Cinequest Wrap Up 06

The Coastside's all women's stand up comedy troupe, HYSTERICAL HOUSEWIVES announces 4 performances over the next 2 months.

All performances are on Friday nights at Old Princeton Landing, in Princeton-by-the-Sea, near the harbor on Half Moon Bay. Doors open at 7 pm. Performances start at 8 pm. Advance tickets are recommended and can be reserved by calling 650-726-5424. Tickets are $15 plus a can of food or non-perishable food item. Tickets are also available at Old Princeton Landing, and from the comics.

All performances continue the Hysterical Housewives' commitment to community action with food drives to benefit the Coastside Opportunity Center. "Audiences are responding well to the comedy, so we're going for an extended run," says workshop teacher/director and Half Moon Bay resident, Hester Schell. "Adding the food drive to every performance is a great way to include social awareness with arts events. So many resources have gone out of state to Katrina, and the Tsunami victims that local efforts are at risk and are often forgotten. We want to entertain audiences with great comedy, but we also want to remember those less fortunate within our own community. The local needs are ongoing," says Schell.

Hester Schell, above, the group's teacher, producer and director, hosts all shows as the "mistress of ceremonies.

Hysterical Housewives began as a comedy workshop about a year ago. The performers develop material in a 6 week workshop, then give it a go in front of a live audience. "It's all about risk, and getting up there and finding out what moves an audience to laughter. It's great to bring out such varied styles and senses of humor, " says Schell.

Celebrity comic, Bill Allard, from Duck's Breath Mystery Theatre, attended the premiere performance last May: "Hester knows comedy and comedy audiences. I was very impressed by her ability to get professional performances and teach professional timing to relatively inexperienced comedians." Ms. Schell has been producing, directing and teaching theatre for over 30 years and is also an accomplished filmmaker and actress. She is adjunct professor of theatre at Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, California, and is the editor and publisher of Bay Area Casting News, an online resource for the Northern California/Bay Area film community.

Left to Right: Jennifer Celestre, Cheri Parr- Executive Director, Coastside Community Center, and Hester Schell at the latest food drive delivery.