Ever hear of a sketch comedy troupe called The Black Version? You haven’t? Well if you live in Los Angeles there is a ground swell for the new sketch show which is quickly being referred to as the next In Living Color- minus the TV broadcast.
The Black Version is an improvised show that started at the Groundlings Theatre in 2010 and has since played to sold-out crowds. It’s an all-black cast of regulars which includes show creator Jordan Black (writer of ABC’s Uncle Buck with Mike Epps) along with comedy veterans Cedric Yarbrough (Reno 911), Gary Anthony Williams (The Soul Man and Boondocks) Daniele Gaither (MadTV), and Phil LaMarr (BoJack Horseman), all under the direction of Karen Maruyama.
The show begins when the director asks the audience to suggest a popular film title and then the cast improvise the “black version” of that film. It’s an amazing comedy journey that is a must see! Take a look at the sample below!
Take a look at an EXCLUSIVE interview we conducted with the writer, producer, actor Jordan Black. Black is a multi-hyphenate born and raised in Kankakee, IL, and is a former writer for Saturday Night Live and the creator of the hit all black improv show mentioned above, that ran for 5 sold out years at the world famous Groundlings Theater and now at the world famous Largo Theater both in Los Angeles.
He is also the producer and writer of The Black Version viral shorts on YouTube as well as the director of the viral hits Ask A Slave and Go Go Boy Interrupted. He is currently on staff for the upcoming ABC sitcom Uncle Buck starring Mike Epps and Nia Long as well as being the multi-hyphenate creator-producer-director of Shaded for Fusion’s new digital platform F-Comedy. His acting credits include “How I Met Your Mother“, “2 Broke Girls“, and “Key and Peele” among many others including a recurring role on “Community” as “Dean Spreck” the dean of City Community College and the Christopher Guest film “For Your Consideration”.
Watch the interview below:
