Monologuist and humorist James Judd, headliner of NPR‘s Snap Judgment, has accidentally ended up in a whorehouse in China while working as a banned journalist, singlehandedly ruined more than a half dozen good jobs (and counting) in industries ranging from journalism to law, and is a former patient—and current pen pal—of sham Manhattan dermatologist turned Attica prisoner Dean Faiello. Judd is also is a writer and performer whose comic, autobiographic tales crowd the stage with hilarious characters and situations.
Often compared to David Sedaris, Judd connects with audiences as he shares stories classified as "spectacular public embarrassments and utter failures." However humiliating, they affirm that part of being human is telling the stories that have happened to us, emphasizing that even in the face of failure, it's getting up and moving forward that matters.
The Washington Post says, “Judd’s conversation style is loud, lightning fast and nonstop — he doesn’t seem to need to breathe as much as a typical human — and the result is a constantly engaging pileup of quips. It can take a few moments for a joke to register, but by then Judd has unfurled a few more laugh-worthy lines. One of Judd’s biggest assets is his delivery, which rarely feels rehearsed, as if he’s simply recounting these absorbing personal anecdotes over dinner. And his talents extend to physical humor, whether he’s imitating a shark or mimicking an oafish boat captain.”
JAMES JUDD is former member of the Los Angeles based improv group The Groundlings, and worked the stand-up circuit until age 30, when he decided to go to law school to become a criminal defense attorney. (He’s still licensed in New Hampshire.) An epiphany as an underprepared law student making his debut in criminal court—detailed in his story The Defense Rests—propelled him back to comedy, where he opted for autobiographic storytelling, instead of stand-up, for a more theatrical and satisfying experience for both himself and his audience. He was born in New Jersey, lived in Manhattan for many years and has recently relocated to Miami, Florida.
Judd performed in Snap Judgment’s live, filmed recording at The Power Center at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, as well as in Snap Judgment LIVE! at the 4,000-seat Nokia Theater in Los Angeles. He is also the author of the book, “Now I Know: Essays and Monologues.” He frequently holds storytelling workshops for companies and individuals interested in upping their storytelling skills, most recently at Miami’s Soho House, and was a featured perfomer and speaker at the 2017 Miami Book Fair.
