5 Questions with Sam Arno of the New Jew Revue
December 6th, 2006 | Interviews, San Francisco Comedy
The New Jew Revue, Sam Arno’s popular holiday stand-up comedy show, returns to the Bay Area on December 15th at the Throckmorton Theatre in Mill Valley. This year’s performers include Sam Arno, Debbie Campo, Melissa Gans, Jerry Goldstone, Norm Goldblatt, Nato Green, Moshe Kasher, David Kleinberg and Alex Koll.
How did the New Jew Revue show come about?
I noticed Asian shows and African-American shows. I tried half-jokingly to get into African-American shows on the theory that I’m African-American (French-Moroccan mother and American father) but was rejected. So I thought there should be a Jewish show. At the time I wasn’t aware of other Jewish shows in the Bay Area.
Are the audiences mostly Jews?
Yes. I don’t ask the comedians to do Jewish material. I leave the material up to them. I think because of the name of the show most of the audience is Jewish or a higher percentage of Jewish people than most comedy shows.
Don’t Jews already have enough opportunities in comedy?
No. I created the show so that Jews too can have opportunities in show business.
How is Jewish humor received in the Bay Area, compared to other places you have lived like Baltimore or New York City?
New York City would be the king of Jewish comedy and the most receptive given the high Jewish demographic there, the rich tradition of comedy and the Bay Area somewhere in the middle. I got complaints last year that the show was not “Jewish enough.” I’m not going to impose upon choices the comedians make. Most of the comedians incorporate Jewish material into their set but we’re not a Jackie Mason show.
What advice do you have for others who want to produce a successful comedy show?
Marketing, marketing marketing. I spend a lot of hours on it. It helps to find a niche, a good title of the show (thank you Mike Spiegelman), find good comedians & treat them well. Alex Koll always makes great creative posters for the show. It also helps to have a supportive venue as we do at the Throckmorton Theatre in Mill Valley. The first 3 years of the show have sold out as we have moved from smaller to bigger venues. First 50 people at the late Spanganga in the Mission District, then 75 at the Dark Room in the Mission District and last year 300 at the Throckmorton in Mill Valley.
For details and ticket information, click here.
For more on Sam Arno, visit his website.
December 13th, 2006 at 2:10 am
Thanks. Love your site. All the best to you.