Noo Yawk Tawk
Encyclopedia
Noo Yawk Tawk was an off-Broadway show conceived and directed by Richmond Shepard
which played at The Village Gate Theater from 1988 to 1991. It features members of an improvisational comedy troupe founded by Mr. Shepard. All performances were entirely improvised. Characters may have been repeated but never the sketches or the dialogue. The audience set the conditions for each improvisation so every performance was different. The sketches were based on improvisational games which included poems, songs, a fictitious foreign movie and a scene which included the first and last line all given by audience members. The cast members used their skills of foreign accents, dialects, singing, mime and writing.
In 1991, the group branched out and another troupe was formed to perform at the Top Of The Gate, a club run by Manny Roth
, former manager of the Village Gate Theater. Roth persuaded Stan Taffel
to create and take charge of the new group. Speakeasy
played to packed houses until 1993 and moved to other venues before Taffel
joined the Off Broadway company of The News In Revue. Three members of the troupe, Stan Taffel
, Miguel Sierra and Kim Cea were hired for a new animated series, The Toysters, which had a run of thirteen episodes and was seen in foreign countries.
Richmond Shepard
Richmond Shepard is an American writer, director, producer and mime with a 50 year history in entertainment. He built, owned and operated his own theaters in Los Angeles on Theatre Row where he produced over 30 shows...
which played at The Village Gate Theater from 1988 to 1991. It features members of an improvisational comedy troupe founded by Mr. Shepard. All performances were entirely improvised. Characters may have been repeated but never the sketches or the dialogue. The audience set the conditions for each improvisation so every performance was different. The sketches were based on improvisational games which included poems, songs, a fictitious foreign movie and a scene which included the first and last line all given by audience members. The cast members used their skills of foreign accents, dialects, singing, mime and writing.
In 1991, the group branched out and another troupe was formed to perform at the Top Of The Gate, a club run by Manny Roth
Manny Roth
Manny Roth is a former influential New York City nightclub owner and entertainment entrepreneur. Manny Roth owned the famous New York establishment Cafe Wha?. In the early 1960s, Cafe Wha? provided a stage for amateur acts such as Bob Dylan and Bill Cosby...
, former manager of the Village Gate Theater. Roth persuaded Stan Taffel
Stan Taffel
Stan Taffel is an American stage and television actor, and host.-Early career:Taffel appeared in a series of televised PBS specials, titled The News In Revue that premiered as an off-Broadway stage show in the theater district. Taffel co-directed the show with creator Nancy Holson...
to create and take charge of the new group. Speakeasy
Speakeasy
A speakeasy, also called a blind pig or blind tiger, is an establishment that illegally sells alcoholic beverages. Such establishments came into prominence in the United States during the period known as Prohibition...
played to packed houses until 1993 and moved to other venues before Taffel
Taffel
The Chips Group is a company based in Åland, an autonomous territory of Finland, producing potato chips and other savoury delights. The company is now owned by Norwegian Orkla ASA. Four kilograms of potatoes are needed to produce one kilogram of Taffel chips. Also known as a great contribution...
joined the Off Broadway company of The News In Revue. Three members of the troupe, Stan Taffel
Stan Taffel
Stan Taffel is an American stage and television actor, and host.-Early career:Taffel appeared in a series of televised PBS specials, titled The News In Revue that premiered as an off-Broadway stage show in the theater district. Taffel co-directed the show with creator Nancy Holson...
, Miguel Sierra and Kim Cea were hired for a new animated series, The Toysters, which had a run of thirteen episodes and was seen in foreign countries.
Cast
- Richmond ShepardRichmond ShepardRichmond Shepard is an American writer, director, producer and mime with a 50 year history in entertainment. He built, owned and operated his own theaters in Los Angeles on Theatre Row where he produced over 30 shows...
- Stan TaffelStan TaffelStan Taffel is an American stage and television actor, and host.-Early career:Taffel appeared in a series of televised PBS specials, titled The News In Revue that premiered as an off-Broadway stage show in the theater district. Taffel co-directed the show with creator Nancy Holson...
- Marc KudischMarc KudischMarc Kudisch is an American stage actor, who is best known for his musical theatre roles on Broadway.-Early life and education:...
- Debra WilsonDebra WilsonDebra Wilson Skelton , professionally known as Debra Wilson or Debra Wilzon, is an American comedienne and actress. Wilson is likely most famous for being the second longest-serving original cast member on the sketch comedy series MADtv, having appeared for the show's first eight seasons...
- Indira Stefanianna Christopherson
- Eric DouglasEric DouglasEric Anthony Douglas was an American actor who appeared in several movies and television shows and was also a stand-up comedian.-Early life and career:...
- Bonnie ComleyBonnie ComleyBonnie Comley, Vice President of Stellar Productions International, Inc. is a producer, writer and performer.Comley has created scholarships funds at Columbia University Business Graduate School and at the Boston University College of Fine Arts Undergraduate School, where a theater is named in her...
- Ken DashowKen DashowKen Dashow is a writer, performer and director. He is currently a disc jockey at New York City’s WAXQ "Q104.3" classic rock radio station he is also voicetracked to Classic Rock WBGG-FM "Big 105.9" in Miami and to WEGR - Rock 103, 102.7 FM in Memphis. Brooklyn born and raised, he has spent the last...
- Doug Katsaros
- Nola Roeper
- Michael Cooke
- Miguel Sierra
- Kim Cea
- Rafael D’Lugoff
- Nola Roeper