By Kelsey Sanchez.
This week launches the second annual Savannah Comedy Festival and a large element of this year’s festival is the out-of-town performers visiting Savannah. Stacia Newcomb’s act “Potty in the USA” caught my eye; I’m not sure if it was the poop emojis in the promo or the joke on Miley Cyrus in the title, but I felt Stacia was my ideal interviewee. She’s been on “30 Rock,” voiced a star on the children’s show “The Good Night Show,” and been performing theatre since she was a kid. I asked Stacia about the new show, her career and her connection to Savannah.
How long have you lived in New York City?
I have lived in New York for 17 years.
What prepared you for a career in the arts?
For me, I don’t think there was a class or seminar or even the B.F.A. program I was in that provided any kind of preparation for this kind of lifestyle. I had survival skills, paired with passion and determination. I simply wasn’t willing to give up.
When did you start performing?
I performed as a kid – not professionally but constantly. I would put on shows with neighborhood friends, even though they wanted to be playing waffle ball. I took my tape recorder around to record commercials and silly songs that I wrote. I had puppets and loved to put on shows with them. I performed in all the school plays and musicals and even some community theater. I got my first professional theatre gig at 18.
You’re a jack of all trades—writer, singer, puppeteer, comedian, actress—what parts will be incorporated in your act “Potty in the USA”?
Yah, let’s see… I wrote the darn thing so “writer,” check. I will be singing some songs for sure “singer”, yes. “Puppeteer”- not in this show – no, but “actor”, yes, there is a very dramatic scene in this show that requires that skill as well.
What kind of humor best describes “Potty in the USA?”
It’s absurd, silly musical comedy. In a word – “Stupoopid.”
How did you find out about the Savannah Comedy Festival?
Brianne Halverson and I are close friends. We did sketch and improv together at Gotham City Improv, The PIT and UCB. She saw my show in New York last year and asked if I want to bring it to the Savanah Comedy Fest. I said… “Duh!” So, here I am!
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Stacia Newcomb will perform this Friday at 9:30 p.m. at Bull Street Labs, 2222 Bull Street. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online.
