"Study Hall" featured in Philadelphia Inquirer!

The star of “Study Hall”, Professor Michael Yudell, wrote up this piece for the Inqurier.

Study Hall
9/19-9/22 @ 7pm
Adrienne Theater
2030 Sansom Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103

History, comedy and science connect at FringeArts
Earlier this year at the Philadelphia Science Festival, I teamed up with comedians to dramatize (term used very loosely) real life events from the history of science and medicine. We’ve done it three years running, and it works like this: I give a monologue on a historical topic, then the improv group does a comedy riff on the crazy historical stories I share. And, I kid you not, people laugh.Because despite what you think, history, science, and professors are (well, can be) funny.

Expanding on our popular act from the Science Festival, I am again teaming up with Philly Improv Theater’s Improv House Team “Asteroid!” to create a full hour of spontaneous comedy inspired by brutally honest science. The event – this Thursday through Sunday at the Fringe Festival – is called “Study Hall.” In it, I will exploit every ounce of my tenure to lecture on a wide variety of topics (many not appropriate for kids) and Asteroid! will warp each lesson into outrageous scenes on the spot. What makes this so funny? Asteroid! member Jessica Ross says that “it’s like taking the most interesting class in school and then getting to see the class clowns make fun of it.”

For the improv artists, the format is a challenge they enjoy. As Asteroid!’s Lora Magaldi told me: “It’s a great way to learn to listen to information because you need to remember as many details as possible and then be able to extract them over the course of the show.” And I can tell you that the whole troupe are true improve/comedy professionals, and it has been a joy to work with them. So come join the laughs and learning! Tickets are on sale now. And don’t be late to Study Hall!
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/public_health/History-comedy-and-science-connect-at-FringeArts.html#YRAwUEJwCQTCce6f.99

SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER

RECENT POSTS

Prodigy S02E015-20

Mike Marbach November 4, 2024

There are six episodes left of Star Trek: Prodigy’s second season, and tonight we’re gonna binge! The pace is so unrelenting, the twists so twisty, the events so eventful, that the Prime Subjective crew decided we had no choice but to discuss this back part of season two altogether! Join us for Star Trek: Prodigy S2E15 and S2E16 – “Ascension Parts I & II”, S2E17 – “Brink”, S2E18 – “Touch of Grey”, and S2E19 and S2E20 – “Ouroboros.” Chris Newcomer, Karie Coleman-Hinners and Mike Henley brave the timey-wimyness of Prodigy’s second season and live to tell the tale! Enjoy!

Prodigy S02E13 & S02E14

Crossroads Philly October 29, 2024

Alternate realities galore! In this exciting episode of The Prime Subjective, Chris Newcomer, Mike Henley and Karie Coleman-Hinners discuss two brand new episodes of Star Trek: Prodigy, S2E13 – “A Tribble Called Quest” and S2E14 – “Cracked Mirror.” Then, we venture over to Star Trek: Voyager to discuss that time Commander Chakotay also had to deal with a ship split into multiple bizarre alternate realities, S7E10, “Shattered.” Enjoy!

Khazad-damn!: ROP S02E08

Crossroads Philly October 17, 2024

In this episode of the Beacons are Lit we’re discussing The Rings of Power S02E08. This is the season finale, which means after this episode, much like the Balrog of the Misty Mountains, the Rings of Power disappears for a long period only to come back when Amazon digs too deep. The Dwarves show up to save whoever is left at Eregion, Celebrimbor tells Sauron he’s going to the bad place, King Durin goes toe to head to horn with the Balrog, Adar gets a glow up shortly before getting Jon Snowed, Elendil has r-u-n-n-o-f-t as Numenor turns on the faithful, Isildur leaves his babe behind to go back home, Kemmen continues to grow his hater base, Cirdan is nowhere to be seen, and lots more for better or worse. We’re on another break, but will return soon with our awards episodes for The Two Towers and Return of the King. Lots more planned… but not scheduled.

User Illusion 3: ROP S02E07

Crossroads Philly October 9, 2024

In this episode of the Beacons are Lit we’re talking about The Rings of Power Season 2 episode 7. We’re deep into the siege of Eregion now. Celebrimbor is living his best imaginary life, Sauron is blaming everything on Celebrimbor, Elrond putting the moves on Galadriel, Gil Galad puts on his Sunday best for battle, Adar’s kids are starting to turn on him, the Dwarves got their own problems going on, and Harfoots & the Stranger are nowhere to be seen.

Prodigy S02E011&12 + Voyager S04E04

Crossroads Philly October 7, 2024

Let’s fly! It’s time for an old Star Trek tradition where we make a broken-down ship spaceworthy! In the now, in Prodigy S2E11 and E12, “Last Flight of the Protostar Parts I and II,” the Prodigy gang finally meet Captain Chakotay, stranded on a distant planet. And they have no choice but to roll up their sleeves and plot an escape! Then, we take a trip into the Before for more Chakotay character study, we journey to Star Trek: Voyager S4E4, “Nemesis,” where the commander is stranded and meets the Vori, an alien soldier race that harbors some secrets and enough slightly-off idiosycratic idioms that you can fathom! Grab some warm Coverings, pour yourself something Savory, and dive into some Gloried Tellings about some Trek!

Through the Ringer: ROP S02E04-06

Crossroads Philly October 2, 2024

In this episode of the Beacons are Lit we’re talking about The Rings of Power Season 2 Episodes 4-6. We’re building to the Siege of Eregion, Orcs are getting a little skeptical of Adar, Galadriel does some cool stuff and gets captured anyway, an Ent Wife is found, Elrond and company bust some ghosts, King Durin is spiraling, Celebrimbor doing arts and crafts as his city burns, Probably Gandalf getting in some training, Numenor summons a sea monster, Celebrimbor is losing his mind and Annatar is reaping the benefits, and much more.