This week, the second annual Sacramento All Sketch Comedy Festival rolls, and roles, into town (see what I did there?). It’s the brainchild (or something less intellectual and less offspringy) of two of Sactown’s most creative and twisted (in a good way, none of that M. Night Shyamalan crap) minds: Sid Heberger and Keith Lowell Jensen. As well as founding the Festival, Sid and Keith are the founders of the local comedy troupe I Can’t Believe It’s Not Comedy (apparently they like to found). Sid is also the manager of the beautiful and historic (and heroic champion of K Street’s economy) Crest Theatre and Keith is a local comedian, filmmaker (Why Lie I Need a Drink), author (The Atheist Survival Guide; A humorous guide to getting by in a God fearing world), and the resident atheist on the Co-Exist? Comedy Tour.  (Note: He’s not especially religious).

I recently threw some questions at Keith (KLJ), via email, in a manner intended to probe, arouse, and generally stimulate his interest, while still avoiding the necessity to leave my recliner or actually meet in person. Here’s the probing, arousing, and generally stimulating outcome:

How and why did you decide to start a comedy festival and what were you drinking/smoking/injecting at the time?
KLJ: Performing with I Can't Believe It's Not Comedy in the Seattle Sketchfest, The Marsh Comedy Festival in SF, the SF Sketchfest etc. was so much fun and it felt like something that our town should have. Sid was probably drinking heavily when I convinced her that she wanted to co-produce this. The only thing I smoke is cigars, not that I'm trying to drop hints to anyone looking to score points with me in hopes of getting booked next year or anything (Davidoffs are nice).

Why focus on just sketches - why not stand up and impressionist pastels?
KLJ: For me it's just that I love sketch and wanted it to have its own festival here, not to be diluted at all. We may do a stand up festival separately but I think that sketch is its own thing and worthy of its own festival. I like to think of sketch as the impressionist pastels of comedy.

It should be mentioned that we have the area’s best comedians emcee the shows: Tapan Trivedi, Chaz Hawkins, Ellis Rodriguez, Jack Taylor, and more.

This year's lineup includes acts from Sacramento and Auburn, but also LA, San Francisco, Bellingham, New York, and Tokyo: Are comedians unaware of the global financial crisis?
KLJ: Comedians are just used to being poor. It's business as usual for us. The performers coming to town will sleep in guest rooms and living rooms of generous volunteers and they'll not likely be dining at Sacramento's more upscale restaurants (unless said restaurants want to offer to feed them for free). The further an act is travelling the greater the chance that they'll be hitting as many venues as possible along the way to make it affordable.

As long as you've brought up the economy, let me point out that we got more sponsors this year because we knew we'd want to charge less for tickets during this, um, recession, yeah that's what it is.

There's a semi-mysterious act on the bill, apparently: What can you tell us about Aardvark Fancy, kittens, and Scott Baio?
KLJ: I can tell you that they submitted an audio tape. Not a CD or an mp3 but a tape. It was funny so we booked them. They asked if we could find someone else to write and perform their material, which left me feeling even more secure that we'd done the right thing in booking them. We scheduled them with The Cody Rivers Show, an amazing troupe who has visited and amazed Sacramento previously so the audience members can feel more relaxed about the risk of going to see a troupe we know almost nothing about. My secret hope is that it turns out Andy Kauman, Elvis and John F Kennedy are the three members of Aardvark Fancy but we'll see.

The Keith and Kate Show is a repeat act and Doctor Doctor examines therapy: Should Keith and Kate have their heads examined and what did you promise them to get them back?
KLJ: Keith and Kate, staring Jason and Kate, agreed to come back when I told them we got Ten West and The Cody Rivers Show. They are huge fans of both. Basically, they're performing to keep from having to buy tickets to the show. I'm really excited to bring them back. Their show is fantastic and has mesmerized me all three times I've seen it.

What might the audience expect from the midnight show and which minority (or majority) group is most likely to be offended?
KLJ: Ha ha. I don't even know what to expect. The midnight show is fun. The comedians and the audience mix. You never know who will work together on stage. Some of our stand up buddies will show up and do a set, and some of them might even try sketch. It's more of a party than a show.
If anyone is offended I just hope they find a funny way to express said offense and we'll find 'em some stage time.

Are there any other tips, comments, or blatant lies you would like to share with the readers of the Sacramento Press?
KLJ: Steve Martin stole all of his material from me when I was but a toddler visiting Disneyland with my parents, wearing my sharp white suit with matching arrow through the head.

I would just like to encourage everyone to help us make this a huge event here like the sketch fests are in SF, Chicago, Seattle, Portland, etc. If a Dixieland Jazz festival can turn this city on its head why not Sketch Comedy next? I also hope that audience members will take advantage of the All Sketch pass to see all the shows for less and to get a free t-shirt.

The Sacramento All Sketch Comedy Festival runs Thursday, February 26th – Saturday, February 28th. All shows are at the 24th Street Theater (2791 24th Street, a few blocks South of Broadway) except for the Saturday midnight show which will be at The Comedy Spot (1716 Broadway). The full schedule, ticket information, and performers’ biographies can be found online at AllSketch.com.