the SKIT FACTORY July 8, 2011

MOVE OVER SNL; THE SKIT FACTORY IS COMING TO TOWN
Writer/Actor brings his humor to the forefront

LOS ANGELES (June 29, 2011) - What do you get when you have two Russians from South Central Moscow? Black Russians. And how about if you mix the 1960s TV show The Munsters along with MTV’s reality show Jersey Shore? Da Friggin Munsterellis. These are two of 12 vignettes that will be performed as part of The Skit Factory, a sketch comedy show that will run the last four Fridays and Saturdays in July at the Young Actor’s Studio in North Hollywood.

Similar to the concept of Saturday Night Live and In Living Color, writer/producer/actor/comedian Melvin White, Jr. came up with the idea of The Skit Factory by looking at both shows in an up close and personal way.

“I was living in Connecticut at the time, but as soon as I heard there were auditions for In Living Color in 1994, I flew out to Los Angeles immediately!” exclaimed the Prospect, Conn., native. “I made it all the way to the final round just to receive a phone call a week later to tell me the show has been cancelled. That really bummed me out,” White reminisced.

As having been a fan of comedy since he was growing up – he regards Flip Wilson and Richard Pryor to be two comedians he admires –White always knew he would do something in that genre. Having been unsuccessful at his first choice, he tried out for yet another show of even greater popularity.

“I have been an extra on Saturday Night Live a few times, but that is still far away from actually being a cast member,” White explained.

Unable to obtain a talent agent, White continued to do what he does best: acting and comedy. He was an extra in New York Undercover, Oz and a variety of commercials. White can do over 50 impersonations, including Elvis Presley, Tony Montana, Prince, Snoop Dogg, and Tom Jones. He tried his hand at stand-up in New England, but did not develop it far enough to become successful. White knew that to dedicate his full attention to comedy, something would have to give.

“As fate had it, I was laid off from a job I was working 50-60 hours a week. That was the inspiration I needed to move to LA.”

White has been in Los Angeles for almost two years, where he has been the lead in Tarantino Tales, a play depicting various scenes of Quentin Tarantino movies, as well as working on commercials and television shows. However, he still had that burning desire to get back to the basics: comedy.

“I told myself that I am not getting any younger,” explained White, who is 42 years old. “If I was going to do this, I had to this now.”

White wrote the entire performance– dialogue and music – for The Skit Factory within a month. He rented the theater space, held auditions less than a month ago and rehearsals kicked off in mid-June. He is not worried about the short time frame, because he knows what he and the other 15 cast members can deliver. For the auditions, he made each person showcase how many accents, dialects, characters and impersonations they can do, along with any singing or rapping talent.

“Everyone that is part of the show is here because I saw something in them during the audition or I systematically went out to find such a person through a casting agency, ” White said. “I needed the character to be the actor; not the other way around.”
It is no surprise that White does not only take on the role as writer/producer, but he is also an actor in The Skit Factory. White plays Tyrone Paduski in Black Russians, DMX from Da Friggin Munsterellis and Tony Montana in WalmarFace.

With a set-up similar to In Living Color – White re-introduces the “Fly Girls” – but a style closer to Saturday Night Live, it is obvious that White’s biggest disappointments have become the inspiration to one of his biggest achievements.

“[When deciding to do this], I was nervous at first, but I realized that this is the only way I can do this. I am tired of having to fight for an audition or beg for a part,” White said passionately. “Nobody is promised tomorrow. You have to do it today.”

The Skit Factory opens on Friday, July 8th at the Young Actor’s Studio. It runs every Friday and Saturday for four weeks. The play is 75 minute long with a 15-minute intermission.

Tickets are currently on sale for $15. Doors open at 7:45PM with the show beginning at 8:30PM. To find out more about The Skit Factory and to purchase merchandise, visit www.facebook.com/theskitfactory or http://www.theskitfactory.com/. For group purchases, contact [email protected]

Official Website: http://www.theskitfactory.com