Coming Soon: SF Sketchfest, February 2nd & 4th

We can’t wait to come back to SF Sketchfest, the Bay Area’s yearly celebration of sketch, improv, stand-up, musical and alternative comedy. Due to a sudden outbreak of babies,  we didn’t make it to Sketchfest last year, so we’re super-excited to return. We’ll bring sketches from our October show as well as some new material. Hope you can make it!

Crisis Hopkins at SF Sketchfest
Thursday February 2nd, 8pm (with Seth and Kellen and Thunderstood)
Saturday February 4th, 10pm (with Madelyn Walter: I’m Doing Fine! and Oh Theodora)
at The Dark Room, 2263 Mission at 19th, SF.
tickets: $15, more info here.

Consider Yourself Pandered To.

We had an amazing time putting Panderfest 2011 together with Mission Control. In addition to adding some dope new sketches to our repertoire, the show provided us the opportunity to help break in a new space – Stage Werx 446 in the Mission District. Thanks to everyone who came out to support the show. Extra special thanks to: Ann Marie Alanes, Cassidy Brown, Rebecca Poretsky, Lily Harvey, Ty McKenzie, and PianoFight.

Pictured above, the Crisis Hopkins Pandercast, from left to right: Chris Hayes, Phil Ristaino, Jamie Wright, Dan Burt, Chrysteena Lairamore, Christy Daly, Sam Shaw.

10/12 SF Bay Guardian: Panderfest is “mostly spot-on..agreeable..ball-wrecking..withering..”

via www.sfbg.com.

PANDER-IFFIC!!!

Opening weekend of Panderfest went fantastically well – here’s the ridiculous (and ridiculously kickass!) promo from the weekend’s madness put together by Mission Control’s comedy overlord organization, PianoFight!!

GET YOUR PANDER-TICKETS HERE!!

Pandermonium

The PanderFest 2011 pandermonium is well underway here at Crisis Hopkins and across the nation.  While many have already made the switch to the PanderFest lifestyle of satisfaction, no lifestyle movement is complete without an omnipotent godhead to guide it.  Allow us to introduce to you, your PanderFest 2011 mascot, the Pandering Panda!

Isn’t he cute? He knows pretty much everything there is to know about satisfying the public, including when to sneeze. But if there’s one thing he knows the people love most, it’s calling the shots.  That’s why the Pandering Panda is letting YOU decide what he says on the official PanderFest t-shirt.  And why wouldn’t he?  You guys are really smart about this sort of thing. Just head over to Cloudship Creative’s website and comment on the article with your best pandering line for a chance to have a thought from your own brain show up on the PanderFest tee.  The winning panderer will even win a t-shirt for their mental efforts, just remember: the Pandering Panda will say pretty much anything, so long as it panders to the audience.  The contest closes tomorrow, so get over there now!

Yes, creative participation is both fun and rewarding, but PanderFest research indicates that most actually people prefer to think nothing  at all. If you think not thinking sounds great, we think we’ve got you covered. This very website is littered with links to tickets for the show but you can always simply head to PanderExpress.com, pick a date, purchase a ticket, and show up at 446 Valencia at 8pm on that date to put yourself in the hands of comedy scientists who will do all the thinking for you. It’s so simple!  For all you brainiacs out there, you can even enter the code ‘PANDERME’ when buying your ticket to knock $5 off the price! Buying in bulk (6+) or before opening night (October 7) will also save you some scratch.  Options!

The only decision you really have to make is whether or not to allow PanderFest and its Pandering Panda pleasure you and let’s face it; you earned it. Now get over to Cloudship Creative and make that panda purr!

We Love You.

We’ve had great success since 2006 creating comedy shows based on what we personally find entertaining. In our improvisations, we make choices based on what we think is funny and true. As we commit our improv to written sketches, we only choose material that tickles our personal funnybone. But recently, we realized we have it a little wrong. Because  in inviting audience to our shows, we’re asking not only for your hard earned money, but more importantly, your precious time. So we decided to put a show together that puts the needs of the audience above all else. Which is why this October we are partnering with Mission Control, the sketch comedy arm of PianoFight, to bring you Panderfest 2011 – a comedy show scientifically calibrated to please the audience. Nothing like this has ever been attempted before.

We’re also excited that this show is taken place at Stage Werx 446, the Mission District’s newest venue for improv, sketch, and independent theater. This is a truly historic event. Two troupes, one show, a zillion laughs. Get your tickets now. You won’t be disappointed. It’s simply not possible.

Panderfest 2011
Sketch and Improv comedy from Crisis Hopkins and Mission Control
Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays in October
at Stage Werx 446
446 Valencia at 16th.
Buy advanced tickets now.

Panderfest 2011 is an “official pick” of the Bay Area Comedy Hall of Fame.

Opening the San Francisco Improv Festival, Thursday August 18th

We’re excited and honored, not only to return to the San Francisco Improv Festival, but to help open it up, alongside BATS Improv, PianoFight, and The Super-Dupers. The Eureka is a big and beautiful theater, but with this awesome program, expect opening night to sell out. Buy Now!

Crisis Hopkins at The 2011 San Francisco Improv Festival
Thursday August 18th, 7:30pm
at The Eureka Theater
215 Jackson St., SF
Tix: $20-25

Lamorinda’s Favorite Comedy Troupe, hosting Town Hall Kids Aug. 6

Lamorinda’s favorite improv and sketch comedy group, Crisis Hopkins, shares the spotlight with some of Town Hall Kids rising stars in this one-night entertainment extravaganza. Featuring some of your favorite performances from The Wizard of Oz, Little Shop of Horrors, Our Town, Disney’s 101 Dalmatians, and many, many more!

All proceeds from this event will go to the Town Hall Theatre Main Stage and Town Hall Kids programs.

The Rising Stars of Town Hall Kids
hosted by Crisis Hopkins
August 6, 7pm
Town Hall Theater, Lafayette
Tickets

Appearing at ImprovLuv, July 28th

We’ve had a soft spot for improv jams for many years, having produced our own, Crisis Hopkins’ Improv Soapbox, for a while at the Climate Theater some years back. We’re glad that the folks at Leela believe enough in the value of improv jams that they decided to produce a monthly improv jam of their own. And it’s a great one – a welcoming, fun open stage, featuring improvisers from across the Bay Area. We look forward to coming by at the end of the month and we hope to see you there!

Crisis Hopkins at ImprovLuv
Thursday July 28th, 8pm
at the Ninth Street Independent Film Center
145 9th at Mission, SF

Twilight Zone Live: Wanna See Something Really Scary?

We’re returning to The Dark Room, this time in video form. We’ve wanted to do this piece for years, and are thrilled to finally have the opportunity. Remember the prologue to The Twilight Zone: The Movie, with Dan Ackroyd and Albert Brooks driving down a desolate highway? We’ve remade it, as a trailer for the Dark Room’s Twilight Zone Live, and as a stand-alone piece to be screened at the show. Directed by Jamie Wright and starring Sam Shaw and CHops friend Dan Foley. Enjoy! Oh – and the series runs at the Dark Room throughout July. It’s a great time, and you should go. Buy tickets here.