Our Mentors

JIMMY DUNN

Jimmy Dunn is an actor and stand-up comedian from Boston, who recently co-starred on the CBS comedy “The McCarthys” as Sean McCarthy. He got his start in the comedy world telling jokes at a bar in Gloucester, Massachusetts, where he was paid in beer and fried clams.

Since then, Jimmy has gone on to perform at some of the comedy industry’s most prestigious events, including Denis Leary’s Comics Come Home, Montreal’s International Just For Laughs Comedy Festival, and the Late Show with David Letterman.

TONY V.

Tony V started his stand-up comedy career in 1982 after attending several shows at Boston’s prestigious Comedy Connection. He wandered in one night, quite by accident, looking for a little stress relief from a high pressure job as a case worker at the Somerville Mental Health Center. Tony was working his way toward a Masters degree in social work having graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a B. S. in Psychology. It was not long after that he took to the stage himself. Tony’s street wise humor tempered with a genuine feel for the human condition quickly propelled him to headliner status on the national comedy club circuit.

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KELLY MACFARLAND

Kelly MacFarland is a stand-up comedian, writer, speaker and actress. She has an extensive resume including comedy clubs, theaters, colleges, festivals, television appearances and entertaining US troops overseas. Kelly was first runner up in the Boston Comedy Festival and voted Best of the Fest at the Aspen Rooftop Comedy Festival. Kelly has two albums available on iTunes, Amazon and SiriusXM radio. She has performed at the Oddball Comedy Festival, the Comedy Stage at Boston Calling Music Festival, Lucille Ball Comedy Festival – National Comedy Center and has been a featured headliner for the Boston Women in Comedy Festival since inception. Kelly was the winner of the Ladies of Laughter stand-up competition professional category in 2016 and continues to tour with them nationally. Kelly has appeared on the TV Guide Channel, Comedy Central, NBC’s Last Comic Standing, AXS Gotham Comedy LIVE, Up Early Tonight on Hulu, Prime Video and Denis Leary’s Comics Come Home at the Boston TD Garden. Check out Kelly’s Dry Bar comedy special, Sleepytime Baby. She has several comedy albums available on iTunes and can be heard on SiriusXM.

DAN CROHN

Dan Crohn has been performing stand up comedy in and around Boston for years. His jokes can be heard on XM Radio and he has been a guest on the popular podcast WTF with Marc Maron. Dan was named one of the top 100 comics for Season 9 of Last Comic Standing and has recently appeared on Gotham Comedy Live on AXS TV and Laughs on Fox.

Dan is an exceptional comedy teacher with an innate ability to captivate and inspire students. He currently teaches classes at Laugh University and the De Florez Fund for Humor at MIT.

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In 1986 Tony V was named “Funniest Person in Massachusetts” by Showtime television. He followed this achievement with several performances on HBO, the Arts and Entertainment Network, Comedy Central and MTV. From 1987 through 1992 Tony V became the “spokesperson” for American Tourister Luggage. Remember the suit case smashing gorilla? It was Tony that gave the ape it’s distinct voice and temperament. Touring extensively in and out of his high tech forty-five thousand dollar yak hair gorilla suit, both Tony and his alter ego had many interesting adventures. If you get a chance ask Tony about a meeting between The Gorilla, Spuds MacKenzie and Ronald McDonald. You won’t believe your mind.

Network television was next on the list for this Boston native. Spending time in New York and L. A. paid off with multiple highly acclaimed appearances on Late Night w/ Conan O’Brien, Comedy Central’s Tough Crowd w/ Colin Quinn and several sit-coms including Seinfeld, Boston Common, The Single Guy and Dr. Katz Professional Therapist. Having proven himself a solid comic actor Tony then tackled dramatic roles on television working with such notable actors as Eric Roberts, Ice T and James McDaniels from NYPD Blue.

Tony’s big screen outings include State and Main, Celtic Pride, Housesitter, One Crazy Summer and Shakes the Clown as well as the independently produced By the Sea and Abracadabra. Tony has also produced and written on several shows for network and production companies.

He is no stranger to benefits and fundraisers performing at functions for The American Cancer Society, Children's Hospital, The Boston Food Bank and many other charitable organizations. His corporate shows include Citizens Bank, The NorthEast Lumber Association, Stop & Shop, American Express Corp. and Staples.

Along with being a popular headliner at clubs and colleges all over the free world, Tony V has worked with Jay Leno, Dennis Miller, Bobcat Goldthwait, Steven Wright, Adam Sandler and countless other friends and nationally known acts. Tony has opened for Kenny Rogers, The Temptations, Billy Ray Cyrus, The Beach Boys and Joan Jett.

Tony also really believes that this is enough of a Bio and if you’re not convinced or impressed by now nothing is going to change your mind. So thanks for reading this far and good luck in all you endeavors.