Shawn Hollenbach
Encyclopedia
Shawn Hollenbach is an American
stand-up comedian
, writer
and actor
, based in New York City
. As of 2010 he works at Comedy Central
in the programming department. As a comic and actor he has performed around the country and throughout New York. He is an energetic and upbeat performer and self-deprecating humorist focusing on LGBT subjects and a "style that capitalizes on the myriad incidents and accidents that befall us all in the midst of our human existence".
. He is openly gay and his act often incorporates comedy about LGBT subjects. He lives in Washington Heights
. His mother died in 2004.
[a glamour hair product] joke to a bunch of Amish
folks at a picnic. That’s when I first learned, “Know Your Audience.”" He had been doing improv comedy for several years and stand-up seemed the next progression. 2003 saw his first stand-up performance at "Comedy Social" at the Sin Sin club, "I fell in love with the show and they asked us to perform stand up. It was a very warm room and the perfect first time." He has appeared on two episodes of here! TV's Hot Gay Comics as a featured comedian and here! TV's celebrity news webshow Busted as the host.
On December 1, 2007 he appeared at "Saturday Night Underground" a talk/variety evening for World AIDS Day
with Michael Arden
and Todd Buonopane at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. In March 2008 he was a featured comic at Bill Augustin's "Big Gay Variety Show", a benefit for the N.Y. Civil Liberties Union.
In 2008 he performed nearly every night and was co-producing five shows including "The Back Room", a gay-themed comedy show at Ochi's Lounge in Comix, "The Kevin Murphy Show", a "Straight Bostonian/Japanese/Gay variety show" and "Meat and Potatoes", a show where folks who grew up poor share their experiences with Carolyn Castiglia.
In June 2009 he was a co-host on Logo (TV channel)
NewNowNext.com's Gayest Week Ever. He did an episode of here! TV’s Hot Gay Comics. He has also appeared on The Frank DeCaro
Show and Derek and Romaine on Sirius
/XM OutQ Radio, The Joey Reynold's Show and Daniel Nardicio
's DList Radio. He regularly performs at other New York venues including Comix comedy club
, The People's Improv Theater, Therapy, Stonewall Inn, New York Comedy Club, and Stand-Up NY. He also travels in the Under the Gaydar Comedy Tour with Jackie Monahan, Claudia Cogan and Dave Rubin
.
Hollenbach has created and co-produced the first annual Miss Fag Hag Pageant
on May 17, 2009 featuring Caroline Rhea
, Michael Musto
, Hedda Lettuce
, Shayna Steele
and Frank DeCaro
as a benefit for the Hetrick-Martin Institute
, home of The Harvey Milk
School. The second annual event took place May 2, 2010, again at the Comix Comedy Club.
In June 2009, he did a reading of Matthew Sheridan's Unfinished with Tricia Alexandro and Jim Weitzer. He also performed at "Funny Gays Are Here Again - A Night of Comedy", a benefit for Bob Zuckerman's campaign for city council, if elected Zuckerman would become the first openly LGBT legislator ever elected from Brooklyn. In August 2009 he was part of Robert Keller
's inaugural comedy tour "The Manhattan Comedy Project" with Wendy Ho and Paul Case touring Canada and northern US.
In September 2009 he created "Closet Cases," a monthly show at New York City's The Tank where LGBT performers tell their coming out
stories on stage. The series became a Time Out NY critic's pick and a "Homo Must" for HX Magazine.
As an actor, he starred with Kathleen Chalfant
in the film Second Guessing Grandma, directed by Bob Giraldi
based on Eddie Sarfaty's short story.
In January 2010, Hollenbach and the other MintyFresh producers put together "Beverly's Bake Off!", a show of "song, comedy, burlesque and bakegoods", as a benefit for the National LGBT Cancer Network.
In July 2010 he appeared on "[Gay] Comedy Show". In August 2010 he was a featured comedian in "Laugh Out Proud VI" as part of Ottawa's Pride 2010.
In 2011, Shawn started as a contributing writer for gay news and advice blog, 365gay writing the Wednesday Water Cooler and then 365gay's Ask the Wedding Expert.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
stand-up comedian
Stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy is a comedic art form. Usually, a comedian performs in front of a live audience, speaking directly to them. Their performances are sometimes filmed for later release via DVD, the internet, and television...
, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, based in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. As of 2010 he works at Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
in the programming department. As a comic and actor he has performed around the country and throughout New York. He is an energetic and upbeat performer and self-deprecating humorist focusing on LGBT subjects and a "style that capitalizes on the myriad incidents and accidents that befall us all in the midst of our human existence".
Personal life
He has a twin brother, Eric and a sister, Kristen. He studied Musical Theater at Shenandoah Conservatory of Shenandoah UniversityShenandoah University
Shenandoah University is a comprehensive private university located in Winchester, Virginia in the United States. It has an enrollment of approximately 3,800 students across more than ninety programs in six schools: College of Arts & Sciences, Harry F. Byrd, Jr. School of Business, Shenandoah...
. He is openly gay and his act often incorporates comedy about LGBT subjects. He lives in Washington Heights
Washington Heights, Manhattan
Washington Heights is a New York City neighborhood in the northern reaches of the borough of Manhattan. It is named for Fort Washington, a fortification constructed at the highest point on Manhattan island by Continental Army troops during the American Revolutionary War, to defend the area from the...
. His mother died in 2004.
Career
One of his first performances was when he was eighteen, "I told a PantenePantene
Pantene is a brand of hair care products owned by Procter & Gamble. The product line was first introduced in Europe in 1947 by Hoffman-LaRoche of Switzerland, which branded the name based on panthenol as a shampoo ingredient...
[a glamour hair product] joke to a bunch of Amish
Amish
The Amish , sometimes referred to as Amish Mennonites, are a group of Christian church fellowships that form a subgroup of the Mennonite churches...
folks at a picnic. That’s when I first learned, “Know Your Audience.”" He had been doing improv comedy for several years and stand-up seemed the next progression. 2003 saw his first stand-up performance at "Comedy Social" at the Sin Sin club, "I fell in love with the show and they asked us to perform stand up. It was a very warm room and the perfect first time." He has appeared on two episodes of here! TV's Hot Gay Comics as a featured comedian and here! TV's celebrity news webshow Busted as the host.
On December 1, 2007 he appeared at "Saturday Night Underground" a talk/variety evening for World AIDS Day
World AIDS Day
World AIDS Day, observed December 1 every year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. Government and health officials observe the day, often with speeches or forums on the AIDS topics. Since 1995, the President of the United States has made an...
with Michael Arden
Michael Arden
Michael Jerrod Moore , also known as Michael Arden, is an American stage actor, singer, and composer. He was born in Midland, Texas.-Early and personal life:...
and Todd Buonopane at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. In March 2008 he was a featured comic at Bill Augustin's "Big Gay Variety Show", a benefit for the N.Y. Civil Liberties Union.
In 2008 he performed nearly every night and was co-producing five shows including "The Back Room", a gay-themed comedy show at Ochi's Lounge in Comix, "The Kevin Murphy Show", a "Straight Bostonian/Japanese/Gay variety show" and "Meat and Potatoes", a show where folks who grew up poor share their experiences with Carolyn Castiglia.
In June 2009 he was a co-host on Logo (TV channel)
Logo (TV channel)
Logo is an American digital cable television channel owned by Viacom's MTV Networks division. Launched in June 2005, the channel's programs are geared towards the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community...
NewNowNext.com's Gayest Week Ever. He did an episode of here! TV’s Hot Gay Comics. He has also appeared on The Frank DeCaro
Frank DeCaro
Frank DeCaro is an American writer, performer and radio show host.The New York-born DeCaro is the author of The Dead Celebrity Cookbook: A Resurrection of Recipes From More Than 145 Stars of Stage and Screen , Unmistakably Mackie: The Fashion and Fantasy of Bob Mackie , and A Boy Named Phyllis: A...
Show and Derek and Romaine on Sirius
Sirius
Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky. With a visual apparent magnitude of −1.46, it is almost twice as bright as Canopus, the next brightest star. The name "Sirius" is derived from the Ancient Greek: Seirios . The star has the Bayer designation Alpha Canis Majoris...
/XM OutQ Radio, The Joey Reynold's Show and Daniel Nardicio
Daniel Nardicio
Daniel Nardicio is an American radio personality, Nightlife promoter, entrepreneur, and creator of the social network Dlist.com, and has often been referred to by the media as the “Gay Howard Stern.” He has over the course of the past decade obtained substantial notoriety for his extensive...
's DList Radio. He regularly performs at other New York venues including Comix comedy club
Comix comedy club
Opened in September 2006 by business partners Harlan Halper and Michael Palitz, Comix was a venue for stand-up comedy located in The Meatpacking District in New York City on 14th Street and 9th Avenue...
, The People's Improv Theater, Therapy, Stonewall Inn, New York Comedy Club, and Stand-Up NY. He also travels in the Under the Gaydar Comedy Tour with Jackie Monahan, Claudia Cogan and Dave Rubin
Dave Rubin
Dave Rubin is a stand-up comedian, podcaster, blogger and television personality. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, USA and currently resides in New York, New York. Rubin is the co-founder of several successful comedy clubs in New York City, including the New York comedy club The Comedy Company...
.
Hollenbach has created and co-produced the first annual Miss Fag Hag Pageant
Miss Fag Hag Pageant
The Miss Fag Hag Pageant is a pageant contest for fag hags, referring to women who either associates mostly or exclusively with gay and bisexual men, or have gay and bisexual men as close friends.-Origin:...
on May 17, 2009 featuring Caroline Rhea
Caroline Rhea
Caroline Gilchrist Rhea is a Canadian stand-up comedian and actress who was the original host of the reality television show The Biggest Loser on NBC until she was replaced by Alison Sweeney after the end of the third season...
, Michael Musto
Michael Musto
Michael Musto is an American columnist for the The Village Voice, where he writes La Dolce Musto. Musto was born in Brooklyn to an Italian American family. He attended Columbia University graduating in 1976. During his studies, he was a theater critic for the Columbia Spectator...
, Hedda Lettuce
Hedda Lettuce
Hedda Lettuce is an American drag queen comedian and singer who lives and works in New York. A legitimate New York actor, Steven Polito, debuted his character Hedda Lettuce in 1991 on the Manhattan Cable TV show The Brenda and Glennda Show. He is one of few drag queens who actually sings live using...
, Shayna Steele
Shayna Steele
Shayna Steele is an American singer and songwriter and a Broadway stage actress. Her Broadway credits include Rent at the Nederlander Theatre, the revival of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Foxwoods Theatre , and the original Broadway cast of Hairspray, in which she played a member of the girl group...
and Frank DeCaro
Frank DeCaro
Frank DeCaro is an American writer, performer and radio show host.The New York-born DeCaro is the author of The Dead Celebrity Cookbook: A Resurrection of Recipes From More Than 145 Stars of Stage and Screen , Unmistakably Mackie: The Fashion and Fantasy of Bob Mackie , and A Boy Named Phyllis: A...
as a benefit for the Hetrick-Martin Institute
Hetrick-Martin Institute
The Hetrick-Martin Institute is a New York City based non-profit organization devoted to serving the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning youth. The institute was founded in 1979 as the "Institute for the Protection of Lesbian and Gay Youth" by Dr. Emery Hetrick, a...
, home of The Harvey Milk
Harvey Milk
Harvey Bernard Milk was an American politician who became the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors...
School. The second annual event took place May 2, 2010, again at the Comix Comedy Club.
In June 2009, he did a reading of Matthew Sheridan's Unfinished with Tricia Alexandro and Jim Weitzer. He also performed at "Funny Gays Are Here Again - A Night of Comedy", a benefit for Bob Zuckerman's campaign for city council, if elected Zuckerman would become the first openly LGBT legislator ever elected from Brooklyn. In August 2009 he was part of Robert Keller
Robert Keller
Robert Keller was a German music editor.Keller was born on January 6, 1828 in Harpersdorf in Lower Silesia. He moved to Berlin where he became a musical editor for the music publishing company N. Simrock. Keller edited and arranged a substantial amount of works by Johannes Brahms and Antonín...
's inaugural comedy tour "The Manhattan Comedy Project" with Wendy Ho and Paul Case touring Canada and northern US.
In September 2009 he created "Closet Cases," a monthly show at New York City's The Tank where LGBT performers tell their coming out
Coming out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
stories on stage. The series became a Time Out NY critic's pick and a "Homo Must" for HX Magazine.
As an actor, he starred with Kathleen Chalfant
Kathleen Chalfant
-Life and career:Chalfant was born as in San Francisco, California and raised in her parents' boarding house in Oakland. Her father, William Bishop, was an officer in the Coast Guard...
in the film Second Guessing Grandma, directed by Bob Giraldi
Bob Giraldi
Bob Giraldi is an American film and television director best known for directing the music video for Michael Jackson's song "Beat It." His work has garnered many accolades, including several , , NY International Awards, Addy Awards, and hundreds of Clio Awards...
based on Eddie Sarfaty's short story.
In January 2010, Hollenbach and the other MintyFresh producers put together "Beverly's Bake Off!", a show of "song, comedy, burlesque and bakegoods", as a benefit for the National LGBT Cancer Network.
In July 2010 he appeared on "[Gay] Comedy Show". In August 2010 he was a featured comedian in "Laugh Out Proud VI" as part of Ottawa's Pride 2010.
In 2011, Shawn started as a contributing writer for gay news and advice blog, 365gay writing the Wednesday Water Cooler and then 365gay's Ask the Wedding Expert.