Mad Cat, Miami’s resident avant-garde, progressive theater company, took part in the festival in 2010 with the reincarnated story of St. Patrick, Shepherd’s Pie by Ivonne Azurdia and Paul Tei, and in 2011 The Preservation Society, also by Tei. The troupe returned in 2013 with an eccentric cast that brought fashion icon Isabella Blow back to life in Charming Acts of Misery, which later developed into the internationally buzzed Blow Me by Jessica Farr.
On Wednesday, April 3, at 8:30 p.m., Mad Cat debuts Gerald Ford Superfreak at the festival, co-written by Tei, Mat Cat’s founder and mad genius and company members Jessica Farr and Theo Reyna. Gerald Ford Superfreak explores the ripples of history, more specifically, how the effects of Gerald Ford’s presidency carried over to our country’s leadership in the year 2112 as told by a surprise narrator from the future.
Mad Cat describes the play this way: “Just one of the 77,038 stories about the most kick ass president no one voted for. This one’s a doozy.”
Superfreak features Ricky Waugh as Gerald Ford along with company members Sofia Citarella, Jessica Farr, Carey Brianna Hart and Noah Levine, all playing various characters. This is a fundraiser for the theater company.
Michelle F. Solomon, editor and theater critic for miamiartzine.com and stand-up comedian, who performs regularly at South Florida comedy venues, including the Hard Rock Fort Lauderdale Improv comedy club, will open Mad Cat’s show and introduce the troupe.
This year’s South Beach Comedy Festival once again features some of the most recognizable names in comedy including W. Kamau Bell, Mike Epps, Chelsea Handler, Chris Hardwick, Joe Rogan, and Nick Swardson, among others.
Once again the Festival will utilize multiple locations to highlight its exciting variety of talent. Acts will perform at the Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater, 1700 Washington Avenue; Colony Theater, 1040 Lincoln Road; and the unique BACKSTAGE at the Fillmore venue.
Handler brings her "Uganda Be Kidding Me Live" Tour for two shows on Friday, April 4 at 8 and 11 p.m.at the Fillmore Miami Beach. Handler has created a multiplatform media empire as a bestselling author, talk show host, stand-up comedian, and an actress. This self-made media mogul is a cultural phenomenon, matched only by her comedic talents. As the host of E!’s Chelsea Lately Handler has built a groundbreaking program into one of the highest rated shows on the network.
General admission tickets for the Mad Cat show are $30 plus applicable service fees and VIP $60 plus applicable service fees. VIP includes premium seating and a Mad Cat Shot Glass & Button. Tickets may be purchased online at www.madcattheater.org. Tickets may also be purchased at The Fillmore box office located at 1700 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach. Or call 305-673-7300.
Tickets for Handler’s show are $92.50, $79.50 and $59.50. For festival information and tickets visit www.southbeachcomedyfestival.com.
