Another Showcase Showdown
Ten years ago, I met a talented group of actors here in Los Angeles. I was so new to the area I didn’t know what USC stood for. I thought it was the same as UCLA. (Apparently, they are so fucking different.) I chanted “USC-LA!!” at a college football game here and nearly got killed by fans from both sides. Anyway, these USC kids were doing their own version of a “Showcase”, which is when actors pay to perform in front of people who might give them a job. Except the USC kids didn’t want any actors to pay, AND they wanted the people who might give them jobs to pay to see them. Bold! Extraordinary! I joined up and started writing, performing, singing, dancing, making videos and making people laugh on stages here in L.A., and also making friends (aw).
And you know, YouTube is like a giant showcase, really. Unknown performers can show everyone what they can do. Our show, Another Showcase Showdown, or A.S.S. as we like to call it, is really the punk rock version of YouTube. It’s live, it’s messy, it’s fun, there’s drinking, there’s blackface and drag, there’s musical numbers and onstage fucking, and yes I said blackface, and people get offended but they laugh. Unlike YouTube, if they don’t like something, they don’t comment, “Shut up and die, faggot!” (although that might be interesting). And A.S.S. has actually resulted in real jobs over the years, like the “I Hate My 30’s” TV show on VH1 that ran for an entire full whole season. Our original title was “The AfterWork Special” because we thought it would interest folks who remembered the AfterSchool Specials in the 80’s and how silly they were, and connect with a lot of our generation who feel we’ve never grown up.
We still haven’t grown up…Come see us in our ten year reunion festival. It’s February 4 through 13, just pick a night. You know what? L.A. years are like dog years, so in L.A. years, we’re like the Who! (Hope they play Squeeze Box at the Superbowl!!!) Oh, and there are 17 of us, most of whom have been there since day one. Still funny after all these years.
Another Showcase Showdown, Feb 4, 5, 6 and 11, 12, 13 at the Lillian Theatre in L.A. click here for more info!
starring:
Liam Sullivan

