Playbill Online
by Robert Viagas

'SNL's' Colin Quinn Holds Irish Wake on B'way Aug. 27-Sept. 19

Colin Quinn, who hosts the "Weekend Update" segment of NBC-TV's "Saturday
Night Live" comedy show, will make his Broadway debut Aug. 27 with his
one-man show, Colin Quinn -- An Irish Wake, at the Helen Hayes Theatre.
Previews began Aug. 25 for the Thursday opening and the show's limited
engagement through Sept. 19. Helen Hayes Theatre. Tickets go on sale Aug. 9
at (212) 239-6200 and at the box office Aug. 10.
In Colin Quinn -- An Irish Wake, Quinn impersonates the inhabitants of his
Brooklyn neighborhood in the 1970s, as they deal with the death of
neighborhood legend Jackie Ryan.
Written by Quinn and Lou DiMaggio, the show was workshopped at NY's Irish
Arts Center in 1994 under the title Sanctifying Grace. Before joining "SNL,"
Quinn appeared as the sidekick announcer on MTV's "Remote Control." Since
joining "SNL" in 1996 his characters have included "Joe Blow," a resentful
blue-collar commentator, and Lenny the Lion. He also released the novelty
rap single (made into an MTV video) titled "Goin' Back to Brooklyn," a
parody of LL Cool J's "Goin' Back to Cali."
Originally a standup comedian, Quinn has appeared in four films, Who's the
Man? (1993) and Married to the Mob (1988), plus bit parts in Three Men and a
Baby (1987) and Crocodile Dundee II (1988). He also appeared on the TV
series "2 Hip 4 TV" in 1988.
Quinn is not the first "Saturday Night Live" veteran to take to the stage.
Chevy Chase, John Belushi and Bill Murray emerged from Los Angeles'
Groundlings improv company. Martin Short and Gilda Radner appeared together
in a Toronto company of Godspell before they were Not Ready for Prime Time
Players. Garrett Morris was a member of the original company of Broadway's
Ain't Supposed To Die a Natural Death.
Here is a partial list of "SNL" alumni and their stage projects. All shows
are Broadway unless otherwise noted:
Gilda Radner -- Gilda Live
Martin Short -- The Goodbye Girl and the forthcoming Little Me
Denny Dillon -- My One and Only and Off-Broadway's Clue: The Musical
Joe Piscopo -- Grease!
Danitra Vance -- The Colored Museum Off-Broadway
Christine Ebersole -- The Three Sisters Off-Broadway
Julia Sweeney -- God Said, 'Ha!'

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