
You know, the talent in this Province is really something to brag about. Be it in music, the visual and performing arts, writing or filmmaking, Newfoundlanders have a tendency to pop up regularly on the International stage. Great Big Sea, Artistic Fraud, Rick Mercer, Shaun Majumder, Shalloway, Mark Critch, Mary Walsh, Wayne Johnston, Anne Troake, Christopher Pratt, Lisa Moore, Michael Crummey... they are all examples of just some of the exceptional creative talents that this island produces.
And that illustrious list certainly doesn't end there, because just this morning I learned from the CBC's Morning Show that Jonny Harris, Steve Cochrane (hot guy in Celtx demo!!), Phil Churchill and Dave Sullivan of The Dance Party of Newfoundland Sketch Comedy Troupe earned some well deserved accolades from the Chicago Sun-Times for their irreverent 'This is the Cross-eyed Bear' performance at the 6th annual Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival. CST staff reporter Misha Davenport wrote:
Word about how well Chicago Sketchfest treats the artists has obviously spread. More than 200 groups submitted show clips this year and the 100 groups selected to perform reflect the best and the brightest. Well-known sketch groups appearing this year include Chicago's own Sketchcore, the prolific New York's Elephant Larry (will this five-member group ever run out of funny new ideas?) , San Francisco's Kasper Hauser (known for their unique brand of multi-media satire) and the rising stars Dance Party of Newfoundland and their edgy comedy. Posen says being well known isn't enough and that each group is evaluated equally on the basis of its comedy...more
And if that isn't enough, in this morning's CBC phone interview with Jeff Gilhooly, troupe member Steve Cochrane said they also received some special attention and very encouraging feedback from comedy screenwriter Harold Ramis (Ghostbusters, Analyze This, CaddyShack, etc., etc.). The man obviously knows talent when he sees it.
Rock on B'ys!
-S