There’s no cover charge, no two-drink minimum, and you don’t even have to put on pants. Yes, improv and stand-up comedy is coming to virtual reality starting tonight (Dec 2) in AltspaceVR, the social VR space that brought you official Dungeons and Dragons to virtual reality.
AltspaceVR has helped lead the way in live talks, social tabletop games and movie nights galore, but starting tonight the social VR platform wants to tickle your funny bone. To attend the comedy events, all you have to do is sign up for AltspaceVR, download the launcher (for use with VR headsets and traditional monitors) and RSVP to the event you want to attend.
The events will also be streamed live via YouTube.
Improv Night with Adam McCabe and Robert Chan (Dec 2)
Watch what happens live when we throw two improv veterans from the esteemed Upright Citizens Brigade into VR, with full body tracking suits. December 2, 6:00pm PST (your local time)
Adam McCabe is a performer/writer/teacher from the Upright Citizens Brigade in Los Angeles. He is a member of the veteran house team Bangarang! and has toured the country with them. He’s written for [Adult Swim], Funny Or Die and starred in the award winning comedy feature Detective Detective Detective.
Robert Chan is an 18-year sketch and improv veteran – writing, performing, and hosting shows at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, Second City Hollywood, and ComedySportz. He is currently a writer for Yahoo and performs in Doctor Who Live at iO West and conventions around the country.
Stand-up Comedy Night with Moses Storm, Brandon Wardell and Ever Mainard, hosted by Brad Silnutzer (Dec 3)
Coming to you from JASH Network HQ in Los Angeles – what could go wrong when we push comedians into VR? We could tell you how amazing this line-up is going to be, or you could just come by and see for yourself, which is what we’re recommending. December 3, 6:00pm PST (your local time)
Moses Storm is an Actor/Comedian born in the midwest. He spent the first half of his life traveling in a bus with his family of missionaries. After years of extreme religious repression and homeschooling, Moses has emerged with a highly unique comic voice and knowing nothing about “Science”. Moses can be seen starring on the HULU series 4 TO 9ERS, NBC episodic ABOUT A BOY, and the Universal movie UNFRIENDED.
Brandon Wardell is an actor, writer, and standup comedian who Vulture calls one of The Top 50 Comedians To Know in 2015. He has performed at festivals including SXSW in Austin, the Bridgetown Comedy Festival in Portland, and the Bentzen Ball in DC. Based in Los Angeles, he is a egular at all the popular venues including Meltdown, the Hollywood Improv, The Virgil, and UCB. In 2014, and at 22 years old, Brandon impressively toured with Bob Odenkirk as feature act for Bob’s standup album, “Amateur Hour.” This year, Brandon has been touring with Bo Burnham and has collaborated with various outlets
Ever Mainard is one of the fastest rising comics in the alternative scene. Ever’s spontaneous characters, quick witted anecdotes, and quirky mannerisms will have you laughing well after her performance.Ever’s background in improv gives her the ability to create visceral and border line cathartic moments in her crowd work and off the cuff riffs. As seen on Funny or Die’s OddBall Festival. JFL (CHICAGO), SF SKETCHFEST, JEZEBEL.COM, BITCH MAGAZINE, and more.
Stand-up Comedy with Kate Willett, Jesse Hett and Samantha Gilweit (Dec 4)
We have assembled a ridiculously awesome line-up of Bay Area comedians to take you into the weekend laughing – who gets work done on a Friday afternoon anyways? So join us for this hilarious event and prepare for the whole sore face thing that happens when you laugh too hard (is there really such a thing?). December 4, 4:00pm PST (your local time)
San Francisco Magazine describes Kate Willett as a “comedian you should know about” so here’s the deetz: Kate’s a regular at the San Francisco Punchline, Cobb’s, The Improv, Rooster T Feather’s and basically every dive bar and theater in town. She’s proud to have been part of the past two SF Sketchfest Festivals and to have opened for some of her favorite comics including Margaret Cho, Anthony Jeselnik, and Jackie Kashian. She is the host and producer of four San Francisco comedy shows, including The Mission Position, the Comikaze Lounge, Live at Deluxe, and Comedy at the Convent. You’ll also find Kate featured on This is not Happening on Comedy Central come February.
Jesse Hett was born in a town called Newton, Kansas. After that, he learned to walk and talk and ride a bike and do a bunch of other stuff. He also moved to a lot of different places, and now lives in Oakland, California. His comedy has been described as “Really great” by a lot of people and “Not really that great” by fewer people. Jesse performs at clubs and colleges and warehouses and furniture stores and bars all over the place.
Samantha Gilweit is a single mother, writer, and comedian based in Oakland, CA. Her life is an open book – a book of cleverly constructed confessions and criticisms. Samantha’s comedy has been described as personal, clever and fearless, or as Larry “Bubbles” Brown said after seeing her perform, “She smoked that room like a crack pipe.” Samantha has performed at the Punch Line in San Francisco and other venues all over the Bay Area and Los Angeles. This year, Samantha was invited to compete in the 39th San Francisco International Comedy Competition.
What do you think about stand-up comedy in social VR? Let us know in the comments below!
