Like the mustachioed strong men, dancing bears and low-lit chanteuses who haunted the boards of vaudeville in the 1880s, the modern nonprofit organization often must perform a smile-till-it-hurts song and dance in order to survive. These days, money is hard to come by for just about everyone, but the L.A. chapter of McSweeney’s writing/tutoring center 826 has put together Tiny Vaudeville, a monthly variety show that promises an evening’s entertainment—at a low, low price and for a good, good cause.
A spiritual successor to 826LA’s long-running but intermittent Book Smart Nightclub, which corralled a hefty lineup of name comedians, musicians and authors together on the Largo stage, Tiny Vaudeville provides all that and more, but at the much cheaper price of $10. Joel Spence and Romi Dames (of "Hannah Montana" fame) host the Jan. 26 program featuring the Dan Bern Orchestra, James "The Man of Two Faces" Adomian, a set from musical leisurists Pop Levi, comedy from Kid In the Hall Dave Foley and a guy who's so famous they won't even tell us who he is. Think of it like "Saturday Night Live," but at the Echoplex. And more entertaining. Good for a recession economy? Yes. Good for your karma credit score? Yes. Chances of encountering a hysterical, roller-skating bear in the bathroom? Minimal.
George Ducker is a contributing editor for Metromix Los Angeles.
What other people are saying...
Jared Inglewood from Venice - January 26, 2009 at 1:18 PM
826 is doing great work. The fact that they know how to put on a show - and have friends in high places in Hollywood - is a big bonus, but it's $1...
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