Graphic facilitators Drew Dernavich and Matt Diffee, both established cartoonists for the New Yorker, participated in Cartoonists Unleashed, the first-ever cartoon variety show, for the New Yorker Festival.
Description:
Cartoonists from The New Yorker spent an evening onstage creating cartoons based on audience suggestions and sharing hidden talents that are best left undescribed. There are rumors of saxophones, magic tricks, and perhaps even live animals. Participating cartoonists included Pat Byrnes, Leo Cullum, Matthew Diffee, Mort Gerberg, Alex Gregory, Marshall Hopkins, Edward Koren, Arnie Levin, Eric Lewis, Robert Mankoff, Marissa Acocella Marchetto, Victoria Roberts, Danny Shanahan, David Sipress, Barbara Smaller, Mick Stevens, Mike Twohy, Gahan Wilson, Jack Ziegler, and more. Conceived by Matthew Diffee and hosted by Andy Borowitz.
10 P.M. Ailey Studios
405 West 55th Street
Drew writes:
"The Cartoonists Unleashed show was, to our knowledge, the first-ever variety show put on by cartoonists. Teams of cartoonists squared off against each other in several rounds of improv-style games including impromptu captioning and drawing, and culminating in the 'secret formula' game. The winner of the contest brought their freshly-drawn cartoon on a giant white board over to stage left, where the cartoon editor, Robert Mankoff, was waiting to reject the cartoon as not funny, and unfit for publication.
"The show also featured short video bits written and featuring cartoonists, a performance by the all-cartoon bluegrass band, The DougLess Trio, and a look at the dangerous and subversive messages which are hidden in New Yorker cartoons, but only visible under a microscope. Additionally, the audience enjoyed seeing the cartoonists present their sketches and cartoons which have never before been published. We gathered cartoonists from across the country to participate - Alex Gregory and Mike Twohy from California, Jack Ziegler from Las Vegas, Mick Stevens from Florida. Humorist Andy Borowitz hosted it. It was a lot of work to pull it off, but also a lot of fun."
See Emily Gordon's blog, Emdashes. Learn the secret formula used to generate those sardonic New Yorker cartoons.
ABOVE: Andy Borowitz at the New Yorker Festival.
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