“Yes, I am Sicilian, but that’s not my whole
act,” insists comic Tammy Pescatelli. After she first gained national attention
via NBC’s Last Comic Standing, some people were ready to pigeonhole the
Cleveland native as a “funny Tony Soprano.” While perhaps not savvy to the ways
of reality TV, Pescatelli is a seasoned comic, having been at it for about a
decade. The summer after graduating from Kent State with a degree in fashion
design, she started her stand-up career, though it wasn’t something she had
planned. It happened on a visit to Chicago, where her parents had recently
moved. “I just got dared to do an open mic night because I (have always)
enjoyed comedy so much,” she says.
Fashion, however, still plays at least a
small part in her career. “I do the ‘Fashion Police’ for US Weekly,” she
says. “My mom and dad are glad about that. They feel they didn’t waste that
money on my education.” Thursday through Sunday. Funny Bone on the Levee,
Newport. 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 10:30 p.m. Friday, 7:30 p.m. Saturday and
Sunday, and 10 p.m. Saturday. $15-$17. 859-957-2000, funnyboneonthelevee.com.
