Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre's ASSSSCAT is Free on Sundays... at least for now!

"...ASSSSCAT, the Upright Citizens Brigade's improv juggernaut that has played to critical acclaim and sold out audiences in New York City for the past nine years, has landed in Los Angeles. So what exactly is ASSSSCAT? Well, it starts with a group of improv comedians currently working in film and television taking the stage accompanied by a special guest monologuist. Some guest monologuists are talented celebrities, others are screwed up weirdoes. Either way, they usually have great stories to tell. We take a suggestion from the audience, then the show begins. The special guest shares off-the-cuff thoughts, feelings, and personal remembrances inspired by the suggestion. The improvisers in turn use this impromptu monologue as fodder for a series of high octane, balls-to-the-wall improvised sketches that have made this show one of the longest running improv shows in the history of the world...."

Free on Sunday Nights (at least for a little while, no reservations)... and only $8 on Saturday nights.

Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre has more affordable (starting at $) improv shows... check them out! 5919 Franklin Avenue, Hollywood 323.908.8702

LA's longest running comedy contest (Nine Years). A weekly comedy contest featuring eight up-and-coming stand-up comedians performing head to head in a battle of wits against wits Every Wednesday night at 8pm sponsored by The Ice House in Pasadena. Local Comedians will have the opportunity to perform a seven-minute set. And at the end of the evening the audience votes for their favorites. A special Sketch/Improv or Specialty Act performs at half time and during the vote tallying.

The 1st place winner each Wednesday night will receive a $101.00 cash prize and will be invited to come back for the Uncle Clyde’s Superbowl of Comedy Finals after 8 weeks, to compete for a Week Professional Performance Engagement at the Ice House Mainroom plus $500 Bucks Cash!!!!!.

The 2nd place winner will receive gift certificates from Louise's Trattoria and Live Performers Log from Holdonlog.com

The 3rd place winners receive a huge side of fries.

TICKETS $10.00 at the door (TWO drink Minimum) 8pm Showtime Great food available too!

$8.00 Tickets w/ Reservations---

$12.00 for FINALS tickets! 8:30pm Showtime. All Finals are held at
The Ice House Mainroom

Tickets can be purchased at the door or through www.comedycasting.com or by calling (818) 754-2663

Shows are held every WEDNESDAY Night at 8:00pm. ( Finals at 8:30pm.) At The Ice House Annex located at 24 N. Mentor Avenue Pasadena, CA.

$3.75 Parking lot across the street and Free Street Parking.

AUDITIONS: Talent interested in being in the shows must come to an audition. Shows are booked weeks in advance. PLEASE SEE AUDITION PAGE For more Details!

Bookstores Noted for their Great Author Events, Book Readings and Publication Parties

Book Soup -- "Bookseller to the Great and Infamous" "Located on the infamous Sunset Strip in Los Angeles, Book Soup has been serving the Hollywood community for twenty-eight years! Dominick Dunne proclaimed us 'one of the great bookshops of America'. Though we are a general independent bookstore with 60,000 titles in stock, we specialize in subjects of interest to our clientele: art, photography, film, music, and literary fiction. And with our commitment to university, international, and small presses, you'll find books here you just can't find anywhere else. Known for our floor to ceiling bookshelves, stimulating reading series, and celebrity clientele, Book Soup is a 'must see' on any tour of L.A. On your virtual tour, be sure to visit ... Calendar [Author Presentations and Booksignings] , to see what we're looking forward to in the months ahead." 8818 Sunset Blvd. W. Hollywood Mon - Sat: 9:00am - 10:00pm Sun:. 9:00am - 7:00pm

Diesel, a Bookstore Where Malibuans (along with many Angelenos) show up to listen to their author neighbors present and sign their latest book. "... Known for our fascinating selection of new and used titles, stunning author events, enthusiastically diverse staff, and urban California aesthetic, DIESEL is the cutting-edge, high octane, community-radiating, independent neighborhood bookstore we all dream of hanging out in, getting imaginally turned on in, and literarily inspired by.... Weekly in-store gatherings include variously organized Reading Book Groups..." 3890 Cross Creek Road Malibu, CA 90265 310-456-9961

Skylight Books "... Skylight Books is located in Los Angeles' unique and eclectic Los Feliz neighborhood, We're a general bookstore with strengths in literary fiction, cinema, books on Los Angeles, as well as alternative literature. We often have a number of autographed copies of books by authors who have recently spoken here.." Has an excellent ongoing calendar of book readings and author events as well as several book groups. 1818 N. Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90027 Tel: (323) 660-1175 skylightbook@earthlink.net

PAFF Spoken Word Fest

"... a spoken word celebration that features locally renowned poets, brand new poets, and everyone in between.

"This is no ordinary, sedate open mic. This is spoken word that is made to be heard, not studied in some class you hate. The audience participates too - you aren't just going to sit and sleep. If you're a poet and you want feedback on your work, you'll get it here..." Held in February

Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center
681 Venice Blvd., Venice CA (310) 822-3006

FREE Workshops & Open Readings
Since 1969, Beyond Baroque has provided a free workshop and open reading program to provide a gathering place for writers to develop their voice, find support, build new communities, and experiment. Bring copies of your work.

FREE OPEN READINGS 1st Sunday except Aug., Sept., & Jan., and May, 5 PM, sign-up 4:45. See Poets Beyond the Half Shell.

MONDAY NIGHT FICTION - 8 PM FREE Workshop focuses on short shorts, stories, and novels.

TUESDAY NIGHT CREATIVE NON-FICTION - 8 PM FREE
Bring works of creative non-fiction, memoir, and prose, with JP POMPOSELLO.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT POETRY - 8 PM FREE The West Coast's longest running, free workshop and a legendary
gathering of poets.

1st and 3rd THURSDAYS FREE POETRY WORKSHOP - 8 PM FREE For a novel approach and engaging dialogue. With LEE SLOCA.

2nd and 4th THURSDAYS FREE POETRY WORKSHOP - 8 PM FREE For a novel approach and engaging dialogue. With RAY LANTHIER.

THURSDAY ALT.SCREENPLAY - 8 PM FREE
Documentary, narrative, art film scripts, actor readings. Independent projects only. With PETER COOGAN.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON POETRY - 1 PM FREE
Bring your poems. With BOB FOSTER.

Check out Beyond Baroques Quarterly Calendar for more wonderful events, literary and non-literary ... including musical offerings ranging from record launchings of bluesy singer songwriters to film screenings of 70's punk bands.

Beyond Baroque's Bookstore is open during events and Friday afternoons during Beyond Baroque's regular season. The Center is closed January, August, and September. Free workshops run year-round.

LA Poetry Festival Features NEWER POETS

".... This annual poetry reading for local voices introduces a cross-section of lively, talented writers who are making an impression in the Los Angeles poetry community. Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center and The Los Angeles Poetry Festival select the six 'Newer Poets'..."

Highways Performance Space

"...is Southern California’s boldest center for new performance. In its fifteenth year, Highways continues to be an important alternative cultural center in Los Angeles that encourages fierce new artists from diverse communities to develop and present innovative works."

"Highways promotes the development of contemporary socially involved artists and art forms. Our mission is implemented through four programs (the performance space, workshop/university program and two galleries). Annually, we co-present approximately 250 performances by solo dramatic artists, small theater groups, dance companies and spoken word artists; we curate and exhibit approximately 12 contemporary visual art exhibits per year with work that explores the boundaries between performing and visual art forms; we commission and premiere new work by outstanding performing artists; organize special events, curate festival, offer residency and educational programs that engage community members in the arts while providing access to professionally-directed instruction."

1651 18th Street in Santa Monica within the 18th Street Arts Center.