:: UPFRONT COMEDY ::

Best known for playing Dipsy in BBC Television’s worldwide h...

COMEDY SPRINGFEST : UK VERSES US ‘COMEDY CLASH’
Upfront Comedy, “the most enterprising black comedy promoters in the country” (The Guardian) are back in the west end for the 1st time in years with the COMEDY SPRINGFEST, a ‘comedy clash’ pitting 3 of the USA’s current best touring stand ups against their UK counterparts, RICHARD BLACKWOOD, CURTIS WALKER & ANNETTE FAGON, in the urban comedy event of the year, Sunday 10th May at The Phoenix Theatre, Charing Cross Road, London. Tel 0870 060 6629. Chris Rock’s huge attendance numbers for his UK shows in 2008 opened some mainstream eyes to what had been happening in UK theatres for well over a decade, under their radar : a huge demand for urban humour. The Comedy Springfest takes that demand in a different direction with this unique ‘comedy clash’. ‘Comedy’s don’ CURTIS WALKER has long been the standard bearer for British urban comedy, with a long list of TV and live credits including introducing the legendary Bill Hicks onto British TV, and working with acclaimed US writers Maya Angelou. He’s also made Nelson Mandela laugh, & appeared in British film Bullet Boy. RICHARD BLACKWOOD’s popular radio show on Choice FM is part of his steady return to form after a quick rise in stand up terms to hosting his own Channel 4 chat show. He’s successfully on the comeback trail after some well publicised money worries, and remains a big live draw The loud and unruly ANNETTE FAGON is that rare thing, the child of a Jamaican newsagent mother, raised in Leicester, recently seen interviewing the Churchill Insurance dog in a long running commercial Repping the US is Georgia’s witty ROY WOOD Jr, a laconic comedian with TV credits including The David Letterman Show, and UK TV’s The World Stands Up. He’s joined by ‘Bronx bad girl’ GINA BRILLON, a Latina comic whose dry & sassy routines have been showcased on US TV’s ‘Premium Blend’ & New York-based HARRIS STANTON a former store security guard, who’s working hard to escape that past, with his appearances on US TV’s ‘Comic View’ helping him on his way. The show is hosted by Cuban-Jamaican brummie JOHN SIMMIT, best known for playing Dipsy in BBC TV’s international hit children’s show Teletubbies.

ANNETTE FAGON’S CHURCHILL TV AD
Upfront’s ANNETTE FAGON can now be seen interviewing an animated dog in the nationwide TV commercial for Churchill Insurance. Annette leaps from the studio audience to ask Churchill some very searching questions. Let’s hope this one runs and runs.

KOJO IN AMERICA
The ever hot KOJO just keeps getting hotter. He’s just back from America, and is on the verge of some major TV exposure over there. He returns to the US in April to tie this up. He’ll also be doing his debut national tour of universities in April (busy month) Watch this space.

US COMIC IMPORTS
More leading US comic talent set to be imported in the 1st half of 2008 includes Chicago’s VANESSA FRACTION (Barberhop 2), S Carolina’s HARRIS STANTON (Comedy Central’s Premium Blend) both February into March, ROY WOOD Jr (NBC’s Last Comic Standing) June; & Canada’s JEAN PAUL in April. Other new to Upfront imports are comedienne AARONA (Chicago) in May and MARC TRINIDAD (Canada) in June That’s the new boys; Upfront regulars who’ll be making return trips include MARC THEOBALD (Chappelle Show) in April and KYLE GROOMS in June.

STAND UP BLACK BRITAIN IN THE US
Stand Up Black Britain, featuring Gina Yashere, John Simmit and Curtis Walker hits the New York Fringe Festival 21-26 August. Watch this space for me information.

US VISITORS
After hot UK tours from visiting US comedians Marc Theobald, Harris Stanton and Kyle Grooms, look out for Drew Fraser (host of the Apollo’s Amateur Night) 3-14 May, Wil 31 May – 17 June, Sinck 1-17 June. Watch this space for new international additions to the roster shortly.

UPFRONT CAFÉ - MANCHESTER
After 3 years success of the Birmingham branch, Upfront has launched a Manchester branch at the cosy Zion Centre, with 2 hot shows so far with line ups including comedians Richard Blackwood, and singers including Soul To Soul’s Rose ‘Fairplay’ Windross, and veteran reggae/garage MC Top Cat. Watch for May and June’s bills including Curtis Walker, Leo Muhammed and New York’s Drew Fraser. Host is Teletubbie John Simmit.

TELETUBBIES US MEDIA TOUR
John Simmit re-united with fellow Teletubbies cast members for a US media tour in March, with an intinterary that included an interview on US breakfast TV’s The Today Show, and stopping the traffic – just – in Times Square. The trip marked 10 years of the show’s international success.

Punk'd!
Upfront's own LA-based, JA-raised, Brit-born maverick Ian Edwards is now a cast member of MTV's hidden camera show Punk'd ! Watch him mingle with - & trick - some less funny stars now.

Foul Mouthed and Funny
Upfront’s newest UK signing is very promising Leicester-born university drop out Annette Fagon. Foul mouthed and funny, she’s making big strides and quickly. Watch this space.