I built my career as a stand-up comedian and comedy teacher/coach in New York City, where neighborhoods are often labeled with acronyms like SoHo, DUMBO, and TriBeCa. (How New Yorkers say, “Try bein’ careful!” when they’re in a rush.)

MonCo is a similar abbreviation for my beautiful new home in New Jersey: Monmouth County, aka Hollywood East.

Monmouth County (or - say it with me now - MonCo) is home to the Netflix Studios at Fort Monmouth, the Garden State Film Festival in Asbury Park, Kevin Smith’s Smodcastle Cinemas in Atlantic Highlands, the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank, and many more storied entertainment venues. (Shout-out Fantasie’s in Keyport and Delilah's Den of Hazlet, which is - in true New Jersey fashion - actually in the Borough of Keansburg.)

For me, tho, MONCO also stands for: My Own Name COmpany

After almost a decade of teaching comedy at places like the PIT, BCC & GOLD, I’ve decided to start my own thing. For now, we’ll be offering online classes, plus some in-person classes and events in NY and NJ. Eventually I hope to expand into a brick-and-mortar teaching studio and event space that will host shows, rehearsals, classes, community gatherings, and more.

Thanks for being here for the start of MonCo Comedy. I hope you enjoy Mon Co, which is short for “Mon Compagnie” in French.*

*I have not verified this, but I feel good about it.

-‍ Carolyn Castiglia, Founder, MONCO COMEDY‍