Anthony Locascio

Where are you currently based?

Sydney born and raised.

How did you first get into comedy?

It’s always been a private dream of mine, but having parents that are the children of immigrants isn’t exactly conducive to pursuing a career in the arts. But after crash landing in Insolvency (liquidations, bankruptcy) and working there for a few years, my soul began to erode and I ran out of excuses to not try the thing I always wanted to.

I was writing for a few years, and I hit up open mics for a while before hiring out a theatre and inviting all 400 of my cousins (it was mostly friends) to come see my first hour of stand-up (it was…not the best). After that, I completely quit my job and have been chasing this dragon ever since.

How did you keep busy during Covid?

I wrote my new show (come see it), I got very experimental with cooking, got obscenely drunk with my partner, watched all of Lost, and injured my back.

You’re Don’t Call Me A Wog!’ (An E̶t̶h̶n̶i̶c̶ Comedy Story) tour kicks off on Monday, March 14th at the Star Theatre Two at Star Theatres – Adelaide, from there you’re performing in Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, what influences your show and what can we expect?

For the last 30 years, there has been a sub-genre of comedy in this country called ‘Wog Comedy’, an offshoot of ethnic humour. Due to my Italian and Greek roots, and an occasional penchant for mentioning them in my material, I have been labelled as a ‘Wog Comic’ since I first got on stage.

Sometimes (like when I get invited to do shows to audiences of 800 plus as part of ‘wog tours’) I like this, while other times (like when I do shows in shisha bars to 30 Lebanese people and other comedians tell me I’ll crush because its ‘my demographic’ – our countries of origin aren’t even on the same continent) I don’t.

Strangely I’ve felt this way my whole life; sometimes I’ve embraced being the ‘Italian and Greek kid’ and other times it made me feel ashamed, and I think this is a general experience for all ‘ethnic Aussies’.

So this show is the story of my love/hate relationship with my cultural background, through life and then through comedy. It’s very self-deprecating and contains a lot of music, poems, lighting cues, AV slideshow, so it’ll be light and a lot of fun.

Who makes you laugh?

ScoMo. But if you’re talking about comedians, the obvious ones are obvious for a reason, Chapelle, Burr, Seinfeld. Gary Gulman is absolutely the hidden gem of American comedy; please check out ‘The Great Depresh’ on HBO (I think Binge and Foxtel).

And a little closer to home, Luke Heggie is the best in this country, he’ll be a household name in no time, and he makes me want to quit every time I see the guy get up.

How do you prepare for each show?

I try to get on stage as much as possible; minimum 3 times a week but preferably multiple times a night. Thankfully the Sydney Comedy Scene just keeps burgeoning so there are plenty of opportunities to perform.

To prepare for the hour shows (this is my 5^th) I’ll generally recite the entire show, as loudly and animatedly as I would on stage, by myself in my apartment. My neighbours must think a stone-cold lunatic lives in 582. Especially if they can make out any of the material.

Best and worst thing about being a comedian?

It’s a cliché, but having no real boss, setting your own pace, and having a totally blank canvass with the only real remit of audience laughter (or at the very least, intrigue) is pretty great. Also, when you do well, it feels pretty good-inject that sweet, sweet validation right into my bloodstream.

Conversely, meeting people and them instantly firing off a “tell me a joke” (or something like your final question) is fairly annoying. I find if I drop the charisma dial socially, I get hit with “you’re really serious for a comedian” way too often for my liking.

Also, when you don’t do well on stage, its basically being told by a room full of strangers that they don’t approve of your personality.

What do you like to do away from comedy?

I’m a total soccer nerd, so I have a lot of needless 4am wake up calls. I have a couple of podcasts (one comedy based, one about soccer) which takes up way too much time for something I do for free.

What’s planned for 2022?

This tour, which ends in May. Then I’m really looking forward to turning over the material (I’ve started writing the next show already).

I have 7 out of a total of 10 weddings left to go to in 2022. Also I’m turning 30.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Unquestionably pizza. And I am very lactose intolerant, but love conquers all.

Home, with a hefty, 6 season, 12 episode a season each at 45 minutes run time, TV  show to dive head first into. Or Comedy Clubs.

Why did the chicken cross the road?

To be basted and marinate in olive oil and garlic so me and my greasy cousins can feast on it as an appetiser.

ANTHONY LOCASCIO ‘DON’T CALL ME A WOG’! (AN ETHNIC COMEDY STORY)
TOUR DATES

TICKETS: ADELAIDE | MELBOURNE | PERTH | SYDNEY

Monday, March 14th – Star Theatre Two at Star Theatres – Adelaide
Tuesday, March 15th – Star Theatre Two at Star Theatres – Adelaide
Wednesday, March 16th – Star Theatre Two at Star Theatres – Adelaide
Thursday, March 17th – Star Theatre Two at Star Theatres – Adelaide
Friday, March 18th – Star Theatre Two at Star Theatres – Adelaide
Saturday, March 19th – Star Theatre Two at Star Theatres – Adelaide

Sunday, April 10th – Club Voltaire – Melbourne
Tuesday, April 12th – Club Voltaire – Melbourne
Wednesday, April 13th – Club Voltaire – Melbourne
Thursday, April 14th – Club Voltaire – Melbourne
Saturday, April 16th – Club Voltaire – Melbourne
Sunday, April 17th – Club Voltaire – Melbourne
Tuesday, April 19th – Club Voltaire – Melbourne
Wednesday, April 20th – Club Voltaire – Melbourne
Thursday, April 21st – Club Voltaire – Melbourne
Sunday, April 24th – Club Voltaire – Melbourne

Friday, May 6th – Regal Theatre Chorus Room – Perth
Saturday, May 7th – Regal Theatre Chorus Room – Perth

Friday, May 13th – Factory Theatre Main Room – Sydney

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