Jazz hands and laughter filled The Bell House as comics packed the venue during the New York Comedy Festival with their show ‘Don’t Stop, I’m About to Jazz.’
Photo by Noah Eberhart
A humorously lewd trio brought their laugh-out-loud act to The Bell House during the New York Comedy Festival on Nov. 13, delivering a cacophony of laughter that struck more than a few offbeat notes.
Created by J.D. Roberson and Ryan Wentz, known collectively as the duo Two Tree Hill, and standout performer Rose Kelso, “Don’t Stop, I’m About to Jazz” is an improvisational comedy show that’s as crass as it is musically inventive.
The show opens with a high-energy musical number that immediately sets the tone: an irreverent mix of jokes and jazzy improv. The only thing smoother than the saxophone solos was the edgy banter that followed.
After connecting on TikTok, Kelso, Roberson, and Wentz turned their shared desire to bring the laughs from the app to the stage into a show where they riff and joke over a live jazz band. They invite visiting comedians onstage to deliver snippets of stand-up, while the band improvises a musical score they’ve never seen before.
Complete with clumsy dance numbers, spontaneous singing, and racy riffing, the show feels almost like a guessing game to the audience — delivering surprises in the most rewarding way.
“Sometimes you can find that you really get in a groove, and other times it’s a little clunky and fun,” Kelso said. “We wanted to do something where we could have that sort of cabaret, Vaudeville vibe.”
Risky as it may be, the live band adds a layer of sophistication to the show, setting it apart from other, less ad-libby productions.
“Doing musical comedy, we’re already not traditional stand-ups. We love bits, pageantry, and putting so much energy and production into a single joke,” Roberson said. “We’re just doing what we love.”
Wentz calls the act a “perfect meld” of all…
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