I Graduated... UCB Improv 101!

Friends. I've been on a wild journey, a journey to strange lands and funny accents. It took me 8 whole weeks, but I did it, I completed my first UCB improv course.

Marcy's class! We graduated!

A huge fan of the Upright Citizens Brigade Comedy Central show and Sundays' widely popular ASSSSCAT shows, UCB has been a part of my life since high school (which was longer ago than you might think). Memories of college dorm room life are heavily sprinkled with UCB comedy, as my roommate Talia and I would fall asleep every night to our worn season one DVD (played from her laptop computer of course). Obviously, most of our conversations included bit clips from the show; quotes like "You shut your zsezse mouth" and "Don't sit on me!" always found their way into our day-to-day dialogue. To this day, I can't eat sushi without incorporating into the meal spontaneous outbursts of "I LOVE SUSHI!"

When the opportunity to see my four favorite comedians doing live improv every Sunday FOR FREE arose, you bet I was there sitting first row every chance I got. Sure, the lines for ASSSSCAT got pretty rough but that was a small price to pay to see Matt, Matt, Ian, and (occasionally) Amy do their thing mere feet away from my eyeballs. They don't perform ASSSSCAT on the regular anymore (cause they're all pretty big now) so I feel really fortunate to have seen them in those days. Yes, I said it. I saw them before you soooo... I'm cool and stuff.

So why didn't I immediately sign up for their improv classes? I have no idea. Fear of not being quick enough, smart enough, funny enough... yeah probably. Anyway, after seeing a majority of commercial auditions morph from scripted material to improv, I decided to stop avoiding the unavoidable, it was time... to stop thinking. "Don't think," UCB's motto is exactly what I did that fateful moment when I closed my eyes and charged $400 to my credit card... Of course, the expense hurt at the time but the experience was worth every penny. Marcy, our teacher was hilarious (and informative), the other students were fun to play with, and I became inspired to see shows other than ASSSSCAT.

We had our class graduation show yesterday afternoon. The house was surprisingly huge and was filled with hearty laughter (gotta love supportive friends!) Honestly, I don't even know what I did up there for 20 minutes; it's all a giant blur. Was it actually funny? Who knows. It doesn't matter. What does matter is that I'm on track! I plan on going all the way with this, 201, 301, etc. I'll even try my hand at the sketch classes. Guys listen. I'm really excited about this.

Billy Van Zandt's "Drop Dead!" at Noho Arts Center

I don't have any witty comments regarding my silence during my latest endeavor "Drop Dead!" (which closed a month ago). I guess you can call me a big fat lazy turd. I'm okay with that. The truth is I was just having too much fun playing porn star Candy Apples in Billy Van Zandt's murder mystery farce. Billy wrote and directed this comedy at the Noho Arts Center. The cast included ME, Mews Small (the original Frenchie in Broadway's Grease!), Bill Doherty Jr, Barry Brisco, Timmy Alonzo, Claudine Claudio, Cy Creamer, Mark Vasquez, Grey Rodriguez, and Eddie Liu.

YES, playing the slow-witted bubble-popping sex vixen Candy Apples, I got to strip down to a playful little number every night and wiggle my behind for the adoring crowds. Ahh the life of an entertainer. My favorite review of course was:

"Shelly Hacco plays gum-chewing former porn star Candy Apples who takes on the role of Penelope in DROP DEAD!..  Penelope appears in sexy black lingerie through most of the show, adding even more appeal to every farcical situation that comes her way. And Hacco wears it well." - Broadway World

Just fooling! We got a nice amount of praise from reviewers and audience members alike. We're proud. Here's some to read if you'd like:

All About the Stage
Life in LA

My favorite part of this show was working with Billy. He is a master at comedy and taking his directions was like being an apprentice to a world renowned wizard. Thanks for the opportunity Billy!

Me with writer/director Billy Van Zandt! 

Picture time!

Shelly Hacco as Candy Apples. Barry Brisco as Piggy banks.

Cy creamer as Victor Le Pewe. Bill Doherty Jr. as Brent Reynolds. News Small as Constance Crawford.

Cast from left to right: Bill Doherty Jr. Cy Creamer, Timmy Alonzo, Claudine Claudio, Mark Vasquez, Barry Brisco, Eddie Liu, Mews Small, Shelly Hacco, Grey Rodriguez

Eddie Liu as Chaz Looney. Shelly Hacco as Candy Apples. Bill Doherty Jr. as Brent Reynolds.

 

"Abstraction" at McGroarty Art Center

Just now, I noticed that yesterday's page view count shot up from 0 to a whopping 18 views (from people in France, no less). I realize that this is pretty pathetic but being a person that usually has an audience of 0, I just want to say "Thanks France! I hope I didn't disappoint you. Consider this post dedicated to you!"

Sooo... what can I tell you about... I performed in a fundraiser last week for the McGroarty Arts Center (as a part of their "Arts at Play Festival"). We put on a fun sketch comedy show called "Abstraction" which was meant to poke fun at abstract art (you know... cause it's so dumb and all). Here's the recap:

It was written by Ryan Paul James and directed by Crystal Craft. It starred ME, Ronnie Marmo, Julianna Bolles-Morrison, Tanya Wilkins, Izzy Diaz, and Joe Dalo. Much to my surprise, it was extremely well-received and will probably resurface as a full length play at the Pacific Palisades Theatre in the summer. WOAH.

Cyrtal Craft and Ryan Paul James with a questionable piece.

The cast!

Backstage with Julianna, Tanya, and ME!

Backstage with the handsome Ronnie Marmo (he made me say that)

Backstage with Joe Dalo

"The Precipitations" are groovin' you back to the '70's

So I'm in a band now. We're called "The Precipitations" and though we're nowhere near "professional," we certainly can get you tapping your foot. Earlier this month, we played favorites like "Lean on Me" and "Try a Little Tenderness" at Burbank's "The Park Bar and Grill." Folks who came out to support were surprised (I think) by our funky jams, not to mention, our groovy threads. As usual, I surpassed all in the costuming department... but that's just how I roll, kid. Like a foxy mama, like a disco queen, I glided into The Park with '70's swank. And like every self-respecting class act musician, I got nice and toasty before the big performance (see picture below).

Getting freaky on the mic!

Turns out, we got asked to play again next month. March 1st is the date. Put it on your calendar. Actually put these exact words on your smart phone calendar and set a reminder - "The night I will boogie oogie oogie with the coolest cats in Burbank"

Closing "The Afflicted"

This production was hard to say goodbye to, especially since we were playing to sold-out houses for the last half of the run. People loved this show and I LOVED being in it. When I first started, I was very hesitant about playing a stripper (my typecast usually falls into the teenage dork area). I felt intimidated by the fact that I don't have "sexy moves" and that the last girl to play the role of Tamara was an actual stripper who already had sexuality coded into her body language and demeanor. The lap dance was the most terrifying part but... I did it! Possibly even well! I'll have to ask attendees what they thought of my exotic shimmies, but all in all, I feel really good about having this part under my belt. Ass waving and hair whipping in a priest's crotch? Check that one off the ol' bucket list.

Here's some pictures to make you feel like you were there!

Cast of "The Afflicted"

Jeremy "Turbo" Luke as "Cop Guy"

Daniel Hutchison as "Priest". Shelly Hacco as "Tamara"

Daniel Hutchison as "Priest". Shelly Hacco as "Tamara"

Daniel Hutchison as "Priest"

Ariel Hart as "Judith"

Eddie Alfano as "Douchebag"

Leif Gantvoort as "Karl". Ariel Hart as "Judith". Lincoln Castellanos as "Afflicted"

Perry Smith as "Rich Bitch". Ed Cosico as "Duane"

Lincoln Castellanos as "Afflicted"

Cast and crew of "The Afflicted"

Tommy Kijas and Nadeen Currie as "Afflicted"

Ed Cosico as "Duane"

Cy Creamer - Stage Manager. Shana Gagnon - Assistant Director.
Danny Cistone - Director. Bradley Estrin - Stage Manager

Lincoln Castellanos as "Afflicted Clown"

"The Afflicted" @ The NoHo Arts Center

It's Thursday! A day away from our second weekend of The Afflicted. See trailer here.

After a grueling rehearsal process, the cast and crew of "The Afflicted" (formerly known as "They're Not Zombies") opened last weekend to a SOLD-OUT HOUSE. The fire hazard of people literally sitting anywhere they could in order to catch this show, the non-stop screams and laughs, the bonding of audience members holding each other, and the need for PONCHOS blasted us off into what is sure to be a great zombie-filled run. Even though I literally get showered with blood and am totally disgusting by show's end, I simply cannot wait to put on my stripper suit this weekend!

Hatchie Matchie! Am I right? Come on... I'm totally a young Marisa Tomei in "The Wrestler" (says me and no one else ever). Regardless, you should see this show. If anything, everyone should see it because of this guy...

It's Jeremy "Turbo" Luke. You know him as JGL's little friend in the newly released film Don Jon and as that guido guy in Syfy's Jersey Shore Shark Attack. He's got some KILLER lines, man. KILLER... you know... Kil...anyway... here's another picture.

Join us!

The Zombie Defense

Can you believe it? That's me. Pretty gross, right? Luckily there were no mirrors around or else I would have cried all my make up off. As for things that were around. We had... Pedestrians. Gawking Pedestrians. These guys were fun because I got to play real zombie with them, walking all slow-like toward them, twitching and grunting, until they quickly moved along. Though we shot the bulk of the short this past weekend, I still have one more day to go, pre-zombie. Can't wait to see the finished product.

The Zombie Defense

Written by Jarrod Robbins

Directed by Jarrod Robbins & Jason Snellman

Produced by Josh Doughty

Left to Right: Jarrod Robbins, Shelly Hacco, Josh Doughty, Jason Snellman

Left to Right: Jason Snellman, Jarrod Robbins, David Sound Guy, Dominic Jones, Kyle AD