COMEDY




more in culture

REVIEW | Ducking Awesome! WitchDuck Is Smart, Sharp, and Ruthless

I am rarely speechless, especially about theatre. Since I don’t get paid if I remain silent, I will make myself criticize a play I don’t feel I have any right to judge. Gotta pay the rent, and all that. I came into this performance of WitchDuck by Cadence and...

After Strong Turnout, Richmond Arts Park Enters Holding Pattern

Under the Manchester Bridge, what had been an idea for years turned into something tangible, at least for a day. Hundreds of people moved through the space as muralists painted, DJs played, and passersby stopped mid-bike ride or walk to figure out what was going on....

What to Know About the Big Dipper Innovation Summit in Richmond

There’s a lot of change happening in Richmond right now, and most of it can feel out of our hands. But the reality is, there are people in leadership shaping how the city and state grow, who it’s for, and where it’s going next. At some point, you either tune it out or...

Why Richmond is Ready for Rest Fest Right Now

In 2009, I went to three different GameStops trying to find a Wii Fit Balance Board, and getting one started my path toward having yoga in my life. After two years of doing virtual yoga on a game system, I was challenged by a student to seek out meditation and yoga...

Full Capacity: An Interview With Joe Machi

This week, Joe Machi comes to Richmond's Sandman Comedy Club. In preparation, Gabe Santamaria talked to him about open mics, the New York comedy scene, and growing a patchy beard, among other things. I got to chat with the hilariously lovable Joe Machi this week. I’ve been following his stand-up for a few years now and he’s always stuck out....

Read More

Exploring Greek Comedy With Yannis Pappas

The "Tzatziki King," Yannis Pappas, comes to Sandman Comedy Club this weekend. In advance of his three-night stand, Gabe Santamaria sat down with him to talk about history, Jeff Bezos, and how comedians are really just theatre kids. This week I got to talk with the unapologetically Greek comedian, Yannis Pappas. Known for his characters and...

Read More

Richmond Comedy Gets A Pick-Me-Up

At the height of the pandemic, when pretty much everyone needed a good laugh, Jack N' Minor's Pickup Comedy Show began bringing live standup to the RVA masses in a socially distanced outdoor environment. Gabe Santamaria spoke to the men behind the wheel of the only Richmond comedy show that takes place in the bed of a pickup truck. In the midst...

Read More

Funny That Way: An Interview With Julia Scotti

Julia Scotti is a transgender comedian with roots in the 80s comedy boom. Now, only weeks after her documentary, Julia Scotti: Funny That Way, hit streaming services, she returns to Richmond with a hilarious weekend at Sandman Comedy Club. This week I got to talk to the one and only Julia Scotti. She was a comedian back in the 80s, and performed...

Read More

Finding His Way: An Interview With Shane Gillis

This week I got to talk with the very funny Shane Gillis. I’ve always been a fan of blue comedy, or as some call it, dark comedy. I don’t know why everything has to be about color. Anyways, you can catch him this weekend doing five shows at Sandman Comedy Club. I’ve seen/heard Gillis on many podcasts and his improv skills are as sharp as his...

Read More

Shane Gillis

Setting Some People Straight: An Interview With Gina Brillon

Gina Brillon is the latest comedy up-and-comer to hit Richmond. Gabe Santamaria caught up with her before her appearance this weekend at Sandman Comedy Club to talk parenthood, Latino cultures, and her new special, The Floor Is Lava. This week I got to talk to one of my favorite comics, Gina Brillon. I saw her latest special, The Floor Is Lava,...

Read More