Stand-up comedy is a captivating and unique craft that has the power to both entertain and provoke introspection in audiences. It requires a mastery of language, performance, and emotional intelligence to connect with audiences, generating a unique energy that binds performers and spectators in a moment of shared laughter and understanding. In this way, stand-up comedy stands as a powerful art form, capable of evoking emotions, igniting conversations and even effecting social change, making it an essential and dynamic part of our cultural landscape.
The Count Basie Center for the Arts will present on Aug. 24 the highly anticipated "Jersey Shore Top Comic" - a riotous showcase of the region's most hilarious stand-up comedians competing for the coveted title of Top Comic. About ten contestants will complete before professionals with amazing credits. The winning comedian will get a feature weekend spot at the legendary Stress Factory Comedy Club in New Brunswick & the Jersey Shore Top Comic championship belt!
Drawing inspiration from the iconic and vibrant Jersey Shore, this comedy extravaganza promises an evening filled with uproarious jokes, clever wit and side-splitting humor that will leave you in stitches. As the spotlight shines on these talented performers, get ready to experience a comedic journey like no other, as they take the stage and lay bare their funniest and most entertaining stories.
The Vogel at the Count Basie Center for the Arts.
I spoke with Top Comic master of ceremonies, Chris Covert, who has been a longtime fixture on the Jersey Shore comedy circuit. I told him how much I admired stand-up comedians - they’re like boxers up there, facing an audience all alone. “Yeah, not so much lonely, as we all know each other and a lot of us are friends. But, yeah, it’s not like a band where you can maybe blame the drummer or something when things go wrong,” said Covert. “Performance is therapeutic for some comics, but most of us just like the sound of our own voices, really!
“This Jersey Shore Top Comic is the first one and we are hoping to make it a yearly thing. There’s definitely a buzz – I’m constantly fielding questions. I don’t know what’s going to happen but the talent level is going to be excellent.”
Covert and the other judges have been receiving audition tapes and holding large group auditions. “The ‘cattle call’ auditions are going very well,” he said. “ It’s not limited to first-timers or anything, so there’s going to be some very experienced comics up there along with newcomers, I think.
The judges will winnow down the dozens of aspiring and experienced comics to 8 to 10 - the very best the Jersey Shore has to offer.
Covert said, “Our incredible judges are Vinny Brand, longtime comic and club owner; Joe Materese – he has been on David Letterman, Craig Kilborn, the Late, Late Show, Chelsea – you name it. Another judge is the great actress, writer and producer, Siobhan Fallon Hogan – she was in Men In Black, she was the bus driver in Forrest Gump, and, of course, Saturday Night Live. She lives in the area. She’s like comedy royalty here.”
Covert is quite familiar with running a show like this, with multiple and sometimes competing comics. The experience has helped him develop material and grow his own act.
“I’m so excited! I started running open mic nights like, 15 years ago. I bought a little PA and I wound up running that room for like, eight years,” he said. I was up and down, up and down, onstage between comics. I had so many opportunities to work on and try out material. I had an hour of strong material before I even knew it.”
Comedian Chris Covert will be master of ceremonies.
I asked Covert about how comedy clubs and his colleagues were affected by the pandemic, and has the business fully rebounded from the events that sank so many clubs and venues. “As far as attendance is concerned, it’s been great,” he replied. “Probably my busiest summer ever. Around the Jersey Shore, summer was always a tough sell for comics getting people into venues. That is not so much the case anymore! I think restaurants and smaller venues are keener to try out doing comedy – there’s so much competition in the restaurant world, they’re happy to have us to differentiate them from the next place.
“For this event, with the blessing of Count Basie Center for the Arts – who has been absolutely wonderful, so supportive – the comedy community is rising to the occasion. Anytime an event like this works – just people going out to see live comedy – it works for all of us ‘doing the weekend-’ or ‘daily comedy grind.’ The endgame is to get new audiences coming out. That inspires all of us to do better, be more creative and just keep going – ‘keep on truckin.’”
So, brace yourselves for an unforgettable night of laughter, camaraderie, and joy as these gifted comedians battle it out, pushing the boundaries of humor to make you laugh until your cheeks hurt. Join us as we celebrate the talent and humor of the Jersey Shore and crown the next Top Comic at the Vogel in Redbank.
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