WALT FRASIER NEWS
Currently (SINCE 2002) performing 2-20 shows/week with EIGHT IS NEVER ENOUGH (LMAO, IMPROV 4 KIDS) Off-Broadway and/or touring .
Feb 18 – 5 weeks of Classes for Teens Every Saturday at NOON www.eightimprov.biz/classes
Jan 30-Feb 3rd New Semester Starts for The Comedy Hall Of Fame Laugh It Out Program. Now managing four teachers for 8 programs at 6 schools. 100+ new students start this week. Just under 100 students returning for a 2nd, 3rd and/or 4th semester. Fall 2009 we had less than 20 students. Is that a 1000% growth in 6th semester. More coming soon. Students study and perform (and sometimes write) Improv, Sketch and Stand-Up Comedy, receiving DOE English Elective Credits
September 2011 EIGHT IS NEVER ENOUGH (AKA LMAO, Improv 4 Kids) Moves to the Broadway Comedy Club. Shows sell out. get tickets in advanced. www.eightimprov.biz
AUGUST 2011 Appearing in NYC Fringe Fest 2011 CLICK HERE for MORE INFO
JULY 2011 very Wednesday in July performing with LMAO at Pace U for Orientation.
June 23, 2011 Cast in Feature Film as Carl, laid off grave digger on a crazy adventure
June 23, 2011 Cast in NYC Fringe Festival 2011 Musical “Seeds of Abraham”
MAY 2011 Callbacks for two SAG commercial projects at Melsky casting
May 7, 2011 Performed at Bay Street Theater, Sag Harbor NY with Improv Show
April 2011 Called back by Judy Keller for Webisode Project
March 2011 Cast in ABC Pilot. Scene has been cut due to time. Note from CD “We loved Walt, and would love to think of him in the future for episodes” Lisa Miller Katz, Marci Phillips
SPRING 2011 Teaching seven Improv classes at three NYC high schools. nearly 200 students eligible for graduation elective credits via Comedy Hall of Fame’s Laugh It Out Program. In addition to teaching students, Walter develops the program and new teachers for future expansion.
FALL 2010 COMEDY HALL OF FAME program expands Walter named DIRECTOR of INSTRUCTION responsible for teaching and training new teachers for the program. http://waltfrasier.com/blog1/2011/02/17/comedy-hall-of-fame-foundation/
FALL 2010 LMAO, EIGHT IS NEVER ENOUGH and IMPROV 4 KIDS returns to the 150 seat cabaret theater at the TIMES SQUARE ARTS CENTER and comedy club www.timessquareartscenter.com (300+ seat theater available as needed for private events)
Spring 2009 Comedy Hall of Fame Classes brought back for second semester. Student form sister schools join program at PAW.
NOVEMBER 2009 LMAO OFF BROADWAY opens under AGVA contract at the Midtown Theater on west 46th Street.
October 2009 Walter teaches first Improv class at NYC high school via Comedy Hall of Fame at Preparatory Academy for Writers (PAW), Queens.
August 2009 NYC FRINGE “Gutterstar: The Paperback Musical” Click here for press
August 2009, WORLD PREMIER of Charles Murray’s CHILDREN OF GOD, THE MUSICAL- Walter appeared as lead Pastor Peter Wright at the Triad theater (TWO sold-out performances), directed by Tony Winner, Ben Harney (Best Actor, Dreamgirls) with Broadway star, Kecia Evans (Dream Girls, Matron Mama Morton in Chicago etc).
NOVEMBER 2008 MIDWEST TOUR – 9 Improv Shows in Mi, Ne, Wi including the broadway house in Appleton EIGHT IS NEVER ENOUGH http://eightimprov.biz/carriereview.jpg
APRIL 2008 OHIO NATIONAL GUARD EIGHT IS NEVER ENOUGH & IMPROV 4 KIDS perform and teach workshop to children of guards deployed over seas. http://eightimprov.biz/OhioNationalGuard.jpg
SPRING 2008 NINTENDO WII FIT COMMERCIAL filmed by VH1 Celebrity Fit Club with Tina Yothers. Two spots have Walter as Gym Night watchman inspired by Tina’s workout. Highlight is Walter dancing in Coconut Bra.
DECEMBER 2007 INSIDE ARTS MAGAZINE (APAP) Walter interview regarding corporate events. http://eightimprov.biz/INSIDEARTSPAGE1.jpg AND http://eightimprov.biz/INSIDEARTSPAGE2.jpg
DECEMBER 2007 BIZBASH.com http://www.improv4kids.com/BIZBASHGIF.gif
FALL 2007 WE NETWORK “HAIR TRAUMA” Walter makes his second appearance as life coach on this reality show about upper west side business.
SUMMER 2007 CULLIGAN WATER COMMERCIAL Walter appears in first commercial as Quarterback of rag tag bench warmers.
SUMMER 2007 ABC NEWS on IMPROV 4 KIDS “A production you and your children don’t want to miss.”
WINTER 2007 NICK “NAKED BROTHERS BAND” Ep 3 “Nat Is A Stand Up Guy” Walter appears as himself, a real stand-up comic at the fake comedy club. Watch the “behind the scenes” video THE JOKE with Walter, George Lopez and the cast telling a joke (Basically the G rated kids version of THE ARISTOCRATS) http://www.nick.com/videos/clip/NTV_nbb_joke_extra.html
FALL 2006/WINTER 2007 Joe Franklin’s Comedy Club Walter serves as booking manager / executive producer for club in Times Square.
FALL 2006 WE NETWORK “HAIR TRAUMA” Walter makes his first appearance as life coach on this reality show about upper west side business.
SPRING/SUMMER 2006 Late Night with David Letterman Walter is booked nine times including as Belmont Race Winner (Horse Jockey), Lance Armstrong / Tiger Woods Impersonator, Heckler, Over heated guy, etc. Aired on episodes with Paris Hilton, Adam Sandler, Donald Trump etc. Meets Jeff Dunham backstage, among others!
APRIL 7, 2006 New York Laugh Factory EIGHT IS NEVER ENOUGH performs first of over 2000 shows at the Las Vegas Style cabaret showroom. Laugh Factory becomes the Times Square Arts Center around 2008. Walter and the gang continue to perform there.
SUMMER 2005 MTV 2′s STANKERVISION Walter plays casual stroller in NYC park when accosted by urban cowboys. Chased, tackled, clothes torn off, hog tied and shaven. Supposed to get a nude suit, Walter wore nude briefs.
NOVEMBER 7, 2004 NY Improv Comedy Club EIGHT IS NEVER ENOUGH performs its first of over 600 performances at the legendary venue.
November 1, 2004 CAROLINE’s COMEDY CLUB EIGHT IS NEVER ENOUGH performs night before BUSH/KERRY election, Last stop on ROB THE VOTE comedy tour. Other venues included famous NJ comedy club, Rascal’s and John Kerry Fundraiser at Don’t Tell Mamas.
SUMMER 2004 HERE COME THE ELEPHANTS EIGTH IS NEVER ENOUGH performs musical sketch comedy show just blocks away from Republican Convention at MSG. Featured on NPR and review by West Side Spirit http://westsidespirit.com/
SPRING 2004 Farmington CT EIGHT IS NEVER ENOUGH introduces IMRPOV 4 KIDS at four hartford area schools.
FALL 2003 First College Gig Walter Hosts 5 performances at a massive back to school night. EIGHT IS NEVER ENOUGH sponsored by Pan Hellenic Council.
DECEMBER 2002 FIRST PERFORMANCE of EIGHT IS NEVER ENOUGH at Danny’s on 46th Street. Walter co-created company with Laurice Fattal, serving as comedy performer, MC and pianist. Early shows included more sketch and musical parody similar Capitol Steps but edgier. The next two years more and more performances at Times Square Arts Center studio theaters on 42nd street, Wings, Under St Marks, The Kraine, Red Room, Don’t Tell Mama’s, Rose’s Turn, Rascals, NY Comedy Club, Boston Comedy Club, Gotham Comedy Club, and more!
FALL 2002 NATIONAL TOUR “Scarlet Pimpernel” Walter cast as Mercier and U/S to Sextet.
Summer 2002 GATEWAY PLAYHOUSE “Fiddler On The Roof”Walter cast as Avram the Book Seller and Understudy to Lazar Wolf (AGAIN)
Winter 2002 Bronx Opera Walter understudies the Prince in Suppe’s Boccaccio”. (Think Franz Lehar). Performs as one of the student Quartet with comic flair. Bronxville Reform Church Tenor Section Leader/Soloist.
September 2001 WARRIOR SISTERS Hired back to perform in AZ at the Gammage, AZ. Future touring plans put on hold as another project from the producer picked up for 35 city tour.
December 2000 WARRIOR SISTER THE KITCHEN in Chelsea, NYC. Original Opera by Fred Ho. Walter plays various racist villains in Asia, Africa and NY. Walter also did some dance and martial arts. NY TIMES REVIEW http://www.eightimprov.biz/WSReview.html
1997-2000 Some Auditioning. Moved to NYC. Got Married. Worked and paid the bills. At some point sings at a Cousins Wedding and realizes has been away from performing for too long. Starts Singing as First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica Queens. Does a few smaller shows around town.
1996 Iolanthe (Lord T “Blue Blood” at Victorian Lyric Opera) and Henry VIII with Metropolitan Players based at the Holy Trinity Church in DC where Walter was singing.
1995 SUMMER Amalfi Coast Music Festival
1995 SPRING Pirates of Penzance at the West End Dinner Theater in Alexandria Va. Walter’s first professional theater gig. 20 weeks playing Samuel. Began Singing at Metropolitan Methodist – across from American U.
1993 FALL Pirates of Penzance Cast as Frederic at Victorian Lyric Opera. Merry Widow (St Brioche). First Pro singing Job at the Cathedral of St. Matthews, Washington DC.
1993 Summer Dinner Theater cast as Harold Hill in Music Man
1993 Spring STUDENT PRINCE (Da’ Prince)- The show that made me want to sing Opera full time for a number of years. Loved wailing all those high C notes.
1992 FALL Where’s Charlie as Jack, Directed by Ed Sandler (Currently Director of Membership for the Broadway League).
1992 Summer Dinner Theater Carousel (Star Keeper, Ensemble); Anything Goes (Tap Soloist, Ensemble) Choreographed by Directed by Jane Pesci-Townsend. Jane also taught a class on being a working actor – piecing together stage, cabaret, TV, Film etc. Also how to negotiate a contract – invaluable material!
1992 Spring Served as Assistant Director to LITTLE MURDER’s. Cast in CHESS as Molokov. Added more Dance Classes and Movement for the performer to roster of classes. Further exposed to Alexander technique.
1991 Now fully a Voice Major at MC-Rockville. Sang Ferrando in Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutti. Originally cast as understudy to Baritone role. Discovered Operatic Tenor Voice. Started taking Tap and Ballet classes!
1991 Summer Dinner Theater, Rockville MD Brigadoon (Stuart Dalrymple) and Boys From Syracus (Ensemble – THE CROWD), Directed and Choreographed by Roger Riggle.
1991 Spring Added Minor in Voice and Jazz Piano. First show with Dr. Muller and Roberta Gasbarre – Cast as Ciccio in Most Happy Fella. BIT HARD by the theater bug!!!
1990 FALL Entered Montgomery College as Music Major – Trumpet Performance
1990 Graduated Gaithersburg HS, Montgomery County MD. Senior Class President, Trumpet Section Leader in Jazz Band and Orchestra. Pit Orchestra for Damn Yankees in 1988. Also played for Oklahoma at Rockville Musical Theater and Music Man at Damascus Musical Theater.
1986 Montgomery County Top Jazz Soloist (Junior High – Trumpet)
1983 All County Chorus and Band
1982 Joined Browningsville Cornet Band – 30-40 gigs per year marching in parades and playing church picnics. Later would serve as assistant conductor. Leading a few gigs. Learned a lot of great music from Broadway to Classical to Jazz Standards to Dixieland to German Oom-pah Music to Sousa Marches.
1981 Picked up Trumpet for first time
1977 Started Playing Piano
1972 BORN
“I’d like to thank you for helping organize such a great event for our team. They all had a great time!” - Manager/Assistant American Express NYC Event
“…Thank you for making my teams off site such a great day…everyone has commented on having an original and fun day and it has certainly made our team closer” – Event Organizer, Johnson & Johnson NYC Event
“I wanted to follow up with you..to once again tell you how much we all enjoyed the show. Your group is so talented and we feel honored to have participated in your show. I’ve heard many comments within the past few days, and they were ALL positive. Everyone had a great time…“ – Grace, General Motors, NY
“Everyone loved the interactive show…Thanks again for making the event GREAT!!! You really made me shine” – Clifton Pierre, Morgan Stanley, NYC
ADDITIONAL REFERENCES / THANK YOUS for EIGHT IS NEVER ENOUGH and IMPROV 4 KIDS
“Discovery Day would not have been a success without Improv 4 Kids” – Long Wharf Theatre, CT
“Thanks for a totally terrific day. The kids could not stop talking about how great you were…and the assembly was perfect.” – Coolidge School, NJ
“I had several people say that their children loved your assembly so much, and the teachers really loved it. .. you did an outstanding job at both the elementary and middle school levels” - Cloverly Elemetary School, MD, Farquhar Middle School, MD (montgomery co)
Walt and Laurice Frasier created EIGHT IS NEVER ENOUGH as a showcase for agents and casting directors back in 2002. Within two years, it became clear that there was a market for short form Improv Comedy not being satisfied adequately by the current players. Now, as SGF PRODUCTIONS (formerly Frasier Productions of New York), the couple presents 300-400 shows and workshops every year. Through the COMEDY HALL OF FAME, NYC students are receiving credit for studying Improv.
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