Cole Stratton is the co- founder and co-creative director of San Francisco Sketchfest - www.sfsketchfest.com. The 8th annual festival runs Jan 15-31, 2009. This year’s star-studded festival promises to be a huge and hilarious success!
1. What is the funniest thing you have ever seen?
Intentionally funny: Paul F. Tompkins’ intro for Jimmy Pardo’s Old Man Periwinkle character at Match Game Live shows at SF Sketchfest and UCBLA Theatre.
Unintentionally funny: A little boy, maybe five, crying and whining to his dad: “But you said I could have soup!”
2. Do you have any superstitious rituals that you follow prior to performing?
I always empty my pockets and, unless absolutely freezing in the theatre, perform in a short sleeve t-shirt, jeans and chucks. So if you want to make out like a bandit just hover in the wings and riffle through my personal stuff.
3. What is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you?
I was waiting to make a left-hand turn from Doheny onto Sunset in LA when I noticed an SUV turning onto Doheney. In the driver’s seat, wearing a bright orange tank top, was Richard Simmons–we made eye contact during that long turn and it was almost as if time itself had stopped. At that moment, everything made sense. And a minute later, I couldn’t stop laughing.
4. What inspired you to do comedy?
The Muppet Show. That Fozzie Bear had me in stitches. I called it The Fozzie Show. Never missed it.
5. What is your perfect day like?
I’m pretty simple–good food, good wine, a good movie, maybe some karaoke. And then finding a duffle bag loaded with a cool million dollars, Red Wings season tickets, and an invitation to dinner with Albert Brooks. Oh, followed by a good set of improv.
6. What is your favorite place to perform?
It would have to be at SF Sketchfest–the whole reason we started the fest was to have a place for my sketch group at the time, Totally False People, to perform. The audiences are so good in San Francisco, and I always have a blast when I managed to con my way back on to the stage there.
7. Who would you most like to perform with and why?
That’s a loaded question. I have so many comedy heroes. The aforementioned Albert Brooks. Steve Martin. Fred Willard. The Kids in the Hall. Though I do have a great time performing with Westside Eclectic house team Ladies & Gentlemen, and my other LA group, Mosey.
8. What is your favorite art besides comedy?
Film. I have a degree from SF State in Cinema with an emphasis in Direction. I’ve been a movie buff as long as I can remember–In my bedroom as a kid I had big cardboard standees of movies like Willow, Dirty Dancing and Broadcast News that I got as hand-outs from the local video store.
9. What is your creative process like?
In general, I’m just very spontaneous. I have a hard time making myself sit down and write–I’m better when inspiration strikes me, or if a deadline is looming and I can’t put it off. I’d rather just get on my feet with a couple other solid improvisers and create that way.
10. Would you rather live in a world without boobs or without sauce?
Sauce.
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