Calling all comedy nerds! Catch another raucous New Material Night at Q.E.D. Astoria – a favorite of Time Out New York — on May 27 at 9:00 p.m. Support your local comics and LOL at their funniest jokes, as they test out their newest bits and riffs.
Tickets are $10 at New Material Night – Q.E.D. Astoria (This event usually happens every fourth Thursday of the month — always check website for updates).
“New Material Night is exactly that: the best comics in New York City trying out all new material before they bring it on the road, use it for their special taping, or premiere it for a late-night talk show set,” said Queens-based event organizer and comedian Dan Frank, who has been living, performing and producing shows in NYC for seven years.
He added: “It’s the thing I love about stand-up that is inherent to the art itself — the comic and the audience are making this happen together by seeing how the audience will react to the new joke, and how the comic will respond to the audience’s reaction. It’s the sine qua non that makes a stand-up show feel equal-parts spontaneous and fun!”
Frank has been featured on several tours and festivals, including New York Comedy Festival shows, and you can see him at Q.E.D. tomorrow night. He told QNS: “I usually just joke about growing up as a queer person, my family and faith, and how everyone thinks that I’m related to Anne Frank (I’m not, in case you were wondering).”
The diverse lineup of “jokesters” also includes Chris Moore, Dillon Kraus, Rachel Green, Lindsay Lucido, Danette Rodriguez, Dave McDonnell, Kristen Romney, Tony Deyo, and Lauren Hope Krass.
A few comics were eager to share some interesting tidbits about their comedic style and how they came up with new material.
While Q.E.D. is her favorite comedy club in Queens, Astoria girl Lauren Green also performs at New York Comedy Club and The Grisly Pear in Manhattan, as well as Bushwick Comedy Club in Brooklyn. When she’s not doing stand-up, the comedian pursues her other passions: acting, singing, playing violin, and doing voice-overs.
“Q.E.D. is such a great local spot. The crowds are fun and engaged and it’s great that I can walk down the block to do what I love! New Material Night is especially fun because I get to try new jokes in a supportive, professional and well-attended space — much, much better than a regular open mic.”
Green revealed what made her tick, comedy-wise, telling QNS:
“I love human connection — through conversation, comedy, music, acting and art. I think my purpose is to educate, entertain and inspire, and my style is mostly storytelling and some observational humor. My life, my experiences and the people and places I encounter inspire my comedy. As a single woman in New York, I have a lot to share!”
Photo courtesy of QED Astoria
So, what’s your process like for coming up with new material?
“Something funny happens (on a date, at my office job, in my family) or I notice something that I have a strong point of view about. I write it down and then figure out how to put it in joke structure,” Green explained.
The multi-talented comedian is looking forward to performing in another QED show on May 28 at 7:30 p.m., where she’ll sing and play violin. Come by and enjoy a musical comedy, with funny, original songs and parodies.
https://qedastoria.com/products/phantom-of-the-pop-girlies
Like Green and the other hardworking and talented comics featured on New Material Night, Chris Moore has been making a splash in NYC’s comedy scene.
“I’ve learned in the past few years, that when I have a microphone, I have a platform; therefore, I have a responsibility to myself and to the queer community to be unapologetically my authentic self,” Moore told QNS.
Describing his comedic style and what inspires his material, he added: “My comedy style has evolved quite a bit as I’ve gotten older. Twenty years ago, I loved to say/do anything that would elicit a visceral response, but today, I tap into my insecurities and have honest conversations that question the status quo.
“I used to stay home and write about everything, all the time, but I was missing out on what life has to offer. Now, I travel, meet new people and try new things, which provides so much more material than being a hermit glued to my notebook,”
Moore shared a couple of snarky jokes: “At Thanksgiving, a few years back, my aunt told me that my lifestyle was an abomination. But she tries to pass off lawn chairs as living room furniture, so we all know who the real sinner is!”
Here’s another: “Wow! Such a diverse lineup! I love it, but if my grandma was here, she’d say something ignorant like, ‘I don’t see color.’ But to be fair, diabetes took her vision and a bunch of fingers, so…”
Talking about his FratChat Podcast — a weekly comedy podcast that he co-hosts with comedian Carlos Garcia, Moore said: “We take emails from the listeners, discuss news stories, and dive into pop culture, while occasionally referencing the good ol’ days from when we were in the same fraternity together.” https://bleav.com/shows/fratchat/
The comic has performed at various bars and queer events in Queens but told QNS that Q.E.D. is his go-to neighborhood comedy club: “Everyone is super nice there. I prefer the intimacy at this venue, and the crowds tend to be local and a lot of fun!”
Longtime Astoria resident Lauren Hope Krass performs regularly at Astoria’s super-popular fun spot, and makes people laugh with her unique brand of humor.
“My style, lately, has been sort of chaotic yet with a clear and authentic point of view. I’m very autobiographical and don’t hold back. My personal life is my biggest inspiration for material because life is absolutely ridiculous!” she shared.
So, how does she come up with new material?
“It’s very hard for me to sit down, focus and write. Sometimes, if I make a friend laugh in organic conversation, I’ll be like, ‘Oh wait, was that funny?’ And then I’ll write it down. I also write on stage a lot. Or, if I’m writing at home, I have to speak it out loud…I need to hear how the jokes sound,” Krass explained.
What makes you tick as a comic?
“It’s cheesy, but I love the connection that I build with an audience. I always say, I need the lights a little up because I need to see who I’m talking to. I always try to make sure I’m funny, of course, but a lot of my material is subversive and confronts the modern-day struggle of women (and especially plus size women). I think I help make people feel seen in a way that doesn’t feel so dark.”
The comedian said Q.E.D.is her favorite: “It was the first place that booked me when I moved here, and I used to work there full time. The show I’ll be headlining was once my show, actually, ha-ha! The joke was that I wanted ‘an open mic for famous people.’
“Q.E.D. just always has an audience who genuinely loves comedy, which makes every show a really fun and intimate experience.”
And don’t forget: A comic’s biggest thrill is hearing you laugh!
Q.E.D.’s owner Hannah Lieberman, added: “New Material Night is such a perfect embodiment of everything that Q.E.D.’s about: providing a warm, welcoming space for artists to try new things. And the lineups are always stellar!”