Comedy Series Continues at Miller Symphony Hall
Laughs at The Lyric
Wednesday, February 26, 2020 — 8 pm
Wednesday, March 25, 2020 — 8 pm
Wednesday, April 29, 2020 — 8 pm
The Lyric Room at MSH
“And the room again felt like a good spot for comedy” – J. Moser, The Morning Call
Allentown, PA – ArtsQuest and the Allentown Symphony Association are delighted to announce the return of the popular comedy series Laughs at The Lyric. Held in the intimate environment of The Lyric Room at Miller Symphony Hall (MSH), the series continues on Wednesday, February 26 at 8:00 pm and runs through the spring season with shows on Wednesday, March 25 at 8:00 pm and Wednesday, April 29 at 8:00 pm. There will be a cash bar and snacks will be available for purchase. Tickets for Laughs at The Lyric are $7.00 and will be sold at the door or in advance through the MSH box office (23 N. 6th St., Allentown, 610-432-6715 or online at millersymphonyhall.org).
“We are thrilled to continue this partnership with ArtsQuest in presenting live comedy in downtown Allentown,” said Al Jacobsen, Executive Director of the Allentown Symphony Association which owns & operates Miller Symphony Hall. “The strong response from audiences at the three shows last fall told us that there is demand and interest for weeknight comedy shows and that we should continue.”
“ArtsQuest and Allentown Symphony Association are committed to supporting the region’s growing comedy scene through the Laughs at The Lyric series,” says ArtsQuest Chief Programming Officer Patrick Brogan. “These shows are not only designed to showcase some of the best standup comics from throughout the Mid-Atlantic Region, they’re also helping to draw people to Allentown’s arts district, supporting the businesses and restaurants that call the area home.”
Please note: Laughs at The Lyric will contain adult language and/or situations. Seating will be assigned by staff upon arrival into the showroom. Anyone coming in between the ages of 13 and 17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. No child 12 or under will be admitted.
Laughs at The Lyric – February 26, 2020
The current lineup includes: Kris Fried, Megan Goetz, Kirk Griffiths, Alex House and Danny Getz
Kris Fried is a writer/comedian who appears regularly at NY’s Comedy Cellar and as a panelist on The Greg Gutfeld Show on Fox News. He has written for SNL’s Weekend Update, appeared in sketches on Conan O’Brien, and opened for Colin Jost, Rob Schneider, Michael Ian Black, and Jay Mohr. His album, “We’re All Adults Here,” debuted in the Top 10 list of the iTunes comedy charts. He also has a master’s degree in psychology from Harvard University for no reason at all, and still mows his parents’ lawn.
Megan Goetz’s standup has been described as silly and genuine. Her act includes things specific to her, like being a woman and a twin, but also touches on more common topics such as dating and family. She has opened for Gary Gulman, Sasheer Zamata, Joe List, and many more. Currently, she is the co-host of a YouTube series called “All Set” and is the co-host of the spooky comedy podcast “Real Chills”.
Kirk Griffiths is a comic based in Philadelphia. He’s currently beefing with his barber, but is confident that it will work out in the end. He’s performed at LVwLove ComedyPlatz, as part of Musikfest, in 2017, 2018, and 2019, has been a semi-finalist in Helium Comedy Club’s Philly’s Phunniest contest, and has opened for names such as Kyle Kinane, Jordan Carlos, and Michelle Buteau. He is the current host of the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks show Conversation Club and the podcast Proper Ebonics.
Alex House is an Easton-based performer and a two-time winner in the Bud Light’s Ladies Of Laughter Comedy Contest. She’s participated in the Toyota Comedy Festival, Boston Comedy Festival, and the Arizona Women’s Funny Fest. She has also been on ABC’s “The View” twice in the course of two weeks and was one of the East Coast Semi-finalists chosen out of thousands of comics on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing”.
Danny Getz, co-founder of Wasted Robot Records, is a Philadelphia-based comedian, and artist. In addition to performing standup comedy, Danny also produces comedy shows throughout the region.
Laughs at The Lyric – March 25, 2020
The current lineup includes: Aliya Brown, Michael Kelly…more performers TBA.
Aliya Brown is here to have a fun time. She has performed in and around the Lehigh Valley, Lancaster, and Philly; having a fun time everywhere she goes. Jokes are fun!
Michael Kelly is a Philly-based stand-up comic and the producer and co-host of Tattooed Momedy – a local indie showcase recognized by Philadelphia Magazine as “Best of Philly” for “Cheap Laughs” and one of the co-creators of Philly’s own Whiz City Comedy Festival. He has performed across the U.S. as well as Helium Comedy Club and Punchline Philly. Michael also appeared on Season 6 Episode 2 of FX’s Ink Master – he got to talk and everything!
Laughs at The Lyric – April 29, 2020
The current lineup includes: Jason Brown, and Chip Chantry…more performers TBA.
Jason Brown is a Lehigh Valley based comedian who has performed up and down the East Coast. He’s a graduate of the Upright Citizen’s Brigade School of Comedy in NYC and his debut album, Jokes Through the Bathroom Door, premiered at #5 on Billboard Magazine’s Top 100 Comedy Albums.
Chip Chantry is a stand-up comedian and television writer. He has written for Crazy Talk, a comedy/talk series for NBC Universal and the syndicated series Whacked Out Sports. He most recently wrote on the NatGeo series Howie Mandel’s Animals Doing Things.
The Lyric Room at Miller Symphony Hall
In Fall 2018, a newly innovative vibe enhanced the downtown Allentown Arts District when Miller Symphony Hall unveiled The Lyric Room, an intimate, cabaret-style venue with limited seating for concerts, receptions, special events, and public gatherings.
In creating The Lyric Room, two unfinished storefront spaces at MSH were renovated and the exterior store display windows (which were added to the Hall in the 1940s) were replaced by large windows, restoring the grandeur of the façade as shown in a 1926 architectural drawing held by the Library of Congress. The design of the room allows for variable seating and includes an outdoor terrace. This beautiful and highly visible new space is an important new player in the vibrant Downtown Allentown arts community.
About the Allentown Symphony Association (ASA)
Operating the Allentown Symphony Orchestra (ASO), El Sistema Lehigh Valley (ESLV) and owner/operator of Miller Symphony Hall, the ASA is one of the region’s premier arts organizations.
Each year, the ASO performs more than 20 classical, pops, educational, and family concerts. Led by Music Director & Conductor Diane Wittry, the ASO received the American Prize for “orchestral excellence” in both 2014 and 2017. A core component of the ASA’s community engagement commitment, ESLV is an innovative education and social initiative, providing opportunities for personal development to children through the study of music. And serving as a cultural destination for the Lehigh Valley and beyond, Miller Symphony Hall is one of Pennsylvania’s most historic performing arts venues.
About ArtsQuest
ArtsQuest is a Bethlehem-based nonprofit dedicated to presenting music, arts, festivals, cultural experiences, and educational and outreach programs that aid in economic development, urban revitalization, and community enrichment. Through festivals such as its flagship event, Musikfest; the Banana Factory Arts Center; and the ArtsQuest Center and SteelStacks arts and cultural campus, ArtsQuest’s programming reaches more than 1.9 million people annually. The organization’s programs and events, approximately 45 percent of which are free to attend, have a combined economic impact of more than $139 million annually in the region.
