Teenager, born on Queen St, celebrates 15th Birthday

MEDIA RELEASE – Entertainment – Comedy – Thu 20 Sept
Teenager, born on Queen St, celebrates 15th Birthday with a month long party in October.

In October 1997, contrary to plenty of advice, a group of young upstarts, who had the nerve to describe themselves as New Zealand stand-up comedians, decided to open their own venue in the heart of Auckland’s entertainment precinct.

Fifteen years later The CLASSIC is celebrating the fact that it is still here with MOCKtober, ‘a month of it’ featuring performances from ‘The Originals’, the ‘Next Generation’, ‘the Rookies’, the ‘Ladies of Stand-up’ and many more.

The comedy landscape has changed dramatically over the last 15 years but one thing that has remained constant is The CLASSIC, New Zealand’s world class home of live comedy at 321 Queen St in Auckland. When it first opened it was pretty much the only game in town, the fore-front of a small ‘hobby’ industry.

In 2012, The CLASSIC is now a cornerstone of a much bigger business tapping in to a talent base that features in the credits of top rating, award winning TV shows. There are national tours and multiple gigs every week across the country. And there is international success in film, television and on the world stage.

But for many local comedians their club house is The CLASSIC, a venue that stages over 400 live comedy shows each year and it is where the next generation of local comedians will often make their first stand.

Throughout MOCKtober, The CLASSIC will celebrate the 15th Birthday with a special line-up of showcases featuring all levels of comedians from the Originals to the Rookies. In addition there will be the regular programme of Monday night RAW, Big Wednesdays and Thursday Pro Nights.

Here are some of the highlights;

MOCKtober – A Month of It At The CLASSIC
Fri 5 & Sat 6 Oct: ‘The ORIGINALS’ Weekend Showcases and Late Shows
Featuring appearances by the comedians who laid the foundations for The Classic from 1992, opened the venue in 1997 and are still actively performing including The CORBETT BROS, MIKE KING, EWEN GILMOUR, ANDREW CLAY, BRENDHAN LOVEGROVE, MICHELE AÇOURT, IRENE PINK and many more.
Fri 12 & Sat 13 Oct: ‘NEXT GENERATION’ Weekend Showcase and Late Shows
Featuring performances by a selection of comedians who were influenced by the success of ‘The Originals’ and have carved out their own careers at The Classic including STEVE WRIGLEY, TJ McDONALD, NICK GIBB, JOHN CARR, JAMES ROQUE, TOM FURNISS, NICK RADO, VAUGHAN KING and many more
Fri 19 & Sat 20 Oct: LABOUR WEEKEND NEW PRO’s SHOWCASE
An annual event at The Classic featuring a showcase of the fresh new comedians who have joined the Pro ranks in 2012, hosted by 2012 Billy T Comedy Award Winner, Guy Williams, a regular on TV3’s ‘Jono & Ben’ Show. 10 new pro comedians on stage / $15
Fri 26 Oct : The LADIES of STAND UP
Featuring a showcase of our ‘ladies of stand-up’ including ‘Original’ Irene Pink, Justine Smith, Urzila Carlson, Rose Matafeo and new face Nicole Steven.
Regular weekly gigs in MOCKtober include
Monday – Raw Comedy New Faces Open Mic
Wednesday BIG WEDNESDAY Fresh comedy night
Thursday PRO NIGHT ...the longest running live comedy night in NZ
Fri/Sat LATE & LIVE Shows

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