Kevin Allison
Allison performing in 2017
Born (1970-02-16) February 16, 1970
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actor, comedian, writer, storyteller
Years active1991–present
Websitekevinallison.net

Kevin Allison (born February 16, 1970) is an American comedian, writer, actor, and storyteller. He is perhaps best known as a writing and performing member of the comedy troupe The State, and appeared in their 1993-1995 MTV sketch comedy series The State. He hosts a storytelling podcast, RISK!,[1] and teaches sketch comedy and storytelling.

Early life

Allison was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is a 1988 graduate of St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati.[2] He then attended New York University, where he became a founding member of comedy troupe The State.

Career

From 1993 to 1995, he appeared on the sketch comedy series The State. Popular sketches on the show starring Allison include "Taco Man," "Mr. Magina", "Dreamboy", and "The Jew, the Italian, and the Redhead Gay".

Allison created and hosts the uncensored weekly audio podcast RISK!, a storytelling show "where people tell true stories they never thought they'd dare to share." RISK! is also a monthly live show in New York City and Los Angeles. Allison tours to other cities with the show on a consistent basis as well. The live show debuted in August 2009 at Arlene's Grocery in New York and moved to Joe's Pub in October with guests like Margaret Cho, Rachel Dratch, Michael Ian Black, Andy Borowitz, and Janeane Garofalo dropping their usual material for a night to tell unusually honest and often embarrassing stories.

RISK! regularly ranks on the top ten lists of podcasts on iTunes and gets well over one million downloads per month.[3] The podcast features both stories told at the live shows and studio-recorded "radio-style stories" with music and sound design. Allison's best known story from the podcast is "Kevin Goes to Kink Camp."[4] In 2011, the RISK! team created the storytelling school The Story Studio based in New York.[5] The school specializes in both creative and corporate storytelling training.

Allison's other film and TV appearances include Cobra Kai, High Maintenance, @midnight, Reno 911!: Miami, The Ten, Wedding Daze, VH1's Best Week Ever, IFC's Comedy Bang Bang and HBO's Flight of the Conchords, Viva Variety, The State on MTV and You Wrote It, You Watch It.[6] He has written for TV and for production companies like JibJab and Blue Man Group.

Allison has taught sketch comedy and storytelling classes at New York University, the People's Improv Theater in New York City (where he also served as artistic director), and the Philly Improv Theater in Philadelphia.[7] He currently teaches storytelling through his website and The Story Studio.[8]

Allison is an advocate for the kink/BDSM community[9] and has taught workshops on related topics.[10]

Media appearances

Allison appeared on podcasts including Marc Maron's WTF Ken Reid's TV Guidance Counselor, Guys We Fucked, Las Culturistas, The Gist, My Brother, My Brother and Me, How to Be Amazing, and 2 Dope Queens.

References

  1. ↑ Gordon, Doug (2019-03-16). "Comedian Kevin Allison On How Taking Risks Leads To Authenticity (And A Hit Podcast)". Wisconsin Public Radio. Archived from the original on 2022-02-09. Retrieved 2022-02-08.
  2. ↑ "TX has big presence in Big Apple". St. Xavier High School. August 1, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
  3. ↑ Gamerman, Ellen (2018-07-16). "Podcasts Hit the Books". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 2021-02-04. Retrieved 2022-02-08.
  4. ↑ Gallagher, Danny. "A Q&A with Kevin Allison about the Risk! Podcast, Being a Storytelling Therapist and Going to Kink Camp". Dallas Observer. Archived from the original on 2022-03-16. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
  5. ↑ "Home". thestorystudio.org. Archived from the original on 2022-08-08. Retrieved 2022-08-08.
  6. ↑ "Kevin Allison". IMDb. Archived from the original on 2022-03-16. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
  7. ↑ "Instructor Bio: Kevin Allison". Philly Improv Theater. March 1, 2010. Archived from the original on 2010-09-27. Retrieved June 27, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Kevin Allison: 'The State' alum-turned-storyteller". the Guardian. 2013-09-04. Archived from the original on 2022-03-16. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
  9. ↑ Tanek, Nicholas (2017-12-07). "Some Dos & Don'ts of Approaching People In The Kink Community". Your Kinky Friends. Archived from the original on 2023-02-06. Retrieved 2022-03-15.
  10. ↑ "Talk with Kevin Allison on Pensight". pensight.com. Archived from the original on 2022-01-29. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
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