HISTORY

Founded in 1994 in Miami by writers Marty Hill and Chris Vicchiollo, PUNCH 59 took its name from an election flyer found in Hill’s car, urging you to “PUNCH 59”.  (What we were supposed to PUNCH 59 for is unknown.)

PUNCH 59 has always been a showcase for actors, writers, musicians, and comedians; it became a repertory sketch comedy troupe in 1997 after finding a permanent home at the Hollywood Boulevard Theatre in Hollywood, FL. PUNCH 59’s Friday and Saturday late-night shows (directed and produced by Mr. Hill, then Jen Ryan) logged over 200 unique shows to rave reviews and a loyal following.  

When the theatre closed in 2001 the troupe disbanded; but Ms. Ryan resurrected the troupe in New York City in October 2006.

Since then, PUNCH 59 has performed at the Gene Frankel Underground, the Sage Theatre, Under St. Marks, the Laugh Factory, The Kraine, Broadway Comedy Club, 45th Street Theatre, and Danny’s.

Our current cast is nine: Jen Ryan, Rik Sansone, Melisa Breiner-Sanders, Jill Butterfield, Ray Chao, Noel Hunter, Johnny McCarthy, Adam P. Murphy, and Rachael Marie Shaffer.  Bios for the cast can be found on this website.

The writers are Mr. Hill, Ms. Ryan, Mr. Sansone, Ms. Shaffer, Rich Dickson, Craig O’Connor, Erika Woods, Melanie Keegan, Andy Sottilare, and Dagmar Bergan. Miami radio personality Ron St. John provides voiceovers and audio production.

PUNCH 59 is also proud to include Tony winner THOMAS MEEHAN  (The Producers, Hairspray) to our writers corps; Ms. Ryan adapted Mr. Meehan’s New Yorker essay, “Movie, Movie” for the stage and debuted it with PUNCH 59 on April 17, 2008.  “Movie, Movie” tells the story of Bonnie and Clyde, who meet “on the waterfront; Coney Island”, and the dialogue consists solely of movie titles.  Mr. Sansone directed Ms. Ryan, Mr. Murphy, and Mr. Chao in the piece, which PUNCH 59 continues to perform as part of its repertoire. 

PUNCH 59 alums - over 210 actors to date - have appeared on MAD TV (Jill Michele-Melean), in feature films (Legally Blonde) TV shows (The West Wing, Boston Legal, SATC, L&O) and in countless plays and commercials in New York, LA, and Miami.