The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    US urged to respect Korea's position amid US-China chip war

  • 3

    Chinese carmakers challenge Hyundai Motor, Kia in global markets

  • 5

    Calls grow for regulations on AI technology on webcomics

  • 7

    China, Korea agree to strengthen talks on chip industry: Chinese commerce ministry

  • 9

    Mexico president eyes deals with China, Korea to combat fentanyl

  • 11

    ChatGPT: boon or bane for banking industry?

  • 13

    Africa Day celebrated in Korea with book talk

  • 15

    1 in 6 N. Korean children under 5 suffer from stunted growth: report

  • 17

    INTERVIEWKorean chef aims to change Hong Kong's dining scene

  • 19

    US diplomat to visit Korea for anti-proliferation meeting

  • 2

    Stray Kids, NCT's Taeyong, ATEEZ gear up for June releases

  • 4

    Korean culture as the solution

  • 6

    Temples celebrate Buddha's birthday

  • 8

    CJ, Shinsegae study temple food to expand vegan lineup

  • 10

    Biden says debt default deal 'very close' while deadline now set at June 5

  • 12

    Synth pop regains popularity with K-stars, riding retro boom

  • 14

    Russia's Lavrov tells China envoy 'serious obstacles' to Ukraine peace

  • 16

    Tech leads more gains on Wall Street

  • 18

    Presidential office denies Japanese news report on Yoon's possible visit to Ukraine

  • 20

    Bernadou's travels in Korea in 1884 Part 4 - Gaeseong's passive defiance

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Mon, May 29, 2023 | 07:49
Multicultural Community
Stand-up comedians throw farewell show
Posted : 2022-03-01 16:14
Updated : 2022-03-01 17:38
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Ricky O.I., left, and Rowan Crabtree / Courtesy of Park Bo-young
Ricky O.I., left, and Rowan Crabtree / Courtesy of Park Bo-young

By Brad Curtin

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented difficulties for a lot of people. For stand-up comedian Rowan Crabtree and musical comedy artist Ricky O.I., it has been no different. Both have been teaching English in Korea for a number of years, while working hard on the side to develop their careers in what they love most: comedy. Now, with the pandemic hopefully in its closing stages, both are looking to go home to their home countries to further their comedy careers. But before they go, they'll pay tribute to Korea by hosting two nights of comedy this Friday and Saturday at the
Funtastic Theater.

Ricky, now a certified artist on Spotify, traces his musical aspirations back to high school in the U.S. when he began playing in a rock band called Brand Name Punk, performing at hundreds of shows, festivals and battle of the bands all across south Florida. However, the roots of his musical comedy style come from elsewhere.

"I was really inspired by memorizing lyrics and jamming to comedy music from the likes of Adam Sandler, Tenacious D, Flight of the Conchords and Lonely Island," he told The Korea Times. Eventually with the breakup of his band in 2017, Ricky headed off to Korea to pursue teaching. After two years, he started to go down the musical comedy path. He connected with Rowan and others in Seoul's stand-up community, and hasn't looked back since.

Rowan, who first began performing stand-up in 2011 back in the U.K., was eventually signed to an agency and toured all over his country. While enjoying his early success, he was inspired to move abroad though, and came to Korea to teach English in 2016. Soon after the move, he began to perform his comedy in Seoul, and eventually became part of the leadership in the community.

He helped to organize an international stand-up comedy festival, but unfortunately it never came to be. "Our hopes of bringing many international acts to Seoul and cementing Korea as a serious contender within the stand-up comedy scene within Asia were dashed by the pandemic," Rowan said.

Despite the setbacks, Rowan, Ricky and others continued working hard on their comedy ― writing, performing and workshopping material whenever COVID-19 restrictions would allow ― and the community is thriving.

Besides the farewell show, there are a number of regular open mics, showcases and even other upcoming stand-up comedy special events. Kristen Pimley is organizing a Ladies' Night Comedy Show fundraiser event at The Studio HBC, with all female performers raising funds to support single moms in need. The show was supposed to be on March 1 but has been delayed to a later date.

Arthur Minsu is also organizing a show on March 12 called Made in Korea at Phillies in Haebangchon, featuring English-language stand-up only by comedians born in Korea.

Both Rowan and Ricky feel proud to have been part of the development of the community, and are confident it will thrive after they're gone.

"It's inspiring to see what we've achieved here," Rowan said. "Yet I'm really looking forward to heading back to the U.K. and picking up where I left off. I will resume my career performing both as an actor and a comedian."

He intends to use clips from the farewell shows to help get his career back on track after he returns.

Ricky has a similar plan. Currently he has 10 tracks available online, "but nothing compares to a live performance." he quipped. He is planning on using the audio from these farewell shows to mint his first live album. Included in the songs for this endeavor is "Dokdo," his hilarious hit where the audience cheers for all things Korean, and boos an "unmentionable rival."

The two nights of the
Farewell Show for Ricky and Rowan are taking place on March 4 and 5 at 7 p.m. at the Funtastic Theater near Samgakji Station on Seoul Metro lines 4 and 6. They will be joined by other stand-up comedians. Tickets are 10,000 won. Find them on Instagram @rowanini90 and @rickyo.i.music for more information and to book tickets.


Brad Curtin is an actor, voice actor, improviser and stand-up comedian based in Seoul. When not spending time in the arts, you may find him doing some rooftop gardening in Haebangchon. He can be contacted on
Instagram @brighter_happier.


Emailjdunbar@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
wooribank
Top 10 Stories
1ChatGPT: boon or bane for banking industry? ChatGPT: boon or bane for banking industry?
2Man arrested for opening airplane emergency exit during flightMan arrested for opening airplane emergency exit during flight
3Korea walks fine line between US, China in chip warKorea walks fine line between US, China in chip war
4Labor unions seek to attract migrant workers at shipyards Labor unions seek to attract migrant workers at shipyards
5Jeju-based shamanism researcher documents connection between humans, crows Jeju-based shamanism researcher documents connection between humans, crows
6Hyundai Steel receives EPD certification for low-carbon H-beam products Hyundai Steel receives EPD certification for low-carbon H-beam products
7POSCO named sustainability champion for 2nd consecutive year POSCO named sustainability champion for 2nd consecutive year
8[RAS KOREA] Preserving memories at Cheongju City Archives RAS KOREAPreserving memories at Cheongju City Archives
9Half of medical tourists visiting Korea inspired by K-culture Half of medical tourists visiting Korea inspired by K-culture
10Gov't moves to assist 3,400 Koreans stranded in typhoon-hit GuamGov't moves to assist 3,400 Koreans stranded in typhoon-hit Guam
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Chun Woo-hee becomes chameleon con artist in 'Delightfully Deceitful' Chun Woo-hee becomes chameleon con artist in 'Delightfully Deceitful'
2Stray Kids, NCT's Taeyong, ATEEZ gear up for June releases Stray Kids, NCT's Taeyong, ATEEZ gear up for June releases
3[INTERVIEW] 'No more part-time jobs': VANNER talks about life after winning 'Peak Time' INTERVIEW'No more part-time jobs': VANNER talks about life after winning 'Peak Time'
4Competing to get married? 'Physical:100' writer to roll out marriage survival show Competing to get married? 'Physical:100' writer to roll out marriage survival show
5Ma Dong-seok goes all out to create iconic action hero in 'The Outlaws' threequel Ma Dong-seok goes all out to create iconic action hero in 'The Outlaws' threequel
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group