Stand Up Comic Brett Duggan
Brett Duggan is a multi-talented comic performer cut from the same cloth as The Marx Brothers, Steve Martin, Eric Idle, Peter Sellers and Adam Sandler. His Quest for comedy has led him to master a host of skills including: stand up comedy, characters, story telling, classical clowning, modern acting, musicianship, songwriting, physical comedy, social commentary, satire, writing, sketch writing and directing. The story begins with a crash course in stand-up comedy in front of 1,500 people. When Brett was MC'ing his high school talent show technical difficulties forced the director to send him on stage to "kill time". He killed that time making the audience roll with laughter at his hysterical antics. That same night Brett played drums in his Jazz quartet. Later that year he would receive a Certificate of Musicianship from the Berklee College Jazz Festival. Brett finished his high school career by playing the DJ Vince Fontaine in the musical Grease and dancing in several numbers.
Brett went on to Emerson College in Boston where such comedy greats as Steven Wright, Jay Leno and Denis Leary attended. There he studied acting and writing. In the comedy troupe The Swollen Monkey Showcase Brett played as many as 14 different characters in one show. He also wrote and co-directed sketches. Brett finished his college career by playing the Marquis De Sade in Marott/Sade and dancing in several numbers. After graduation, Brett began his professional stand-up comedy career performing in Boston, and all around New England from Providence to Bangor.
Brett founded the nearly legendary comedy troupe The Id with Butch Bradley, Ben Jones and Al DelBene. These fools cranked out weekly shows for screaming fans in Boston and Portland, Maine. Their unique comic chemistry won them First Prize in the Kids in the Hall Comedy Competition.
Brett was once known as a wild party man. Not a drug user but a big drinker. When sickness and depression off stage started to affect Brett's work he got help. Now through God's grace and the help of many anonymous friends he is in his tenth year of sobriety. For nine years he has been a member of The Improbable Players. I.P. is a not-for-profit theater company that creates and performs educational shows all over the United States. They teach students of all ages that alcoholism is a disease. I.P. has received hundreds of letters of thanks including accolades from the US Department of Health.
Brett teamed up with former Id compatriot Al DelBene to create the critically acclaimed two man sketch comedy troupe, The Al and Brett Show. Their weekly Friday night show in NYC's Greenwich Village shocked and amazed even the New Yorkers that filled the seats. Fast paced, tight, funny, cutting edge humor combined with songs and characters had the audiences crying with laughter.
Two insane characters from the Al and Brett Show became the Extra Ordinaries, 1950's Rock-a-Billy almost-stars. Extra Ordinaries became a rock musical that joined the world famous New York Fringe Festival. With the New York Fringe Festival, Brett added to his list of credits Producer, Writer, Director, and Performer.
Now Brett can be seen performing his stand-up comedy all over the nation for Comedy Clubs, Corporate Events, Colleges and Casinos. His unique show combines almost all forms of comedy: (what some call) Straight Stand up, Guitar Comedy, Comic Songs, Impressions, Broad Comedy, Physical Comedy, Characters, Improvisation, and Crowd work. Brett has mastered all these forms and delivers them with an energy, a whit and a likeability that have him loved by audiences everywhere he goes.
Because of Brett's talent for writing and improvisation he is capable of creating a show that is perfectly suitable for the situation at hand. His custom Mock Speaker shows are a success with corporate events and parties. Brett's unique skills have lead to consulting work - that's right, “Comedy Consulting”. The Comic spin doctor makes house calls. He has lent his talents to a host of productions and individuals who want to make what they are doing funnier.
Brett plays drums in three Bands: a Funk Rock Trio called Burn, a Jazz Quartet, The Shoe Shine Band, and the seven piece Romp Band aptly named Running for Famous. RFF is fronted by the show biz dynamo Monroe Mann. Brett is currently working with Monroe Mann and Loco Dawn developing two movies and a several TV projects (check out the link to locoDawn.com for more info). Brett's voice will soon be heard as the narrator of the new Travel Channel Show, Who new?
Brett is presently developing his show One Man: Twelve Major Head Injuries which previewed last year in New York City's West Village. That one man show will be playing soon premiering in San Francisco, then touring the country. Brett's new development is the Creation of his own Entertainment Company, Stella Art Productions, with his business partners Kerry McCracken and Gerald Duggan.