By Sarah Owen, Skyline Comedy Cafe
For more than a decade Cash Levy has stirred a global comedy pot - from unique crowds of Quadulan islanders, who take up residence in energy-saving igloos, to more-than-amused U.S. troops in Afghanistan, amid acoustic bombing.
But the Los Angeles-based comedian says he’s got to mentally prepare for his trip to Appleton this week, where he hits Skyline Comedy Café March 11 to 14.
“How’s the weather up there?” he asks by phone late last week.
Levy’s never played to Fox Valley crowds before, but the comic – who fans might have caught on Comedy Central’s Premium Blend, the Bob and Tom Show and Fox Sports, for starters – can’t wait to take the mic.
“I hear the crowds are great, that the club’s fantastic,” he says. “I have some friends that’ve worked there over the years that say ‘you’ve got to come in there; it’s one of the hidden treasures in terms of comedy around the country.”
Levy, who recently released comedy album “Tidbits,” is known for his clean, corporate-friendly approach and off-the-cuff improvisation at clubs and arenas round the world.
“I do like the corporate in terms of, a lot of times the crowds have never seen comedy before; they’re surprised that, ‘oh my God, I’m really laughing,’” he says. “But I love clubs, too, where you can cut loose, be a bit more creative, little bit more artistic.”
And a little more risqué.
Though most of his shows are clean compared to R-rated comics like Danny Bevins or Skyline’s next headliner Auggie Smith, Levy likes to stir up crowds in the club setting, a place ripe for comedy that typically comes with quality sound, lighting... “And the crowds are a bit more relaxed;it’s set up for comedy,” he says.
Levy is back from a recent trip to Afghanistan, loaded with stories and new material, grateful for an experience where his comedy could really do some good, he says. "It's amazing; the more dangerous an area you go into, the more they laugh," Levy notes.
The comic says he's continually amazed at how great crowds can be, whether it’s sticking to written material in front of 10,000 at an outdoor arena or weaving in and out of scripted sets in smaller venues.
A master at improv comedy, Levy says he actually prefers intimate venues like Skyline. “I do a lot of talking to the crowd; we call it ‘riffing,’” he says. “I like to play off the crowd, talk to them, and they end up making me laugh as much as I make them laugh sometimes.”
Fans can see Levy live at Skyline Comedy Cafe, 1004 Olde Oneida St. in Appleton, Wednesday through Saturday this week, and get a taste for other Skyline headliners right here each week.
$6 Wed | $8 Thur | $8 Fri | $10 Sat
www.skylinecomedy.com | (920) 734-5653
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