Performa 11

Performa Comedy

In 2011, Performa explores the blurred boundaries between conceptual art and stand-up comedy. Through artist projects, evenings in a Times Square comedy club, and a curated weekly film program that takes us through the 1960s to now, Performa curators Defne Ayas, Mark Beasley and Lana Wilson take on this very serious subject.

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Performa Film Program: Not FunnyLenny Bruce
- Wednesday, November 2, 9:00 pm
Rare documentation from 1973 of one of Lenny Bruce's last performances.
Performa Film Program: Not Funny Richard Pryor
- Thursday, November 3, 9:00 pm
The first-ever comedy concert film, and still arguably the best, Richard Pryor: Live in Concert.
Performa Ha!Reggie Watts, Dina Seiden, Hennessey Youngman, Lumberob, Bedwyr Williams, Club Nutz and house-band Title TK and Michael Smith
- Sunday, November 6, 9:00 pm
- Sunday, November 13, 9:00 pm
- Sunday, November 20, 9:00 pm
Three Sundays of conceptual jokes by artists, stand-up comedians and musicians.
Performa Film Program: Not Funny Comics on the Edge in the 1970s
- Monday, November 7, 7:00 pm
Featuring the work of two groundbreaking 1970s comedians: Albert Brooks, and Andy Kaufman.
Performa Film Program: Not Funny:Piece to Camera
- Tuesday, November 8, 7:00 pm
Several 1970s California-based artists making humorous minimalist videos.
Performa Film Program: Not Funny Crossing Over
- Monday, November 14, 7:00 pm
A program of rare work by artists who made serious attempts to crossover to comedy or vice versa.
Performa Film Program: Not Funny Stand-Up, Sit Down, and Visual Art Comedy Today
- Tuesday, November 15, 7:00 pm
Short works by some of the artists and stand-up comedians working between these two disciplines today.