“Rocky Horror Picture Show” ringmaster and star Tim Curry – who famously portrayed the iconic Frank N. Furter in the film – gets the tribute treatment, appearing in person along with San Francisco drag star Peaches Christ, during SF Sketchfest, which returns to San Francisco venues Jan. 16-Feb. 2 with yet another stacked lineup.
The comedy festival will host more than 180 shows, bringing major comedy stars and the best up-and-coming comedians together for over two weeks of sketch, stand-up, alternative comedy, music, improv, tributes, live podcasts and more. Now in its 22nd year, SF Sketchfest is an internationally recognized, eclectic, and critically acclaimed festival which features special programming, never-before-seen events, and the rare opportunity for audiences to see favorite performers in intimate live settings.
“An Evening With Tim Curry and Peaches Christ” takes place Saturday, Feb. 1 at 7 p.m.at the Sydney Goldstein Theater, and is just one of many tribute events on the calendar, including “The Groundlings” 50th anniversary, with an alumni improv show and panel featuring Ana Gasteyer, Laraine Newman, Julia Sweeney, Jordan Black, David Crabb, Michael Hitchcock, Phil LaMare and more; Richard Kind in conversation with Kevin Pollak; a conversation with JB Smoove from “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “The Music of ‘Kids In The Hall’” just to name a few.
The 45th anniversary of the film “Airplane!” will be celebrated along with its accompanying book “Surely You Can’t Be Serious,” with a special live read of the screenplay featuring co-creator David Zucker, original star Robert Hays and surprise guests. The casts of Childrens Hospital and Futurama will reunite and the 50th anniversary of The Groundlings will be celebrated with an all-star show.
There’s music, too, with performances from Bill Murray and His Blood Brothers band featuring Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia; the aptly-named Middle Aged Dad Jam Band with Ken Marino and David Wain.
Sketch comedy favorites The State will present a live read of their unproduced musical “A Holiday Hubbub at Porcupine Corners;” and three members of “The Kids in the Hall”: Bruce McCulloch, Kevin McDonald, and Scott Thompson, will team up with the Bay Area’s Red Room Orchestra for a night of songs and sketches from the famed troupe.
The festival will present the Bay Area premiere of the raunchy, chaotic, and adults-only spectacle known as Stamptown, created by Zach Zucker, along with other shows from the Stamptown family and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, including shows by Riki Lindhome, BriTANick, Demi Adejuyigbe, Business Casual, Mr Chonkers, Zucker’s alter-ego Jack Tucker, and more.
In a similar vein, the alternative comedy world of Connor Ratliff will be on display with his parodic The George Lucas Talk Show, a fake Acting Class, and a parody reading of the Star Wars Holiday special called The Kashyyyk Life Day Carol. And the festival teams up with WestBeth Entertainment to present the Bay Area premiere of Cassie Workman: Aberdeen, the hit show about Kurt Cobain that captivated Phoebe Waller-Bridge at the Edinburgh festival.
Tickets for all SF Sketchfest events are on sale at the festival website.
Live podcasts continue to be a major part of the festival. Podcasts making their festival debut include Naked Lunch with Phil Rosenthal and David Wild; Bad Dates with Joel Kim Booster; Go Fact Yourself; StraightioLab; The Sit and Chat Podcast; Free With Ads; and Wrong Answers Only. Returning festival favorites include Judge John Hodgman; Endless Honeymoon with Moshe Kasher and Natasha Leggero; Exploration Live!; The Bechdel Cast, Hello From the Magic Tavern; The Neighborhood Listen; Doug Loves Movies; The Flop House, Will You Accept This Rose; Hey Riddle Riddle and more.
Improvisational comedy will be well-represented with Dinner Date featuring Rachel Bloom, John Ross Bowie, Jamie Denbo, and Dan Gregor; Shamilton: The Improvised Hip-Hop Musical; The Improvised Shakespeare Company; Upright Citizens Brigade’s ASSSSCAT; Dinosaur Improv; The Black Version; Theme Park; Workjuice Improv; Off Book: The Improvised Musical, and more. And next generation sketch comedy stars That’s a Bad Idea make their festival debut.
In the world of theater and variety, the festival welcomes the triumphant returns of The Thrilling Adventure Hour featuring Busy Philipps, Paul F. Tompkins, Marc Evan Jackson, Joshua Malina and more; and Celebrity Autobiography with a cast including Pamela Adlon, Richard Kind, Ralph Macchio, Laraine Newman, Jennifer TIlly and Blair Underwood. Fake Ted Talks is back with Jonathan Coulton, Paul & Storm, Adam Savage and more, as are Asian AF; Hanging with Dr. Z with Dana Gould; Comedian Clash with Jacquis Neal, Sherry Cola and more; Porchlight; Tinder Live with Lane Moore; and Self Help Me with Jenny Yang.
Cinematic silliness will be on hand with Riffapalooza featuring performers from Mystery Science Theater 3000 including Frank Conniff, Bill Corbett, Kevin Murphy and Mary Jo Pehl; and the 20th anniversary of the Found Footage Festival.
Top stand-up comedians featured include Maria Bamford, Chris Fleming, Joel Kim Booster, Dulcé Sloan, Rhys Darby, Robby Hoffman, Punkie Johnson, Aparna Nancherla, The Sklar Brothers, Nore Davis, Josh Gondelman, Alison Leiby, Kate Willett, Hampton Yount, Nori Reed and the ridiculously named Comedians Named Todd with Todd Barry and Todd Glass.
The SF Sketchfest Dozen, a yearly spotlight of 12 top comedians, is once again stacked with talent featuring Sophie Buddle, Brittany Carney, Carmen Christopher, Marie Faustin, Roz Hernandez, Kevin Iso, Bo Johnson, Rachel Kaly, Saul Trujillo, Ikechukwu Ufomadu, Eagle Witt and Sabrina Wu.
More shows will be announced, and the complete schedule and lineup, including dozens of up-and-coming performers, can be found on the website.
Among the venues hosting SF Sketchfest shows are Club Fugazi, Cobb’s Comedy Club, Eclectic Box, The Gateway Theater, The Great American Music Hall, The Great Star Theater, The Lost Church, Marines’ Memorial Theatre, The Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, The Punch Line Comedy Club, Smith Rafael Film Center, and The Sydney Goldstein Theater.