Editor in Chief Michael
Shashoua studied improvisational comedy with Upright Citizens
Brigade and with Carl Kissin of Chicago City Limits, and acting at
TVI. He is a professional journalist since 1993, in the financial
industry trade press since 1999, and previously a freelancer and
staffer covering arts and entertainment, including music, movies and
books for several newspapers in the Northeast and Florida.
For more biographical
information, including updates on plans and activities, please check
out Michael's
MySpace,
Facebook
and
LinkedIn pages. And
become a Facebook fan of Jester by clicking
here.
Although he didn’t know it
when discovering reruns of the original Saturday Night Live as an
impressionable 13-year-old in the New Jersey suburbs, Shashoua was
being influenced by the progeny of legendary improv guru Del Close.
This was just the start of his fascination with comedy in all its
forms, from stand-up to sketch, improv to monologue, in film,
theater and television.
As he pursued related
interests in arts, entertainment and journalism that eventually led
him to New York, Shashoua expanded this interest by studying and
performing improvisational comedy, attracted to the results of
applying specialized acting techniques to produce spontaneous
comedic performances.
This experience and
enthusiasm for the art involved in creating good comedy led Shashoua
to create Jester, a Web site that will point its audience to the
gems that might otherwise be overlooked, and help its readers
discern what is truly worth their time when they’re looking for a
good laugh. Shashoua aims to highlight performers who break new
ground, illustrate why great performances succeed and steer readers
away from work that hasn’t done what it should to entertain and
amuse.
Jester’s editor believes
the site can bring together the different facets and formats of
comedic performances under a single umbrella in a way that hasn’t
been done before in any other venue. With Jester, Shashoua aims to
draw on his experience as a writer and student of the genre to
provide an authoritative voice both within the industry and to a
consumer audience.
Jester will also provide
a targeted way for advertisers and marketers to reach a committed
and select audience with promotion of their entertainment offerings
and related products.
Send e-mail
press releases to
michael.shashoua@jesterjournal.com; to submit review copies of
CDs, DVDs, books or other media, please e-mail Michael directly for
address details.