Center Playhouse, 35 South St., Freehold Borough, will begin hosting a monthly comedy night, “Pat’s Place 4 Comedy,” starting Oct. 18 and then continuing on the second Thursday of the month beginning in November.
The headliner for the inaugural show is Howell’s Joseph Anthony, who has appeared at the
Borgata Comedy Club, Catch A Rising Star and The Punchline.
In his bio, Anthony says he was “raised (in part) by his five older sisters who frequently opened Joseph’s mind up to such things as how to use a hot curling hair kit, cleaning the crevices of wood furniture, and being a constant (mini) Hustle practice partner, all with the absence of any brothers and a father determined to figure out the fine art of betting … he (Joseph) was no stranger to the ways of the streets, but also enjoyed a quiet retreat to read and write at a very young age. The results you say? He can hold court with both Harvard and Sing Sing prison alumni, just the same.”
Anthony studied writing style and screenwriting at the New School for Social Research, New York City. He learned the basics of filmmaking at the College of Staten Island. He studied the Meisner technique of acting under Joanna Beckson (Ray Romano’s teacher). Anthony began his career in stand-up in January 1990 at PIPS Comedy Club in Brooklyn, according to a press release.
The Oct. 18 show will also feature area comedian Kurt Zimmerman, who hosted his weekly radio show, “Robbinsville Train Wreck,” on Hamilton Radio.
Manalapan residents Randi Lupo and Patrick Mirucki will produce the evening of comedy at Center Playhouse.
“Center Playhouse is a hidden gem in downtown Freehold and we look forward to hosting our comedy night in this wonderful, intimate venue,” Lupo and Mirucki said.
Lupo, who premiered her one woman show “Sometimes I’m OK” to sold out crowds in 2017 at the Producers Club (Off-Broadway) in New York City, will be producing the evening along with Mirucki, who produced Lupo’s one-woman show and directed and produced “The Uncle Floyd Show” in the mid-1990s.
Together they created “Pat’s Place 4 Comedy” in the early 2000s to provide a venue for the
area’s brightest new talent. After producing their shows in Nutley at VK Media Studios, they
are now bringing Pat’s Place to Freehold, showcasing the metro area’s best and brightest new talent as well as national headliners, according to the press release.
Doors for the Thursday performances will open at 7 p.m., with shows starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets will be available through www.brownpapertickets.com. Additional information can be found on the Freehold standup comedy Meetup group to connect with locals interested in stand-up comedy. Visit www.patsplace4comedy.com for further details. For booking information, email Randi Lupo at [email protected]