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justinpdrew:

The Boston Herald wrote an article about the Naked Show.

These Boston comics wear nothing but a smile

Buff Love 

By Dan O’Brien

For most people, standing in front of an audience while naked is the stuff of bad dreams. But for a group of Boston comedians, it’s all part of the act.

“The first time I walked out on stage, there wasn’t any getting over the fact that I was completely naked,” said a 25-year-old performer who does stand-up while nude at the monthly Naked Comedy Showcase at Improv-Boston in Cambridge.

The man, who asked the Herald to withhold his identity, still hasn’t told his parents or co-workers what he’s done on the first Wednesday of every month for the past year. “They’re kind of religious,” he said of his Indian immigrant parents. “They’re very traditional. I don’t think they’d be crazy about the idea of me being naked in public. It’s weird to me, even.”

But the up-and-coming funnyman, who lives in Cambridge and performs all over New England, says his bare banter helps him grow as a performer.

“When I’m in front of a humongous crowd, I think, these people can’t possibly judge me,” he said. “People who saw me naked didn’t care.”

Allston comedian Justin P. Drew, 23, agreed. “It’s really freeing. I’ve grown to be more comfortable in my skin simply because I do it.”

At 5 foot 10 inches tall and 300 pounds, Drew said “doing this show has helped me become more confident as a human being. I accept myself for who I am and that’s great. That’s important.”

That “it’s all out there in the open” dynamic is what makes performing naked a draw for some, including Cameryn Moore, 41, a comedian and actress from Jamaica Plain. For Moore, telling jokes in the buff is good practice for her one-woman plays. “Doing it naked and looking into people’s eyes pushes myself to be honest and authentic,” she said.

Audiences at naked shows are usually more respectful of performers for doing something most of them would never try. But, as Moore points out, “Naked won’t rescue bad comedy. My stuff has to stand alone as good.”

The stark idea of naked comedy began seven years ago after Arlington comedian Andy Ofiesh, 43, told jokes to crowds at a nudist retreat in western Massachusetts.

“I did it on a whim and it worked amazingly well,” said Ofiesh, a software developer. “You have this instant rock star status when you go out and challenge everyone’s fears.”

Ofiesh added that nude comedians aren’t allowed to accept tips, touch the audience or perform sexual acts on stage.

But some of the jokes are vulgar, and comedians have no problem turning the tables on the crowd.

“When I take the stage, I usually open with, ‘Hello perverts!’” Drew said. “That seems to get them laughing right off the bat.”

Naked Comedy Showcase is held the first Wednesday of every month at 10 p.m. at ImprovBoston, 40 Prospect St., Cambridge; improv boston.com/shows/naked_comedy. Open to anyone 18 or older. Tickets: $10.

-— dan.obrien@bostonherald.com