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Mount Pleasant Residents Bring Comedy Shows To Westchester

PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. -- It can be tough to find a good comedy show without traveling to the city, but Frank Pellegrino, Adam Eliassof and Rich Delayo are trying to bring New York-style comedy to Westchester.

Mount Pleasant residents Frank Pellegrino and Adam Eliassof have launched NoMa Comedy to organize and host stand-up comedy shows in Westchester.

Mount Pleasant residents Frank Pellegrino and Adam Eliassof have launched NoMa Comedy to organize and host stand-up comedy shows in Westchester.

Photo Credit: Casey Donahue

Their new venture, NoMa Comedy, stands for North of Manhattan. After hosting a comedy fundraiser last year in Mount Kisco to benefit the Yorktown Lodge, longtime friends Pellegrino and Eliassof decided to try their hand at organizing comedy shows around the county on a more regular basis. They teamed up with Delayo, a Yorktown Lodge member with Pellegrino, who works in finance and was able to help them on the business end.

"Westchester lacks a legitimate comedy club, so we try to provide that, and provide everything that the venue needs to create that experience," said Pellegrino, a Thornwood resident.

So far they've hosted three shows, and have several more booked in the next couple months. Their next show will be held at Paulie's Bar and Grill in Pleasantville on Friday, Feb. 28. Each show features a number of performers, who are booked by NoMa.

"We always have a local comedian. We like to showcase the, help them build their brand," said Eliassof, a Hawthorne resident. In addition to bringing New York to Westchester, the shows also allow comedians to perform without dragging their friends into the city.

Pellegrino and Eliassof are surprised by how NoMa has taken off. Each show has grown in terms of audience, and they're constantly getting asked how to order tickets.

Each show is crafted specifically for the event. Eliassof said that they like to combine performers who might have similar styles, or make sure to book comedians whose style will work well with a particular audience. Many shows also feature some kind of community fundraiser, such as a clothing drive. They are also interested in putting together videos of their shows, featuring music from local musicians.

Though they still work full-time, Pellegrino and Eliassof say they would love to make NoMa their full-time job. For now, they are enjoying the work and trying to put together the best shows they can.

The Pleasantville show will be hosted by Tommy Gooch and will feature Sour Shoes, Kara Klenk, Nore Davis, Trisha Bruynell and Westchester's Adam Giambattista. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the show starts at 9 p.m. Tickets are $20. 

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