MARIA MENOZZI BIO

Maria Menozzi was a classically trained vocalist before someone yelled out, "Hey, you should do comedy," during a recital performance.   Her quirky, smart, clever, observational stand up quickly led her to the top comedy clubs all over the country. 

Maria's talents are versatile as they are abundant. With her trusty 12-string guitar, Abner Biberman, her original comedy songs add hysterical musical fun for everyone, including "Small Boobs in LA", "Please Don’t Make Me Eat Sushi" and the crowd sing-along favorite, "The Masturbation Song."

Maria performed as part of the U.S. Comedy Invasion Tour at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland, UK in 2003.   She has played numerous other comedy festivals around the country, including this year’s first Hawaii Comedy Festival in Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii.  She is an award-winning playwright for her children’s play, "The Poet Who Wouldn’t Be King," published by Players Press.   Her comedy short films, "The Adventures of Zoey:  A Pain in the Basket and My Left Feet" were the Comedy Short Film Winners at the 2004 Telluride IndieFest in Telluride, Colorado.   The Los Angeles Short Film Festival screened "Zoey" with six other films in consideration for the festival in 2002.   Maria made her directorial debut on the dramatic short film, "Mrs. Merriam’s Moment" which she also wrote and co-produced.  "Merriam" premiered at the West Valley Indie Fest in California and is making festival rounds.  Her film company, Zoey Films, is currently working on two new projects "The Husband Audition," a romantic comedy short film, and "Secretaries’ Day," a sitcom pilot, that Maria wrote and will direct.  Her popular silent comedy series "The Adventures of Zoey" adds a third episode, "Dog Park Afternoon," premiering in 2006.

Maria trained initially with Carol Goodheart at the HB Studio in New York City, with Janet Maylie at The Purple Rose Theater Company in Chelsea, MI and in Detroit at Second City with Larry Joe Campbell who now stars on the ABC sitcom, "According to Jim."   She was a co-writer and performer of "Guns and Moses" at the Second City in Detroit.   She co-founded the improv troupe, The Third Level, in Detroit in addition to performing stand-up comedy.    Look for her autobiographical play based on her Italian Catholic blue-collar family growing up in Detroit, "Genius From a Blue Collar Neighborhood," to be produced sometime in 2006.  Maria is an active member of Theatre Creators Collective, a talented group of thespians, and will perform in a number of theatrical productions in 2006 including the upcoming, "Ladies of Shakespeare...and Their Men."

Maria is proud to be the Founder of The Los Angeles Women of Comedy, a nonprofit organization that raises money for Gilda’s Clubs through her stand up comedy benefits, "Giggle For Gilda’s."


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QUOTES:

"THE ADVENTURES OF ZOEY":

"...a nine minute feat of slapstick, masterly executed and choreographed in a way that not only captivates the audience but that will...deliver a renewed and fresh interest in silent films." 
- Short Film Party Review (www.shortfilmparty.com)


"[Maria’s songs are]...highly original..."
- Chortle, The UK Comedy Guide (www.chortle.co.uk)


Maria is Official Host of the Norm's Restaurants' Hotcake Olympics Events:

"It is a unique talent to be funny, and even more unusual to be funny to order for a variety of groups of people, Maria Menozzi has that talent, and we wholeheartedly recommend her."

Elaine Doran & Suzan Crowley
EL DORAN PR


"You're insane!! and I mean that in a good way..."

Tony Russell
"Life With Bonnie", "Casino"


"I just wanted to take the time to thank you for your wonderful performance at our cancer survivor benefit, Laugh Therapy 101. Your generous contribution of time and talent helped to make this event a funny and very enjoyable success. We really couldn't have done it without you."

Program Coordinator
Providence Hospital and Medical Centers
Southfield, Michigan

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Maria Menozzi Bio