Las Vegas last year (a “horrifying and amazing” experience, Doni says) and her longtime partner Jane Wagner.

Your bio says you two met in a community college theater program and dropped out together. You must have formed some kind of bond.

Carlie: Her last name’s Carley, and my first name’s Carlie. They called roll and we were like, “What the …?” And then we became friends really quickly.

Doni: We were both like, “This is such a joke.” People took it very seriously … the teachers would get really teary-eyed talking about it.

How did you get into comedy?

D: We knew we wanted to act and perform — so we just started writing. I got a bikini wax for the first time — the most horrible experience of my life — and we wrote a song about it, just for fun.

How would you characterize your dynamic?



C: I'm the mellower one. . . . Doni can be more intense.

D: What she's trying to say is that I can be an angry lesbian sometimes.

C: That is exactly what I'm trying to say.

Are you inspired by anyone?

D: We’re inspired by people who start at the bottom and work their way up — that’s what we’re doing. For us, we don’t have a backup plan.

C: Hobo is our backup plan.

Was comedy always the dream?

D: For me, this was something my whole life I always wanted to do. All of my teachers, was always like, “You’re going to be on ‘SNL.’ You’re the female Robin Williams.” My mom was like, “I knew from the time you were 2 that this is what you were going to do.”

C: My mom put me in acting class when I was really little but I think the reason we came together was because we both couldn’t take it seriously.

So what’s next?

C: Fame, fortune. . . .

D: We have a whole television show idea. We’d really like to go on tour with our show and get a really awesome hour show together that’s solid and out of control and crazy.

— Jason Kehe
Carlie and Doni perform Friday at the Santa Monica Playhouse.

- LA Times

Lily Tomlin hosts an irreverent musical comedy extravaganza starring musical/comedy duo Carlie and Doni, one night only! Brian Monaghan of the LA Comedy Examiner calls them "A unique and fresh act that has been thrust into the local comedy scene." Admission includes pre-show refreshments and post-show reception. Proceeds go to celebrate and preserve the 50 year history of Santa Monica Playhouse.
CARLIE & DONI are best friends who met in 2005 at Los Angeles Community College Theater Academy. They quickly realized it wasn't for them and dropped out. Carlie moved in with Doni and they decided to form a musical/comedy act, writing silly songs and sketches. One day in 2007 Carlie's mom convinced Carlie to sign them up for an open mic at the Comedy Store. They weren't sure how their straight girl/lesbian musical duo would go over. It went better than they expected. They recently performed at The Comedy Festival in San Francisco and are regulars at Jon Lovitz Comedy Club. This year they were the Headline attraction at The Improv and did their first commercial for Toyota. They wrote the song and will appear as troubadours in the comedy film, "When Harry Marries." Rated R.

- theatremania.com

In the world of comedy, where everyone is trying to figure out how the other guy is doing it, so they can copy it. Carlie and Doni, are a unique and fresh act that has been thrust into the local comedy scene. They are the epitome of the modern day odd couple. Carlie spent most of her formative years on the move throughout California, and even a brief stint in Mexico City. Doni was raised in a "Podunk Honkytonk town" in Idaho. Carlie digs guys, Doni likes the Ladies. This unlikely duo were brought together at the L.A. City College Theater Academy.

Both Carlie and Doni, found the program restrictive. Each drawn to the lighter side of music and comedy, felt stifled by the rigid academic process. Then one particularly monotonous afternoon, Doni broke out a jug of wine at lunch. Carlie was impressed with Doni's rebellious choice of beverage, not to mention the size of the jug. The two played hooky, and became fast friends over their defiant drinks.

Carlie and Doni quickly determined that the acting program was not for them. After moving on, and determining the inevitable, culminating with the two roommates enjoying another bottle of wine and a guitar. The product was a drunkenly shot video of the two singing Adam and Steve, which is now one of their most requested songs. After an experience with a Brazilian wax job left one of them in agony, the second edition to their collection was born in Bikini Wax Blues.

From that point their destiny was set in motion. A few months later they were playing the main stage at The Comedy Store, and their career choice was clear: musical comedy or hobo. With little desire to enter the hobo trade, all of their efforts are strictly reserved for their musical comedy career. A career that has infinite potential.

When asked how they felt about the daunting prospect of being a female musical comedy act, a double minority in this industry. They didn't even flinch, "we think its great that we can try and represent women in comedy because it is rare, and the industry really is so male dominated. It's nice to show that women can be just as funny as men and it's nice to bring something new and fresh to the table."

With the promise of new material, a Green Collar Show on June 12th, and clubs around the country starting to catch wind of them, I am betting I've found an "I knew them when." I don't think it will be long before I get to collect on that one.

Carlie and Doni will be performing at the Green Collar Comedy Show June 12th at the Spotlight Comedy Club. I must tell you that I have enjoyed my experiences at this new club so much, that I've decided to do some work with them. Hence, I am waiting with baited breath for the 12th.

Keep an eye on this talented duo, the next time you see them may just be on your living room, brought to you in glorious High Definition...



- examiner.com

Carlie’s the exotic straight girl, and Doni’s the crop-haired lesbian—and their salty but sweet brand of musical comedy is all about their BFF relationship. After ditching a too-serious L.A. theater academy, Carlie Mantilla and Doni Carley moved in together and passed the time writing irreverent, even campy, songs about their lives. Carlie’s mom convinced them the songs were funny, and now the duo performs around town—at the Improv, the Comedy Store, and Laugh Factory—riffing on bikini waxes, camel toes, and each other’s romantic mishaps. They’re thinking about pitching a TV show. “Natalie Portman is going to be my girlfriend,” quips Doni. - Los Angeles Magazine