ColorStruck: Boston’s 6th Annual Women of Color in Comedy

ColorStruck: Boston’s 6th Annual Women of Color in Comedy returns to Jimmy Tingle’s Off Broadway Theatre after playing to sold out audiences last summer. These comediennes will add to the heat of the warm August evenings with their provocative, edgy, and entertaining performances.

Representing a multitude of ethnicities and a variety of viewpoints, a cavalcade of the area’s hottest female comediennes will take center stage to ruminate on the world as they see it:

Sandy Asai (Boston) takes aim at male-female relationships, mainly her own, in most of her comedy performances. A native of Japan, Asai is one of the original members of ColorStruck: Boston’s Women of Color in Comedy and plays clubs in the Greater Boston area as well throughout New England.

Janet Cormier (Arlington) is referred to as ‘the thinking person’s comic.’ Cormier is known for her attitude and edgy political insights. The New York native hosts CORMIER’S COMEDY MADNESS and appears in clubs in and around the state and is an accomplished artist who hosts an art show on Somerville Cable Access Television.

Deb Farrar-Parkman (Dorchester) has been lauded by the Boston Globe as “one of the most consistently inventive performers” to emerge on the Boston comedy scene. The Emmy-Award winning producer and writer performs coast to coast and is a regular host of the Sunday night Women in Comedy series at Jimmy Tingle’s OFF BROADWAY Theater.

Both Hollywood Reporter and Backstage Magazine named Karith Foster (New York) as one of New York City’s top 10 up and coming comics of 2004. The Plano, Texas native can be seen on VH1’s – All Access “Awesomely Bad Celebrity Hair I & II”, “Awesomely Oversexed Celebrities” and on Comedy Central’s “Premium Blend.”

Coleen Galvin (Rhode Island) was featured on Comedy Central’s “Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn” and is making a name for herself all over the country, playing Las Vegas on numerous occasions. A walking United Nations, Galvin claims Native American, African-American and Irish-American roots.

Tissa Hami (North End) is one of the world’s few female Muslim stand-up comics. People who disapprove of her act will be taken hostage. Hami has been featured in some of the country’s most prominent newspapers, including the Boston Globe, Washington Post, and Chicago Tribune, as well as on the BBC and Australian TV. (www.tissahami.com)

Do you enjoy Chinese Takeout? Then you’ll love something else that’s hot, Asian, and ready to go. Malissa Hunt (Watertown) is one delicious treat who will leave you wanting more. Her comedy is a unique blend of her straightforward, no-nonsense Irish and demure, exotic Asian sides – an unusual combination that makes for an unusual style.

Sheila Jackson was voted one of the funniest female comediennes in Portland, Maine. Her shyness offstage belies her power as a comic and comedic actress. She performs regularly at the Portland Comedy Connection and is destined to become a national treasure.

Esther Ku (Somerville) tackles some of today’s most pressing taboos of female sexuality, providing a titillating contrast to her natural look of innocence. Having been censored all her life by multiple forces too many to name, she is unapologetic about her absolute adorableness that she calls dangerous.

As one of the only 5’10” interracial comedians named Bethany, Bethany Van Delft (South End) is a former model and full-time woman. She likes to stand on stages, preferably in front of people, and, quite often, as an added bonus, she’ll tell jokes while standing on stage. She has been featured on WGBH TV and in the Boston Globe.

Malene Welch (Brighton) continues to entertain audiences with her dynamic stage presence and unique brand of no-nonsense, real life humor. An original member of ColorStruck: Boston’s Women of Color in Comedy, Welch, was born in Roxbury, raised in Jamaica Plain, and makes one mean guacamole wherever she goes.

Wanda Wong (Quincy), when not playing the role of anal job workaholic, loves to crash gigs and make people see the “other” side of life’s “interesting” moments. Wong is one of the newest members of ColorStruck: Boston’s Women of Color in Comedy.

Please note that line-ups will vary from show to show. The schedule of performers follows:

Friday, August 5th, 7:30PM
Janet Cormier
Deb Farrar-Parkman
Coleen Galvin
Tissa Hami
Malissa Hunt
Sheila Jackson
Esther Ku
Bethany Van Delft
Malene Welch

Saturday, August 6th, 7:30PM
Sandy Asai
Janet Cormier
Deb Farrar-Parkman
Karith Foster
Tissa Hami
Malissa Hunt
Sheila Jackson
Bethany Van Delft
Malene Welch

Saturday, August 6th, 10:30PM
Sandy Asai
Janet Cormier
Karith Foster
Coleen Galvin
Sheila Jackson
Esther Ku
Bethany Van Delft
Malene Welch
Wanda Wong