Each week, we'll feature an especially interesting event in the neighborhood based on the event submissions we get, and what we hear about while we're out on the beat. If you want to be considered for next week, please submit your event here.
SF Sketchfest, San Francisco's comedy festival, starts tomorrow and runs through January 24th, with events at venues all over town to mark its 15th anniversary. One of the more intriguing (and extensively titled) events will be held this Friday night at the Eureka Theatre: "Mara Wilson's What Are You Afraid Of? with guests John Ross Bowie and Sarah Thyre."You may recognize Wilson from her childhood roles in Mrs. Doubtfire, in which she played Robin Williams' youngest daughter, and as the title character in Matilda. Fans of The Big Bang Theory will certainly recognize Bowie, who plays Barry Kripke, the gang's irritating frenemy with a speech impediment. Sarah Thyre is an actress and writer who also co-hosts the "Crybabies" podcast with Susan Orlean on Wolfpop.com.
Here's the description of the show:
Death, commitment, sock puppets—everyone's afraid of something. Laugh at your fears as host Mara Wilson takes you through comedians' and performers' anxieties (and a few of her own). A show all about fears, anxieties, phobias, dealing with them, getting through them, and laughing at them. Each installment of WAYAO features three storytellers, including Mara herself.
This year's Sketchfest features a long list of performers, including Alan Arkin, Dave Barry, Billy Crystal, Sally Field, Janeane Garofalo, Jeff Goldblum, Christopher Guest, Jon Hamm, Laraine Newman, Bill Nye, Parker Posey, and Maya Rudolph. There's also a slew of rising stars (looking at you, Reggie Steele), and even our very own Broke-Ass Stuart. Sketchfest's site has the full program and links to tickets.
Here are more events happening in and near the FiDi and Union Square:
