ONFOINWINNIONOWAPP." ---
Funny Ladies
Young female comics with Detroit roots come
home to perform in ADL benefit.
Hollywood Improv, the Comedy Store in
Los Angeles and the Laugh Factory in New
York. College gigs have taken her from
Miami to Montreal.
t's very possible that guests at this
"There's an interest in Kabbalah now,
' year's Anti-Defamation League ben-
and I've brought that into the act:' says
efitwill recognize funny aspects of
Golden, a member of Temple Israel while
themselves on stage. That's because the
living in Michigan. "People are into self-
young entertainers, now relocated and
help, and that gets into the act, too."
working in different cities, grew up in
Mike Binder, writer-director-performer
Michigan and have made their early expe
from Michigan, has given Golden film
riences part of their standup routines.
opportunities. Both former Tamakwa
Jessica Golden, Mindy Raf and Hanna
campers, they met up in California, where
LoPatin .— introduced by local humor-
a member of Binder's staff was among the
ist Jeff Dwoskin — take the stage 8 p.m.
first to like her comedy club-show.
Tuesday, Nov. 14, at Knollwood Country
"I play a comedian in Reign Over Me,
Club, where the room will take on the
which stars Adam Sandler and will be
air of a comedy club. Their acts follow
out soon:' reveals Golden, who also has
cocktails and a strolling dinner with food
appeared in Cloud Nine on HBO and
service beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Marriage Material on.Lifetime. "I hope I
. "I really present an irreverent account
see a lot of people I know at the ADL event
of my life, including my work as a substi-
and then later, on Nov. 22, when I'll be
tute teacher;' says Golden, 31, currently a
at the Royal Oak Music Theatre with the
Californian who has appeared in films as
Young America Gomedy Tour."
well as clubs. "I talk about the challenges
Raf, who settled into New York, writes
of women in their late 20s and early 30s
and performs comic songs and accompa-
and how they cope with what they face as
- nies herself on guitar.
young adults."
"I do Jewish humor because of my
Golden, who graduated from Cranbrook
Jewish identity:' says the 26-year-old
and Noithwestern University, always liked
Raf, who also was affiliated with Temple
making people laugh. When she partici-
pated in school plays, she consistently won Israel. "I love the freedom of doing my
own material." She has been booked by
the comic roles.
Hadassah and traveled with the Birthright
With a choice of moving to New York or
group to Israel last summer.
Los Angeles after college, she decided on
Raf, who graduated froin Andover and
the West Coast. Her impression was that
earned a bachelor's degree in theater stud-
she would need singing ability to succeed
ies at the University of Michigan, also was
on a continuing basis in New York.
cast in comic roles in school productions.
Golden, who gets a lot of encourage-
Out on her own after college, she started
ment from parents Shelley and Richard
her career by performing at open mike
Golden of Bloomfield Hills and maybe
nights and moved on to places like New
inspiration as dad dances in commercials
York's the Laugh Lounge and events such
for his D.O.0 optical centers, has found
as Variety Hour in Chinatown.
diverse bookings. Beyond appearing at
The Web and radio attracted her interest
Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle in Royal
and extended her venues. She does a rela-
Oak, she went on to many other fun ven-
tionship column for www.CollegeHumor.
ues, including Caroline's on•Broadway,
corn and Internet sketch comedy with The
Post Show. The writer-performer pro-
vides comedy content and voiceovers for
Top to bottom:
radio stations.
"My goal is to be able to support
L.A.-based Jessica Golden
myself full time with comedy, but I try
not to plan too far ahead:' says Raf, the
New York City-based Mindy Raf
daughter of Carol (Kitty) and Robert Raf
of West Bloomfield. "I've begun working
Chicago-based Hanna LoPatin
Suzanne Chessler
Special to the Jewish News
I
on a humorous novel with some serious
•themes:'
LoPatin, who is building her career in
Chicago, concentrates her humor on ex-
boyfriends and pop culture.
"I was at the University of Michigan
when I realizedi wanted a comedy career:'
says the 25-year-old LoPatin, who expand-
ed her interest in writing funny songs and
playing the guitar while appearing at Ann
Arbor coffee shops. "I studied at Detroit's
Second City and thought I would go to
Chicago before
moving on to
New York, but I
fell in love with
Chicago."
While work-
ing full time as
a commercial
producer, she
has been able •
to find work
at venues
like Donny's
Skybox and the
Jeff Dwoskin emcees
'Athenaeum.
the event.
Her parents,
Mark and
•
Jennifer LoPatin of West Bloomfield,
are very supportive and come to see her
shows.
"I went to Temple Kol Ami but dated -
heavily Conservative and Orthodox men:'
says LoPatin, an Andover graduate. "That's
the basis of a lot of my humor"
LoPatin, who plans to go on a Birthright
mission and is active with JDate, dreamed
of writing for Saturday Night Live but is
happy where she's at with her day job and
periodic bookings. She's looking forward
to the upcoming Michigan show for both
the stage opportunity and seeing family
and friends.
"I knew Mindy in high school and col-
lege she says. "I'm excited about being
able to watch her and Jessica on stage."
The Anti-Defamation League benefit
begins at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov.
14, at Knollwood Country Club, 5070
W. Maple, in West Bloomfield: $118-
$200. (248) 646-2440.
November 9 2006
47