About this Event
We will be streaming the event LIVE on the Syracuse Actors Studio YouTube Channel, so our sketch comedies might be caught by directors, writers, or producers looking for some local homegrown comedians - or at least actors with a sense of humor!
Like last year, attendees will break up into teams and have an hour to prepare comedy skits. Sketches can be either original or imitate SNL or other comedies you’ve seen. You are welcome to write some in advance or just come up with them on the spot with your team.
The event's host, business media personality Tracy Chamberlain Higginbotham, who will emcee, will start with her own unique stand-up comedy routine, then run the event on stage between sketches. Tracy uses her unique perspective on becoming bald at the age of 54, feminism, sports, and alopecia to entertain her audiences. Her first SAS Comedy performance was a bit like Nikki Glaser's. Come laugh with her!
Ben "Stretch" Cunningham is the musical guest. Stretch showcased his music video at SASFest last month. He has a unique sound that will move you.
Laura Stisser, Co-Founder of SAS and Vice President, along with Joey Marcus, a comedian, will lead the popular "News Desk" skit in the show.
We will be skipping monologues this session because most of them are performance-based, and we need all the time we can get to prep for them. Monologues will resume next session. As always, at the end, we will have a small amount of time for announcements if anyone wants to plug a show, announce casting, or the like, with time after to network and socialize.
Syracuse Actors Studio is always a free monthly meetup for actors where we learn from and practice acting with each other. There is always a hat at the door for donations.
But to continue its growth, SAS is also offering sponsorship-level tickets in addition to free tickets. Sponsored ticket holders will get some type of mention at the event. We'd love for you to make a reservation on this site, especially if you want to pay for a ticket. Thank you.
SAS welcomes actors of all experience levels, as well as filmmakers, writers, playwrights, and observers, for creative networking opportunities.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/zzsfD0QAqSY
Tracy Chamberlain Higginbotham is the Founder and President of Women TIES, LLC (Women Together Inspiring Entrepreneurial Success), a company specializing in promoting, publicizing, and uniting women entrepreneurs and their companies online and in person to cultivate strong economic relationships and advance their companies, while eradicating pay inequality.
In 1995, Tracy created her first company – Five Star Events – an events management company she ran for 15 years. In 2005, Tracy embraced her passion for supporting other women entrepreneurs and established her second company, Women TIES, LLC, to create a stronger geographic buying network for women business owners across New York.
Tracy added two divisions to Women TIES: a “Women’s Athletic Network” and "Women's Equality Division." She was the columnist of the Syracuse Post-Standard’s “Ask the Entrepreneur” column for 11 years from 2001 to 2012. She has written and produced an inspirational e-newsletter for 20 years and continues to do so today.
Higginbotham is also a published writer of “Under the Rose-Colored Hat” and inspirational short stories and articles in several national magazines, publications, and books, including the 2009 “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Power Moms," the 2019 “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Running for Good," and the 2023 "Chicken Soup for the Soul: Get Out of Your Comfort Zone."
Tracy recently became the publicist for the Syracuse Actors Studio.
Joe Cunningham is an actor, writer, and filmmaker from Syracuse, NY. He grew up as an artist, directing skits with friends and puppet shows with his siblings. He has always loved movies and dreamed of becoming an actor and director after seeing films like Raiders of the Lost Ark and On the Waterfront.
In college, he made his first short film, Writing, and also wrote a documentary, a novel, and five original plays. He graduated from SUNY Empire State with a degree in creative writing. He appeared in The Mountain with Jeff Goldblum and Ty Sheridan and later worked on American High films Sid Is Dead and Never Change.
In 2019, Joe co-wrote and produced the short Under The Mercy and played the lead, Chad Loos. The film won awards at film festivals in Prague & LA. He then wrote and produced a feature, The Sentinel, which he also directed, starring himself as the lead character, Joe Barnes, with his son, Harrison, as his son, and filming over 5 years. During that shoot, Joe wrote, produced, and directed 3 other films: Funny Man, Amariah, and American Claudius. Joe is also an associate producer on several other films.
In 2024, Joe co-founded the Syracuse Actors Studio (SAS) with actress and collaborator Laura Stisser. He also started his own film company, Amy Loos Films. He has several projects in development: Midnight Rider, Son of a Preacher Man, Downer Street, What I Like About You, Reservations, and an Untitled Chet Baker project.
Ben Cunningham is a Syracuse-based singer and songwriter whose recent musical video premiered at SASFest.
Laura Stisser is the co-founder and Vice President of SAS. She is super excited to pair up with the uber-talented Joey Marcus again for the 2nd Annual MNL to do Weekday Update!
The big finale - MNL Hugs will end the live show. Be in it with us!
Monday Night Live Host, Tracy Chamberlain Higginbotham, dropped in on Syracuse Actors Studio President Joe Cunningham to ask him an important monologue question.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Palace Theatre, 2384 James Street, Syracuse, United States
USD 0.00
