World News
SXSW Announces Online Comedy Festival
South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conference and Festivals (March 16-20, 2021) unveiled the SXSW Comedy Festival lineup as part of the 2021 Online event. The Comedy Festival will be a unique experience celebrating some of the finest comedy clubs across the country.
When traditional comedy clubs fell dormant last year, it drove what little stand-up remained to less than ideal environments and reminded us how just a handful of clubs across the country supports the entire community from open mic-er to famous headliner.
SXSW Comedy invited some of the most lauded comedy venues from around the country to present live shows from their home stages, most for the first time in nearly a year. Each club curated an impressive lineup of regulars, excited to be back on a real stage for a live audience and the result is a fascinating comedy time capsule.
The efforts each club made to safely assemble a small audience reveals an enthusiasm to resume comedy, and a hope that in the months ahead we can safely return to gathering and laughing together again.
Presenters include:
Acme Comedy Co. (Minneapolis)
Acme Comedy Company’s respect for the art of stand-up is reflected in every aspect of the club, making the intimate room a favorite among comedians. For over 30 years, it has been a linchpin of the fruitful Minneapolis comedy scene. Their SXSW lineup returns local standouts to Acme’s hallowed stage.
Comedians: Chloe Radcliffe, Greg Coleman, Mike Earley, Shannan Paul, Tommy Ryman
Dynasty Typewriter (Los Angeles)
Dynasty Typewriter has quickly become known for carefully curated, enchanting comedy experiences. Their socially distant audience consisted of one of the owners, his parents, and a collection of adoring puppets. It’s perfectly normal.
Comedians: Beth Stelling, Billy Wayne Davis, Daniel Webb, Joel Kim Booster, Kimberly Clark, Reggie Watts
Gotham Comedy Club (New York City)
Often featured in numerous film and television productions, Gotham Comedy Club is one of New York’s most popular stand-up destinations. For 25 years their coveted stage has hosted national acts, and fostered generations of young comedians into comedy heavyweights who still consider the club a home today.
Comedians: Erin Jackson, Matthew Broussard, Monroe Martin, Nathan Macintosh, Ophira Eisenberg
Hollywood Improv
The Improv has been an American comedy institution for over 50 years and has grown into a national network of 25 clubs. Since opening in 1975, the Hollywood Improv has hosted virtually every comedy great. For the first time in nearly a year, the club presents a lineup of favorites from the most recognizable comedy stage in the country.
Comedians: Chris Porter, Donnell Rawlings, J.F. Harris, Lara Beitz, Pete Lee, Orlando Leyba
Laughing Skull Lounge (Atlanta)
The Laughing Skull Lounge is a hub of the Atlanta comedy scene. It provides a prominent stage for locals to share with touring headliners, and as home to The Laughing Skull Comedy Festival it’s brought well-deserved industry attention to one of the most robust comedy scenes in the country.
Comedians: Clayton English, Ian Aber, Katie Hughes, Lace Larrabee, Shaunak Godkhindi
The Stand NYC
The Stand NYC opened in 2012 with the idea of creating an elevated comedy experience and soon became a favorite hangout of the city’s hottest up and coming comedians. The Stand invited some of those comics, and a small audience, to swab up for a welcome step back onto the stage.
Comedians: Dan Soder, Derek Gaines, Emma Willmann, Ian Lara, Rosebud Baker, Sam Jay, Shane Gillis
Zanies Comedy Club (Chicago)
The third oldest comedy club in the country, Zanies has been at the heart of Chicago comedy for over 40 years. They’ve nurtured the early careers of comedy legends, some of today’s biggest stars, and the next generation of greats to emerge from the area’s legendary comedy scene.
Comedians: Calvin Evans, Correy Bell, Em Brown, Matty Ryan, Sarah Perry
_________
SXSW Comedy presents Bring Back Laughs. Last summer Rebecca Trent, owner/operator of The Creek & The Cave comedy clubhouse in Queens, teamed up with SNL’s Michael Che to put on comedy shows in a parking lot using the bed of a pick-up truck as a makeshift stage. Those shows inspired a two-day comedy fundraiser. This special presentation features select performances from that weekend. (Carmen Lynch, Janeane Garofalo, Lucas Brothers, Myq Kaplan, Nore Davis, Rojo Perez, Roy Wood Jr., Tone Bell, Victor Varnado.)
The 2021 Online Comedy Festival will also include quarantine versions of SXSW Comedy’s longest running shows. The hit game-show podcast Doug Loves Movieshosted by Doug Benson, Watch and listen as Doug and friends (Arden Myrin, Jerry Trainor, Rob Benedict) sit down and discuss his first love: movies! And Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre (UCB) cofounder, Matt Besser, brings the largest cast of players yet to SXSW for the improv4humans podcast. Matt brought his talents to Earwolf with a fully improvised weekly podcast featuring the best improvisers in the universe.
Experience SXSW Online Music Festival with streaming available via web, mobile, and the SXSW Online Connected TV app (Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku®, Samsung Smart TV, and Android TV). Select Music Festival Showcases, Conference Sessions and Special Event programming will be available at SXSW Online XR on VRChat. Virtual Cinema programming will be available on the VRrOOm store.
In addition to the Comedy Festival performances, passholders also have access to the full range of content available during SXSW Online including Conference Keynotes, Featured Speakers, Mentor Sessions, Networking Meet Ups, Film Festival Screenings, Music Festival Showcases, Online Exhibitions and Professional Development. Previously announced for 2021 are Keynotes by Willie Nelson andStacey Abrams and Featured Speakers including Queen Latifah, Chiquis, Mark Mothersbaugh, Wyclef Jean, Andrew Bird, Mary J. Blige, Carole King, Demi Lovato, Lenzo Yoon and more. SXSW Online has opened to passholders who may get a head start on networking. For more information on everything SXSW Online has to offer, please visit sxsw.com.
World News
Major step in malaria prevention as three West African countries roll out vaccine
In a significant step forward for malaria prevention in Africa, three countries—Benin, Liberia and Sierra Leone—today launched a large-scale rollout of the life-saving malaria vaccine targeting millions of children across the three West African nations. The vaccine rollout, announced on World Malaria Day, seeks to further scale up vaccine deployment in the African region.
Today’s launch brings to eight the number of countries on the continent to offer the malaria vaccine as part of the childhood immunization programmes, extending access to more comprehensive malaria prevention. Several of the more than 30 countries in the African region that have expressed interest in the vaccine are scheduled to roll it out in the next year through support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, as efforts continue to widen its deployment in the region in coordination with other prevention measures such as long-lasting insecticidal nets and seasonal malaria chemoprevention.
Benin, which received 215 900 doses, has added the malaria vaccine to its Expanded Programme on Immunization. The malaria vaccine should be provided in a schedule of 4 doses in children from around 5 months of age.
“The introduction of the malaria vaccine in the Expanded Programme on Immunization for our children is a major step forward in the fight against this scourge. I would like to reassure that the malaria vaccines are safe and effective and contribute to the protection of our children against this serious and fatal diseases,” said Prof Benjamin Hounkpatin, Minister of Health of Benin.
In Liberia, the vaccine was launched in the southern Rivercess County and will be rolled out afterwards in five other counties which have high malaria burden. At least 45 000 children are expected to benefit from the 112 000 doses of the available vaccine.
“For far too long, malaria has stolen the laughter and dreams of our children. But today, with this vaccine and the unwavering commitment of our communities, healthcare workers and our partners, including Gavi, UNICEF and WHO, we break the chain. We have a powerful tool that will protect them from this devastating illness and related deaths, ensuring their right to health and a brighter future. Let’s end malaria in Liberia and pave the way for a healthier, more just society,” said Dr Louise Kpoto, Liberia’s Minister of Health.
Two safe and effective vaccines — RTS,S and R21 — recommended by World Health Organization (WHO), are a breakthrough for child health and malaria control. A pilot malaria vaccine programme in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi reached over 2 million children from 2019 to 2023, showing a significant reduction in malaria illness and a 13% drop in overall child mortality and substantial reductions in hospitalizations.
In Sierra Leone, the first doses were administered to children at a health centre in Western Area Rural where the authorities kicked off the rollout of 550 000 vaccine doses. The vaccine will then be delivered in health facilities nationwide.
“With the new, safe and efficacious malaria vaccine, we now have an additional tool to fight this disease. In combination with insecticide-treated nets, effective diagnosis and treatment, and indoor spraying, no child should die from malaria infection,” said Dr Austin Demby, Minister of Health of Sierra Leone.
Malaria remains a huge health challenge in the African region, which is home to 11 countries that carry approximately 70% of the global burden of malaria. The region accounted for 94% of global malaria cases and 95% of all malaria deaths in 2022, according to the World Malaria Report.
“The African region is taking positive steps in scaling up the rollout of the malaria vaccine – a game-changer in our fight against this deadly disease,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “Working with our partners, we’re committed to supporting the ongoing efforts to protect, save the lives of young children and lower the malaria burden in the region.”
Aurelia Nguyen, Chief Programme Officer at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, noted: “Today we celebrate more children gaining access to a new lifesaving tool to fight one of Africa’s deadliest diseases. This introduction of malaria vaccines into routine programmes in Benin, Liberia, and Sierra Leone alongside other proven interventions will help save lives and offer relief to families, communities and hard-pressed health systems.”
Progress against malaria has stalled in these high-burden African countries since 2017 due to factors including climate change, humanitarian crises, low access to and insufficient quality of health services, gender-related barriers, biological threats such as insecticide and drug resistance and global economic crises. Fragile health systems and critical gaps in data and surveillance have compounded the challenge.
To put malaria progress back on track, WHO recommends robust commitment to malaria responses at all levels, particularly in high-burden countries; greater domestic and international funding; science and data-driven malaria responses; urgent action on the health impacts of climate change; harnessing research and innovation; as well as strong partnerships for coordinated responses. WHO is also calling attention to addressing delays in malaria programme implementation.
World News
Kid Cudi cancels tour after breaking foot at Coachella
Kid Cudi has been forced to cancel his tour after breaking his foot at Coachella over the weekend. During the fest’s Weekend Two on Sunday night, the rapper went to the hospital with a broken foot after jumping off the stage at the Sahara Tent. (more…)
World News
The Un Certain Regard Jury of the 77th Festival de Cannes
The Canadian actor, director, screenwriter and producer Xavier Dolan will be the President of the Un Certain Regard Jury of the 77th Festival de Cannes. He will be joined by French-Senegalese screenwriter and director Maïmouna Doucouré, Moroccan director, screenwriter and producer Asmae El Moudir, German-Luxembourg actress Vicky Krieps, and American film critic, director, and writer Todd McCarthy. They will be in charge of awarding prizes for the Un Certain Regard section, which showcases art and discovery films by young auteurs.
This year, 18 films have been selected, including 8 first films. The 2023 Un Certain Regard top prize went to director Molly Manning Walker’s debut feature How to Have Sex.
When the light breaks by Rúnar Rúnarsson will open the Un Certain Regard section on Wednesday May 15, 2024.
|
|
|
|
|
World News
Kanye West reportedly planning to launch porn studio
World News
Additions to the selection of the 77th Festival de Cannes
|
|
|
|
|
|
World News
Eminem celebrates 16 years of sobriety
- Buzz1 week ago
My wife sent her nudes to her Dubai lover while I was on my sick bed – Erico speaks on divorce
- Buzz6 days ago
Afronita’s mum was against me managing Endurance Grand alongside her daughter – Quables
- Buzz1 day ago
I underestimated the extent of my influence – Serwaa Amihere apologizes
- Buzz1 week ago
Stonebwoy performs ‘Activate’ with Davido at sold-out Madison Square Garden show
- People & Lifestyle5 days ago
REPORT: Dulcie Boateng’s Porials Pitch leads to arrests over ‘unregistered products’
- Buzz1 week ago
Family of accident victims refuses to press charges against Funny Face despite pressure
- Buzz1 week ago
Ghana’s New Train from Poland Crashes During Test Run
- Gossip5 days ago
WATCH: Irene Logan sings ‘At Last’ as she dances with her husband at their wedding reception
- Buzz3 days ago
Kofi Kinaata Credits Samini’s High Grade Family for Musical Breakthrough
- Buzz1 week ago
I was battling Kidney Disease – Erico on Absence from music scene
- Buzz1 week ago
“Life has humbled me so much” – Mercy Johnson
- Buzz2 days ago
Why single mothers struggle to find partners – Joselyn Dumas