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S & M Comedy presents “Silence: Comedians on Storytelling,” a show that gives comedians the opportunity tell true stories from their real lives without the bounds of a setup and punchline. More than laughter, “Silence” gives comedians an opportunity to connect with audiences on a different level. Instead of a steady stream of jokes, the show focuses on personal experiences in a comedian’s life, and stories that would normally not make it to a comedy stage.
S & M Comedy Presents is a monthly late night series of live shows created by Jamie Sanderson and Steve Marek, designed to challenge comedians and bring variety to the Phoenix comedy scene.
Steve Marek (left) and Jamie Sanderson of S & M Comedy.
S & M Comedy started as a podcast three years ago, featuring interviews with local and touring comedians (The S&M Comedy Podcast). In the last year interviews have included Adam Ferrara (of “Top Gear USA”), Greg Proops (“Whose Line is it Anyway?”) and Roy Wood Jr. (“Sullivan and Sons”). S & M Comedy Presents was developed when Space 55 approached Sanderson and Marek to create comedy shows at their venue. Sanderson and Marek wanted to offer something more than a straight stand up show, so they created different themes that force comedians out of their comfort zones. So far this year they’ve done “This Day in History,” a show based around the date of the performance and “Poetry Slim,” a show focused on getting comics on stage writing and performing original poetry.
S & M has dual meaning. It is both the initials of the last names of the company players and it refers to the sadomasochistic nature of most comedians. “When starting out comedy, the performer has to deal with a lot
of rejection, be it not getting shows, or not getting laughs from material that was thought to be funny,” said Steve Marek (the M in S&M). “It takes a special kind of personality to endure the harsher aspects of comedy in the pursuit of laughter, so we set out to explore those ideas.” What they have focused on with podcasts are interviews that are geared towards comics in their first 1-3 years, who looking to get through the open mic level and on to the next level, however that may be defined.
If you go:
What: Silence: Comedians on Storytelling
Where: Space 55, 636 E. Pierce Street
When: Friday, November 14, 10:30 p.m.
Tickets: $5.00 donation to Space 55
