Laughta in New Hampshire, a self-taught troupe of comedians, will be bringing a “very unpredictable” show to New England College in Concord on Friday.
The Love Project is a set of self-written vignettes of stand-up, sketch and improv comedy by a dozen local performers.
It’s self-written, self-casted, self-performed and self-directed for a completely original show.
Some of the performers have comedy experience; Greg Boggis and Bob Sheehy are stand-up comedians who attended to learn sketch comedy. Others have theater backgrounds, but no specific comedy experience.
Together, the group shared their expertise, wrote sketches, cast each other in skits and acted and directed the show.
“It’s an experiment,” said Doris Ballard, producer of the show and executive director of ConcordTV.
Performers include Ballard and her husband, Norm, of Concord; Boggis of Milford, Dale Byrd of Hooksett; Seraphim Ann D’Andrea of Concord, Karen Desmarais of Manchester, Josh Hardy of Concord, Ed McMonagle of Bow, Cassandra Miller of Salem, Sheehy of Derry, Maddy Simpson of Concord, and John Tousignant of Concord.
“Audiences who attend the production of The Love Project can expect a rollicking fun evening as the troupe presents a mix of music parodies, comedy sketches, improvisation (that includes some audience participation), and stand-up, all of which explore the funny side of love,” Ballard said.
She said the show would be sort of like Saturday Night Live with all skits pertaining to love.
“We’ll be workshopping material before a live audience,” Ballard said. “They’ll be the first to hear it – good or bad – and it’ll be good.”
Simpson, a Concord High School student and singer/songwriter, will perform three original songs in between some of the acts.
D’Andrea, who recently won best actress in a community production for her role of Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, will also sing between sketches.
“It’ll be very unpredictable,” Ballard said.
Find a sitter for the kids (don’t bring them!), grab your honey and head to the show.
Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 7:30 p.m. at New England College’s Concord location at 62 N. Main St. Tickets are $10 and available at the door or by contacting Ballard at 496-4699 or contact@nodoproductions.com.
Proceeds will benefit scholarships for students to attend ConcordTV’s camps. If the show sells out, six kids will be able to attend the camp.
Interested in comedy? There will be a stand-up comedy class led by Boggis and a improv class in the spring.