Pat Galante

February 21st, 2011
2011 Women in Comedy Festival Announced for March 9 to March 13 Featuring Headliners Kristen Schaal, Kurt Braunohler, Jen Kirkman and Morgan Murphy

Second Annual Friars Club Audience Award to be Presented

Media Contact: Hillary Buckholtz
202-974-5003/301-806-5519
buckholtzh@plannedtvarts.com

Boston, MA - The 2011 Women in Comedy Festival (WICF) takes place March 9 - March 13 in Boston. This year's headliners include sketch duo Kristen Schaal (The Daily Show, Flight of the Conchords) and Kurt Braunohler (Aspen Comedy Festival, Edinburgh Fringe), Jen Kirkman (Chelsea Lately, HBO's Drunk History) and Morgan Murphy (Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live).

Venues for the festival include ImprovBoston in Central Square, Cambridge, Mottley's Comedy Club in Boston's historic Faneuil Hall, and the Brattle Theatre in Harvard Square.

The festival is co-produced by women in comedy Michelle Barbera, Maria Ciampa, and Elyse Schuerman. WICF's mission is to create a forum for people to experience the comedic expression of women, see strong female performers while being inclusive to male performers, and, most importantly, to entertain.To further their mission, WICF is sponsoring several workshops on different comedy styles and topics and a free panel discussion open to the public.

This year, the festival will host Executive Consultant for the Just For Laughs International Comedy Festival, Jeff Singer. Jeff will be teaching his workshop, Step Up Your Stand Up. The first two Saturday sessions fo the workshop are already sold out, so WICF has added a third opportunity to take his workshop on Sunday, March 13th. The festival will also feature nine other workshops in improv, storytelling, physical comedy, comedy writing, and more, including Power Improv, with festival headliner Kurt Braunohler.

Last year's panel played to a packed house and featured Edie McClurg(Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Planes, Trains and Automobiles), Jane Morris (Second City Etc. founder), and Jackie Kashian(WICF 2010 headliner). This year, WICF will host two free panels featuring the festival headliners, as well as comedy writers and experts in the field, who will discuess both the creative aspects of comedy and the challenges of breaking into comedy professionally and mainstaining a career. The main panel will be held at 3 pm at the Brattle Theatre. The second panel will be a roundtable discussion hosted by Women Action Media (WAM) at the Brattle.

WICF is honored to present the second annual Friars Club Audience Award to one act performing at the 2011 festival. The winning act will have the opportunity to perform at the historic Friars Club and The World Comedy Club, both in New York City. In 2010, WICF performers All Girl Revue received the award, which is determined by audience votes.

Last year, the festival hosted over 150 artists from all over the US, including Maria Bamford, Jackie Kashian, and Edie McClurg

For tickets and detailed information about the festival, please visit www.womenincomedyfestival.com.

Please contact Hillary Buckholtz at buckholtzh@plannedtvarts.com if you would like to arrange interviews with festival comedians or producers. B roll, audio files and press photos are available upon request.

- Women in Comedy Festival 2011