Two Acts of Comedy in 40 Minutes:

“Arabian Nights”
A mysterious translator extends his “help” to a foreign businessman on a tight travel schedule in this short one-act comedy by David Ives.

“Goodbye, Howard”
In the fall of 1965 at Duke Medical Center’s waiting room, three eccentric elderly sisters await word on their celebrated brother, Howard’s, medical condition. This one-act comedy was written by North Carolina playwright, Romulus Linney.

Actors Comedy Lab is a non-profit theatre company dedicated to the craft of comedy. Founded in 1997 by Rod and Nancy Rich and their cohorts in comedy, Jack and Bunny Safron, Actors Comedy Lab is serious about being funny. This New Year’s Eve makes the 8th year the group has been honored to participate in First Night Raleigh.
www.actorscomedylab.com

Christine Lavin’s smart and funny takes on contemporary life and foible make for a one-of-a-kind concert. Her songs are sound tracks of American life: its people (“Strangers Talk to Me”), relationships (“What Was I Thinking?”), compromises (“Making Friends With My Gray Hair”), absurdities (“The Legal Ramifications of a Crackerjack Vendor Who Works in Yankee Stadium”) and politics (“Like Father Like Son”). From pre show knitting circles to a signature baton-twirling finale, Christine’s interaction with audiences is rarely matched by any performer. She has been a major force in the contemporary music world for two decades with 15 solo albums to her credit, including her popular and critically acclaimed “I was in Love with a Difficult Man.” Her songs have been featured in off Broadway musicals — “Good Thing He Can’t Read my Mind” and “Sensitive New Age Guys.” She is the recipient of a NAIRD Award, two New York music Awards, five ASCAP composer awards, the Kate Wolf Memorial Award and The 2001 Backstage Bistro Award for Outstanding New York Singer/Songwriter of the Year. She continues to be inspired by her songwriting heroes Dave Van Ronk, Joni Mitchell, Ervin Drake and her performance idol, Dame Edna.
www.christinelavin.com

“Ad-libbed lunacy” by the Tringle’s champions of improvisational theater. The troop builds musical and sketch comedy from whatever is on the minds of audience members, whether George Bush or the cafeteria line. Imagine a fantastical journey through time, historic events colored by your imagination and whim; or a musical with songs, characters and script composed on-the-spot with your input. The Transactors Improv Company was formed in 1983 at The ArtSchool in Carrboro, North Carolina. Utilizing music, dance, storytelling and their skills as actors, the Trasactors have spent 18 year honing their craft. Their unique hybrid style of improv has earned them a national reputation with appearances from Montreal to Austin and performances on National Public Radio and the Canadian Broadcasting Company.
www.transactors.org