WESTPORT, CT — Aline Weiller and Alyssa Katz have always liked to write…and laugh. The two met through Westport Writers’ Workshop (WWW) instructor, Marcelle Soviero, and a fast friendship — and comedy show producing team — were born. Both WWW alum were familiar with the organization’s outreach program (where underserved populations/communities are given pro bono writing workshops), so they brainstormed Lit & Wit: A Comedy Night Fundraiser to help the initiative. Aline wordsmithed the show’s title, then reached out to fellow comedian, Westporter, and brand identity expert Jerry Kuyper (jerrykuyper.com) to create the apropos logo. The result — a catchy name and clever image for a positive, community-building evening.
Lit & Wit will be held on Wednesday, June 4 at 7:00 p.m. (doors open at 6:00 p.m.) at The Saugatuck Rowing Club’s Regatta Room, 521 Riverside Avenue, Westport. Tickets are $55 per person (includes popcorn/pretzels) and are available for purchase here: https://westportwriters.org/courses/lit-wit-comedy-fundraiser/.
Walk-ins are welcome. Lit & Wit will also feature the the Macho Taco food truck (for purchase starting at 6:00 p.m.), a cash bar, comedy trivia for prizes, and a Lit & Wit-themed door prize gift basket.
“Westport Writers’ Workshop is beyond excited to present Lit & Wit, a wonderful night of comedy along the stunning Saugatuck River. Comedians, though known for their humor, are inherent writers and this event showcases a wonderful mix of these two gifts. We welcome one and all to our third funny fundraiser,” said Amanda Parrish, Executive Director, Westport Writers’ Workshop.
Lit & Wit’s headliner, Jane Condon, is a Connecticut-based comedian and mom of two adult sons…and, as she says, “otherwise everything’s fine.” The Associated Press dubbed her “an upper crust Roseanne” and the The New York Times said, “Condon had the audience cackling, guffawing and in hysterics as she sliced through marriage, husband, kids, politics, and other topics.” She loves to tell stories about her adventures (mostly survival tales) with her husband and kids. Condon was named one of 10 Comedy Best Bets in Back Stage’s annual comedy issue. She has appeared on ABC-TV’s The View and Lifetime TV’s Girls’ Night Out, FOX-TV’s series finale of 24, Nickelodeon’s NickMom Night Out, as well as NBC’s Last Comic Standing and the Today Show. She’s the grand prize winner of the nationwide Ladies of Laughter Contest and won “Audience Favorite — NY” on NBC’s Last Comic Standing. And she’s given the commencement speech at Wellesley College (her alma mater), the University of New Haven, and Wilson College. Her first, humorous cartoon book, Chardonnay Moms (available on Amazon), was co-authored with Bobbi Eggers. For a quick laugh, follow @jcondon4 on Instagram.
Morris. Ashley played Roxanne Hertz opposite Jesse Eisenberg and Clair Danes in FX’s Fleishman Is In Trouble, ‘Debbie” in Peacock’s Perfect Match opposite Natasha Lyonne, and ‘Nicole’ in the hit Shonda Rhimes series Inventing Anna. Ashley’s comedy album, Slightly Off, debuted at number one on the iTunes charts and continues to trend. She can be seen regularly at New York Comedy Club, Gotham Comedy Club, and Stand Up NY. Her stand-up has been featured on AXS TV’s Gotham Comedy Live.
The other twelve comics have performed in the New York metro area and include: Olivia Barbulescu, Christine Zalewski, Calder Stokes, Brad Bruckner, Alyssa Katz, Mat Orefice, Kim Berns, Craig Lottner, Ivy Eisenberg, Liz Austin, Aline Weiller, and John Bennett.
“Alyssa and I are thrilled to bring back the sold-out ‘Lit & Wit” Comedy Night Fundraiser, which promises belly laughs while supporting a noble cause — the best kind of win-win. As writers, we’re happy to help fund Westport Writers’ Workshop Outreach Program and share this talented comedic line-up with the Westport community and beyond. Lit & Wit promises to be a hot ticket and laugh-filled night stand-up enthusiasts won’t want to miss,” said Aline Weiller, Lit & Wit Co-Producer and Performer.
The evening’s host, Westport Writers’ Workshop, a nonprofit and independent literary arts center offering enriching, supportive creative writing classes, as well as free literary readings to the public. The organization also provides free workshops to underserved populations in their own communities. For more information about WWW, visit westportwriters.org; for Lit & Wit tickets, visit: https://westportwriters.org/courses/lit-wit-comedy-fundraiser/
Photo Caption: NY Metro Area comics will perform at the Westport Writers’ Workshop’s third annual Lit & Wit: A Comedy Night Fundraiser. Tickets are on sale for this year’s event which takes place Wednesday, June 4 at 7:00 p.m. (doors open at 6:00 p.m.) at The Saugatuck Rowing Club, Westport.