5 Photos
Talia Reese performs in “Moms’ Night Out” at Bay Street Theater on September 14. COURTESY BAY STREET THEATER
Kendra Cunningham performs in “Moms’ Night Out” at Bay Street Theater on September 14. COURTESY BAY STREET THEATER
Paul Anthony is the producer of “Moms’ Night Out” at Bay Street Theater on September 14. COURTESY BAY STREET THEATER
Laura Patton performs in “Moms’ Night Out” at Bay Street Theater on September 14. COURTESY BAY STREET THEATER
Carie Karavas performs in “Moms’ Night Out” at Bay Street Theater on September 14. COURTESY BAY STREET THEATER
In 2006, comedian Paul Anthony Mongelluzzo created the Long Island Comedy Festival, a yearly showcase that features comedians of all kinds from Long Island, New York City and beyond, with a mission to “promote the art of live, stand-up comedy” by having comedy shows on the island all throughout the year.
“We now have a strong network of comedians from all over that we work with, and that have been featured at our comedy shows over the past 18 years,” Mongelluzzo said in a recent interview. “From this network we select and feature some of the most popular, requested comedians for our Hamptons shows.”
Last year, the LICF started the “Ha Ha Hamptons Comedy Tour,” the special East End edition of the festival. The second installment in this comedy tour, “Mom’s Night Out,” is coming to Bay Street Theater this weekend.
The inspiration for the show began seven years ago during what Mongelluzzo called a “brainstorming session” that involved trying to incorporate and promote more female comics into the LICF’s oeuvre.
“We’ve always had female comedians on our comedy shows, but we wanted to come up with something unique and fun to really showcase the best female comedians we work with,” he explained.
From there, “Mom’s Night Out: The Mother of All Comedy Shows” was born. The show, a 90-minute spectacle, features headlining female comedians “you won’t see together anywhere else.”
Mongelluzzo said his role in the show is “producing and putting the actual comic line-up together.
“No two shows are ever the same,” he continued. “We constantly rotate the comedians.”
This iteration of the show features Laura Patton, Talia Reese and Carie Karavas, all of whom are moms. But that does not mean the show is solely for moms to enjoy. In fact, the tag for the show is “Are you a mom? Do you know a mom? Do you have a mom? Then this is the show for you!”
“The shows are for anyone. These comics are absolutely hilarious,” Mongelluzo assured.
The show has been put up at various other locales on Long Island, but Sag Harbor will be a first for the acts.
“We’ve produced this show at other venues, with great success,” Mongelluzzo explained. “This is the first time we are bringing the show to the Hamptons.”
The show will be put on at Bay Street Theater, an introduction to its fall season, which Mongelluzzo is ecstatic about.
“Bay Street Theater is really the premier live entertainment venue for the Hamptons,” he said. “They are an incredible partner to work with. They’ve been so supportive of all of our other shows over the past few years.
“The unique location in the beautiful village of Sag Harbor, right on the wharf, is amazing,” he continued. “And the best part is that every seat in the house is great. It’s a win-win for us.”
Mongelluzzo assured that “Mom’s Night Out” will be a great way to wind down the summer on the East End and have some laughs while doing so.
“The ultimate goal for all of our comedy shows is to bring laughter and fun to audiences,” Mongelluzzo said. “People need to laugh more, and we have made it our mission to help them achieve that. Laughter is good for you, and we’ll prove it!”
The Long Island Comedy Festival’s “Ha Ha Hamptons Comedy Tour” kicks off with “Mom’s Night Out” at Bay Street Theater on Saturday, September 14, at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $37 to $57 at baystreet.org, by phone at 631-725-9500 or at the box office on Long Wharf, Sag Harbor.
