About/Contact Us

Who we are and what we do:

The Philadelphia Joke Initiative (PJI) is a comedy advocacy organization, founded in 2009 and dedicated to supporting comedy, and comedians, in the greater Philadelphia area. PJI recognizes comedy has inherent cultural value, and will support and grow Philadelphia’s cultural community by regularly producing comedy events, nurturing local talent, encouraging that talent to remain in Philadelphia, and raising the profile of Philadelphia-grown comedy on the national market.

We make jokes happen.

Contact Us:

Use this handy contact form!

Or, do it the old-fashioned way.

Phone: (215) 821-8PJI (8754)
Email: contactpji at gmail dot com.

Or, do it the SUPER old-fashioned way (AKA, Rollin’ Strom Thurmond Style):

The Philadelphia Joke Initiative
PO Box 13103
Philadelphia, PA 19101

(letters with snacks will be processed up to 37% faster
than letters without snacks)

Our Staff:

Alexis Simpson – Producing Artistic Director • Superman
Kate Sabato – Executive Managing Director • Batman
Katherine Fritz - Marketing Director • Wolverine

Our Ever-growing List of Collaborators:

Kristen Burke, Mike Carson, Thomas Choinacky, Karen Getz, Kelly Jennings, Kevin Kelly, Christina Sabato, and Jonathan Ward

Special thanks to B.J. Ellis, Don Montrey, Amy Murphy, our dads,*
Dan Platt, Jessica Sabato, and Lee Van De Velde.

*Also, of course, to our moms.  Especially for putting up with us and our dads– Ladies, you know what we’re talking about!!