So you were wondering...?

Q: How did Kung Pao Kosher Comedy come about?

Kung Pao Kosher Comedy was created in 1993 by accident by San Francisco comedian Lisa Geduldig, who went to perform in South Hadley, Massachusetts at what she thought was going to be a comedy club. Peking Garden Club turned out to be a Chinese Restaurant. After telling Jewish jokes at a Chinese restaurant, a conversation between Lisa and her old summer camp friend, Tobi Sovak, led to the creation of Kung Pao Kosher Comedy.

Q: Is it true that Lisa Geduldig killed Henny Youngman?

A: Although she has been accused of doing so for over 10 years now, it didn’t exactly happen that way. The Kung Pao 1997 shows were indeed Henny's last shows ever. He got a cold toward the end of the run, came down with pneumonia, and died two months later. Kung Pao appeared in Henny's NY Times obit, but Lisa was exonerated by his family, who said that he went the way he would have liked to have, performing up until the end.

Q: Why do Jews eat Chinese food on Christmas?

A: Why not? (Here’s an actual study addressing the age-old question: "Safe Treyf: New York Jews and Chinese Food." PDF )

Q: Are teenagers allowed to attend the show?

A: Yes, absolutely.

Q: Can I bring my 5 year old?

A: The show is not recommended for kids under 13. But if you feel that it would be appropriate for your 6 or 10 year old, then it's your call. It's a comedy show geared toward adults.

Q: How about screaming babies?

A: Sorry, no babies, screaming or well-behaved. A baby's cry can throw off the performers. And has. No roosters either. Someone brought one a few years ago. Seriously.

Q: Can I sit at at the front table?

A: Sorry, but all 375 of you cannot. Only the first 10 people to order tickets will be able to.

Q: I'm hard of hearing. Will I be able to hear the show? (Can I sit at the front table?)

A: Half the audience is hard of hearing. Don't worry, the sound will be perfect everywhere you sit.

Q: Can I order a special menu, steamed vegetables, salad...during the Dinner Show?

A: No, sorry. There is a set Chinese restaurant menu served to the table to all 375 attendees of each Dinner Show. There will plenty to eat for both omnivores and vegetarians alike. Click here to View the Menu

Q: Can I order food at the Cocktail Show?

A: No, sorry. The restaurant will have just finished cooking for 375 people at the Dinner Show and will not be taking orders. You will be served egg rolls, however. But it's 9:30pm (or 8:30 on Dec 23 and Dec 25), so eat beforehand!

Q: Can you recommend a Chinese restaurant where we can eat before the Cocktail Show?

A: You can try Yuet Lee at the corner of Broadway and Stockton, 1-1/2 blocks from New Asia. It looks like a greasy hole in the wall, but it's good. (Webmaven recommends House of Nanking on Kearny at Columbus). Or check the Yellow Pages/internet/Twitter/Yelp/etc ad infinitum.

Q: Why is the late show called the Cocktail Show anyway? Don't cocktails usually take place BEFORE dinner? Is this done just to confuse us?

A: Yes to all three. (Boy, you sure ask a lot of questions.) Kung Pao started out with one show in 1993. After that sold out, Lisa decided to do 2 shows the following year and for some unknown reason decided to call the 2nd one "The Cocktail Show." There's no turning back now.