CITY MALL: Muskego Comic Writes, Performs and Plays to Sold-Out Crowds

The best way to meet Muskego resident and comedian Brandy Harrell is through her sketch comedies, her first love since the age of 14.  See if you can match her self-described characters to the photos at right:

Big Betty Balou: A boisterous woman who’s more manly than the men at deer hunting camp. 

Sally: Gets so nervous meeting new people she acts like a dog:  sniffing butts, scooting on the floor, having her tummy rubbed.  Then she has to meet her future mother-in-law.

Gina: A kid who’s so naughty, she and her buddy Mason are constantly called into the principal’s office.  Their exploits include hacking into a computer system and starting a Ponzi scheme.

Now about the comic:  Harrell is a writer, day care owner and comedian who moved from a condo in Franklin to a house on 1.5 acres in Muskego just this past February…and who brought her dreams with her.

“I would love to bring comedy to Muskego,” Harrell said in a phone interview. “It’s always been my dream to own a small black box theater,” an intimate setting that seats just about 100 patrons.

“Sketch comedy is tough – it’s a different beast for actors,” she says, because you hand actors a script and say, “this is your script but you kind of need to ignore it. It’s hard to find people who’ll trust you and roll with the punches,” she said.

Harrell, who has previously performed with Second City in Chicago, is working on a book that captures the laughter of everyday embarrassing moments – especially in the doctor’s office.  “Embarrassment builds our character" she says, and should be embraced.

But don’t look for the book soon.  Harrell is taking the summer off after finishing her show season at Racine’s Sixth Street Theatre with the Over Our Head Players, a growing company whose performances are often sold out. 

Upcoming shows include “Do Not Disturb” in September, 2011 and The Slow Dance Comedy Festival in February of 2012. To request season tickets (available now) or tickets for individual shows (available after Labor Day, September, 2011), Patch readers can call (262)632-6802 or click here for website access.