{"id":34088,"date":"2021-03-11T09:10:33","date_gmt":"2021-03-11T14:10:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/?p=34088"},"modified":"2021-03-11T09:10:44","modified_gmt":"2021-03-11T14:10:44","slug":"on-stage-arnez-j-headlining-at-helium","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/?p=34088","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: Arnez J. headlining at Helium"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff<\/strong>, Entertainment Editor, The Times\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Arnez J.<\/p><\/div>\n

Because of the pandemic, live entertainment by national acts is virtually non-existent in this area \u2013 and it is no laughing matter.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, there are a few venues still presenting shows \u2013 and it is a laughing matter.<\/p>\n

Helium Comedy Club in Philadelphia has been presenting nationally acclaimed comedy acts on a regular basis for months. Punch Line Philly has also recently hosted some live shows by well-known comics with four more on its schedule for the next few weeks. And, the Candlelight Theatre has two comedy evenings coming up over the next two weekends.<\/p>\n

From March 11-13, Helium will host six performances by Arnez J., who with his polished and highly entertaining standup routine is widely considered one of the best working artists in today\u2019s comedy scene. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m here working out at my home in Atlanta,\u201d said Arnez during a phone interview Wednesday morning. \u201cI just got back from doing shows in Huntsville, Alabama.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been living in both Atlanta and L.A. I just sold my home in L.A. a few weeks ago. It\u2019s bad out there. The homeless situation is so bad. It\u2019s like a city. The stench comes through.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne day, I was taking a big vat of chili there to feed the people in one of the homeless sites up under the highway. I was met with one of the worst smells I\u2019ve ever encountered.<\/p>\n

\u201cI started crying. There is no way people in the United States should be living this way. It\u2019s a thing I can\u2019t grasp right now. Things are so bad — but the real estate market is outrageous. Houses are selling like crazy at high prices. I sold my house in Woodland Hills for 90 over asking price.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dealing with unpleasant smells is something that often pops up in Arnez\u2019 comedy routines.<\/p>\n

One dealt with a time was in an airport waiting lounge and had to deal with a woman from Africa \u2013 a woman with highly-pungent-near-toxic body odor. She asked him for information but, when he got close, her odor overwhelmed his sinuses and sent him running away with tears in his eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am really sensitive to smells,\u201d said Arnez. \u201cOne time, this woman wanted a picture with me — and I agreed. She put her arm over my shoulder and her B.O. was so bad, I couldn\u2019t take it.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt seeped all the way through my clothing and onto my shoulder. It took me a long time to wash it and get rid of it. I don\u2019t take pictures like that with people anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n

His raw energy talent and comedic skill quickly landed Arnez the coveted hosting slot on BET\u2019s longest-running comedy series \u201cComic View\u201d for two seasons joining the ranks of hosts such as D.L. Hughley and Cedric the Entertainer. His hilarious new comedy special \u201cRacially Motivated\u201d is now available on Netflix.<\/p>\n

Arnez\u2019s hometown is listed as Atlanta but it is not where he grew up.<\/p>\n

\u201cI grew up in Florida,\u201d said Arnez. \u201cI was a military brat we lived in Florida for a while \u2013 in Fort Lauderdale and Miami. I also remember living in Germany.\u201d<\/p>\n

Spending part of his teenage years in the Denver area, though, Arnez J excelled in sports rather than in performing arts. He attended Aurora High School, where he was both a baseball star (at third base) and a strong professional basketball prospect. Baseball was his first love.<\/p>\n

He was under consideration for a place in the Philadelphia Phillies farm system, but it didn\u2019t work out. Arnez also got a chance to combine his ambitions as an athlete and performer when he was recruited by scouts for the famed Harlem Globetrotters basketball team. He joined the world-famous team and then a knee injury ended his Globetrotters career three months later.<\/p>\n

In the late 1980s, Arnez began working as a Continental Airlines flight attendant. His talent for getting a laugh from passengers wedged into jets made him think about a new career.<\/p>\n

According to Arnez, \u201cI entertained the passengers \u2013 always. If I went to San Francisco, I\u2019d be a gay flight attendant, or for Boston, I\u2019d be real hard and snobby. But people knew I was putting them on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arnez\u2019 passion for making people laugh extends back a long time.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was always the class clown in school,\u201d said Arnez. \u201cWorking as a flight attendant was what got me into comedy. A First Class passenger came to me and said \u2013 you should be doing comedy. That was it. That\u2019s what got me started.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first time I performed on stage was at an open mic at Comedy Works in Denver, Colorado. At the show, it was the first time I saw real comedians do comedy. It was a real inspiration. I was bitten by the bug.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arnez relocated from Denver to Atlanta early in his career.<\/p>\n

\u201cI met my wife in Denver,\u201d said Arnez, who also is an actor and writer, known for\u00a0\u201cThe Stuff\u201d\u00a0(2018),\u00a0\u201cUp Against the 8 Ball\u201d\u00a0(2004) and\u00a0\u201cFamily Time\u201d\u00a0(2012). \u201cShe was getting out of the Army and wanted to go back to Georgia.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was basically when my life started. When I was in Denver, I was stuck in the mud. I needed that change. Georgia took me back to my roots of being born in Florida.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arnez began working the comedy circuit in Georgia, quickly became one of the city\u2019s highly regarded standups and was a finalist in the \u201cBay Area Black Comedy Competition.\u201d He made his first television appearance on Showtime\u2019s \u201cComedy Club Network.\u201d<\/p>\n

His resume of television appearances soon includes \u201cThe Keenan Ivory Wayans Show,\u201d \u201cLouie Anderson’s Comedy Showcase,\u201d Comedy Central\u2019s \u201cMake Me Laugh,\u201d NBC\u2019s \u201cFriday Night Videos,\u201d \u201cThe Mo\u2019Nique Show,\u201d Russell Simmons\u2019 \u201cDef Comedy Jam,\u201d his own BET \u201cComic View Grandstand Hour Special,\u201d \u201cComedy Central Presents: Arnez J.\u201d and Showtime\u2019s \u201cShaquille O’Neal Presents: All Star Comedy Jam.\u201d
\nSome comedians have acts that are a series of jokes and routines they have claimed as their trademarks. Others have performances based on interacting with audiences in a conversational way \u2013 talking about audience members\u2019 dates, their clothing or their ethnic mannerisms.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not one to pick on the audience,\u201d said Arnez, who performed as a tour opening act for the Artist Formerly Known as Prince. \u201cI\u2019m more of a storyteller.<\/p>\n

\u201cI never stop working on a routine \u2013 old or new. The story line never changes because of who you are. But it can always get better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arnez\u2019 desire to continually get better is a sign of his respect for his audiences.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a performer,\u201d said Arnez. \u201cI owe my fans everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Arnez J. — https:\/\/youtu.be\/YLtcscoQLbE<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The shows at the Helium Comedy Club are scheduled for March 11 at 8 p.m., March 12 at 7:15 and 9:30 p.m. and March 13 at 4:30, 7:15 and 9:30 p.m. The 7:15 and 9:30 p.m. shows on Saturday are sold out.<\/p>\n

Tickets, which are not sold individually because of capacity restrictions and social distancing, are $60 for a two-person table or $120 for a four-person table.<\/p>\n

Other upcoming shows at Helium are Shane Gillis on March 16, Michael Blackson from March 19-21, Mike Cannon on March 24, Kelsey Cook from March 25-27, and Big Jay Oakerson on March 28.<\/p>\n

Comedy will also be featured at the Candlelight Theatre (2208 Millers Road, Arden, Delaware,\u00a0www.candlelighttheatredelaware.org<\/a>).<\/p>\n

The Candlelight Comedy Club is back with shows scheduled for March 12 and 20.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Mark Riccadonna<\/p><\/div>\n

The Candlelight\u2019s monthly comedy club features three comedians and is billed as \u201can adult event.\u201d<\/p>\n

The headliner on March 12 will be Mark Riccadonna. The feature act will be Joshua Ryan and the emcee will be Marc Kaye.<\/p>\n

Riccadonna grew up an outside of Youngstown, Ohio and moved to New York City when he was 17. He studied theater at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts and joined \u201cThe Company\u201d after graduation.<\/p>\n

A while later, he discovered standup comedy and found success as a storyteller and a comedian.<\/p>\n

Video link for Mark Riccadonna — https:\/\/youtu.be\/ycS9xzNrV9o<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The headliner on March 20 will be Erik Terrell. As with the March 12 show, the feature will be Joshua Ryan and the emcee will be Marc Kaye.<\/p>\n

Terrell headlines comedy venues along the East Coast and works regularly at various New York and Los Angeles Comedy Clubs including Carolines on Broadway, Gotham Comedy Club, the Laugh Factory, the Stand, and New York Comedy Club. Terrell was named one of Comedy Central\u2019s \u201cComics to Watch\u201d at the New York Comedy Festival in 2019.<\/p>\n

Tickets are $25 for either show.\u00a0Doors open at 7:00 p.m. and show starts at 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

A cash bar is provided, and table snacks are included. Onsite parking is free.
\nAll seats are reserved. You must call the box office if you have special seating requirements or if you are joining another party.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Sean Reilly<\/p><\/div>\n

On March 13 and 19, music \u2013 the music of Frank Sinatra \u2013 will be showcased at the <\/strong>Candlelight Theatre.<\/p>\n

Vocalist Sean Reilly will present his show \u201cSinatra 101: The Tales Behind the Tunes\u201d at 8 p.m. each night.<\/p>\n

Reilly \u201cTells the Tales\u201d and \u201cSings the Tunes\u201d for many of Sinatra\u2019s most popular songs.<\/p>\n

The Wilmington native is a popular vocalist in the Sinatra style who performs all along the Eastern Seaboard for clients, both public and private. Reilly possesses a vocal style that exudes confidence and class, making him reminiscent of his idol, Frank Sinatra.<\/p>\n

Though not an \u201cimpersonator\u201d, his natural ability to sing in the Sinatra style, along with his perfected mannerisms and physical resemblance, places Reilly on a plateau all his own.<\/p>\n

Video link for Sean Reilly — https:\/\/youtu.be\/7KzF85nd-Sk<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $20. A cash bar is provided, and table snacks are included. Free parking is available adjacent to the theater.<\/p>\n

Punch\u00a0Line\u00a0Philly\u00a0(33 East Laurel Street, Philadelphia,\u00a0www.punchlinephilly.com<\/a>) has announced four upcoming comedy shows starting with Comedy Allstars\u00a0featuring\u00a0Seamus Millar\u00a0with special guests\u00a0Brittany Carney\u00a0and\u00a0David James\u00a0on\u00a0March 24 and Tony Woods\u00a0with special guest\u00a0James Altucher\u00a0from March 25-27.<\/p>\n

Lovable Monsters & Friends\u00a0are scheduled to perform on March 31. The Philly\u00a0All-Pro Comedy Showcase\u00a0featuring a yet-to-be-announced\u00a0lineup of top Philadelphia-area comedians\u00a0is slated for April 7. Tickets for all of these performances are on sale now at\u00a0PunchLinePhilly.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The club is adhering to guidelines issued by the City of Philadelphia and the State of Pennsylvania and offering limited indoor seating with reduced venue capacity to adhere to social distancing measures. Masks are mandatory inside the venue and must be worn at all times except while eating and drinking.<\/p>\n

Punch\u00a0Line\u00a0Philly\u00a0will offer a seasonal menu of food and beverage options with contactless payment available during the performance.<\/p>\n

The Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808,\u00a0www.st94.com<\/a>) has a variety of shows scheduled for this month — Brandon \u201cTaz\u2019 Niederauer on March 12, \u201cGold Rush – The Ultimate Neil Young Celebration\u201d on March 13, Bill Monaghan & Celtic Pride on March 16, Barleyjuice on March 17, Matt Nokoa on March 19, Danielia Cotton on March 20, Phil D\u2019Agostino\u00a0on March 23, Tim Farrell on March 26, Jawn Of The Dead on March 27, and Ben O\u2019Neill on March 30.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

The Delta Cosmonauts<\/p><\/div>\n

The Kennett Brewing Company (109 S. Broad Street. Kennett Square, https:\/\/kennettbrewingcompany.com<\/a>) will host The Delta Cosmonauts on March 12, Pat & Cole\u00a0on March 13 and A&TT on March 14.<\/p>\n

The Bridgeport Ribhouse (1049 Ford Street, Bridgeport,\u00a0www.ribhouse.net<\/a>) is presenting Eleven on March 13, Matt Spitko on March 13, AM RADIO on March 14 and Brian Quinn & Danny Beissel on March 17.<\/p>\n

Tuned Up Brewing Co. (135 North Main Street, Spring City, www.tunedupbrew.com<\/a>) will host Bill Ferreri on March 12, Allan Combs II on March 19 and Mr. Mody on March 26.<\/p>\n

Creekside Sports Bar & Grille (765 N Lewis Road, Royersford, http:\/\/www.creeksidesportsbar.com\/<\/a>) will present Shot of Southern on March 17, Singles Going Steady on March 14, 21 and 28, Philly Heart & Soul on March 12, Buzz Nutz on March 13, Lima Bean Riot on March 19, Triple Rail Turn on March 20, IV Stone on March 26, and Modern Luxe on March 27.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times\u00a0 Because of the pandemic, live entertainment by national acts is virtually non-existent in this area \u2013 and it is no laughing matter. Fortunately, there are a few venues still presenting shows \u2013 and it is a laughing matter. Helium Comedy Club in Philadelphia has been presenting nationally acclaimed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":34084,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7441],"tags":[13050,6269,13051,13052,13053],"class_list":["post-34088","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-d-arts-entertainment","tag-arnez-j","tag-featured","tag-mark-ricadonna","tag-sean-reilly","tag-the-delta-cosmonauts"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34088","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=34088"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34088\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34089,"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34088\/revisions\/34089"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/34084"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=34088"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=34088"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=34088"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}