DonateBest of ErieTicketsAdvertiseDistributionIssuesAboutContactEventsNewsletter
Close
Donate!
Best of Erie 2025
The Reader Beat
Tickets
Newsletter Signup
Erie Reader Business Quarterly
City Guide
Events
Opinion
Features
Issues Archive
Events Calendar
Advertise
More
Arts & Culture
Business
Columns
Community
Environment
Film
From the Editors
Gem City Style
Local, Original Comics
Music Reviews
News & Politics
Recipes
Sports
Theater
Distribution Locations
About Us
Contact Us
Issue Archives
Internship Opportunities
Write for Us
Share:
Arts & Culture / EntertainmentComedyHumor and SatireTheater

Real Arguments? That's Up for "Debate Sardines"

Comedy game show sees improvisers clash over semantics and sharks

by Nick Warren
View ProfileTwitterInstagramRSS Feed
January 7, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Lindsey Korytowski
Britty Lea [foreground] lays out the ground rules for the cast of Debate Sardines: Claire Mohr [left], Nick Warren, El Walker, Char Newport, and Karalyn Headley.

 

Saturday, Jan. 10

"First of all, of course a hotdog is a sandwich — when you come right down to it, it is meat within a bread casing — literally the textbook definition of a sandwich" Char Newport argued. 

But, is a hotdog a sandwich? 

This initial prompt invited guests to audition for the latest improv venture from Britty Lea. 

The filmmaker, artist, podcaster, and 40 Under 40 alum follows up last year's The Fishbowl performance (now available on YouTube) for another piscine production of improvised comedy. 

Five debaters will take the stage at Gannon's Schuster Theatre. There, they'll be broken into two teams, as Lea will instruct the audience on the rules of the show. While at the podium, debaters will be given a side to support, being encouraged to "die on that hill" by coming up with whatever points they can muster up (whether logical or illogical) over a four-to-eight minute span. 

Debaters will continually change teams following a topic, with some teams being potentially packed or solo based on the outcome (with the host's call of "shark!" equally shaking things up). The audience will determine the "winner" along with a specially-selected Tie Breaker. 

"I am so excited to once again be hosting a comedy show, and I cannot wait to watch the debaters argue for incredibly silly topics" Lea admitted. "These debaters are incredibly top notch so it's sure to be a great time!" she exclaimed, adding that "for the record I don't think a hot dog is a sandwich." 

Newport, on the other hand — after citing the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance and disavowing the so-called "rabid anti-sandwich hotdog contingent," continued. She confessed that "improv is scary — for me, I can easily get caught in my head and panic if I don't know how to respond." She reasoned that "it's intimidating but also a total blast."

7 p.m. // Gannon Schuster Theatre, 620 Sassafras St. // $15 // Adult Language // For tickets and more information, visit EventBrite 

Nick Warren is in this show, along with the actual talents of Britty Lea, Char Newport, Claire Mohr, El Walker, and Karalyn Headley.
This special event is part of the Krilliant Celebration of Shrimpania's Day of Jest. For more info on what that means, visit Britty Lea on Patreon.

Featured Events

Today Tomorrow This Weekend

Open Studio

Visual Arts
May. 4th, 6:38 PM to 1 AM

Ain't I A Woman? The Times, Tales, And Impact Of Sojourner Truth

Community & Causes
May. 4th, 6:38 PM to 12:30 AM

Star Wars Book Club!

Literary Arts
May. 5th, 6:38 PM to 11 PM

Harriet Tubman And The Underground Railroad

Community & Causes
May. 5th, 6:38 PM

Light Beams wsg Velvet Waves

Music
May. 6th, 6:38 PM

Submit Your Event   View Calendar

April 2026: The 15th Anniversary Issue
Erie Reader: Vol. 16, No. 4
View Past Issues
In This Issue
Erie Reader Business Quarterly
« Download PDF
View Articles »
Erie Reader Best of Erie City Guide 2023-2024

Popular This Week

COVID-19 Cases Rise Slightly In Erie County, Across Country

xRepresentx, Vice, Counterfeit, Cop Torture at BT

Ludacris Shows Behrend Some Southern Hospitality

Best of Erie 2014 Finalists

Hangin' Out at the South Pier

Related Articles

Erie's Simmering Comedy Scene

by Jonathan Burdick4/16/2026, 12:00 PM
The Flagship City Comedy Fest brings laughter to the city

A Common Thread

by Cassandra Gripp4/15/2026, 2:45 PM
The Lake Erie Fiber Arts Guild Opens Art Show

No Pissin' Around: Urinetown Plays at PACA

by Cara Suppa4/14/2026, 2:00 PM
In a hypercapitalist society, is the monetization of public restrooms really that farfetched?

More Bang for Your Buck-ley: Betty Buckley's Back at MIAC

by Ally Kutz4/13/2026, 2:00 PM
Artist-in-residence returns to Mercyhurst campus and stage

April King's Rook Club Schedule Gets Funky, with Splashes of Metal

by Nick Warren4/10/2026, 2:00 PM
Inviting and varied lineups to shower concertgoers with grooves and more

Enter A Doll's House at Erie Playhouse

by Edwina Capozziello4/9/2026, 4:00 PM
Local theatre stages a stripped-down version of the Ibsen classic
Member of Reporters Shield
© 2026 Great Lakes Online Media
PO Box 10963  //  Erie, PA 16514
Terms of Use Privacy Policy