"And Locust Walk has crooked bricks in which I trip why don't they fix them..."

originally uploaded by d. scruggs.

"...I could break my neck and then be crippled you know.."
(lyrics from Mask and Wig's Bitch About)

Elizabeth Banks (C'96) to star in and produce What About Barb?

Elizabeth Banks (C'96) is on fire!

On the heat of the news that she's starring in the new Eddie Murphy film, as well as producing The Surrogates with her husband Max Handelman (C'95, AEPi), news just broke that she will star in and produce the Universal romantic comedy What About Barb?, about a socialite who must allow her uncouth cousin to be maid of honor so her nouveau riche uncle will pay for the wedding. (photo credit: variety.com)

Podcast of Off the Beat's December 2006 concert!

Listen to this great streaming file from Off the Beat's December 2006 concert. There are also alumni interviews and songs integrated into this podcast from Off the Beat's music from 1993, 2003 and 2004. ..and a great cover from alum Gabriel Mann (C'95, Off the Beat) When We Are One.

Click here to listen!

This group has always been terrific and from the sounds of their recent music, it sounds like they're still fantastic!

Check out Off the Beat's recent music here!

Brian Yanish (C'95) promotes children's properties at 2007 Licensing International Show

Brian Yanish (C'95, Mask and Wig, Friars) will promote his children's properties Bludo and Friends and The Scrapkins at the 2007 Licensing International Show, Booth #2138 on June 19-21 at the Javitz Center in NYC.

Brian designs home decor and accessories for kids and is working as author/illustrator on several book projects for children.

Any Penn alumni in the children's publishing world out there? Be sure to check out Brian's site!

Daily Show's Dan Bakkedahl to host Mask and Wig's Comfest

Daily Show correspondent Dan Bakkedahl will host the Ninth Annual Mask and Wig Intercollegiate Comedy Festival on April 9 and 10.

For those of you who haven't been back to campus in a bit, ComFest is a two-day event hosted by Mask and Wig. The event will also feature comedy groups from three other colleges - Yale University, Boston College and University of Maryland - and will conclude with an improvisational comedy show.

Past hosts include Ana Gasteyer, Bob Saget, Kevin Nealon, Stephen Colbert, Tim Meadows, and Gilbert Gottfried.

More details about this year's event are here.

(photo credit: comedycentral.com)

I want your Ben on the Bench photo!

UPenn Ben
Originally uploaded by Fen Branklin.

Do you have a great shot of you with Ben on the Bench? Send it over so I can amass the largest Ben on the Bench collection of all time!

Click to upload your photo!