Local Comic Plans Recording First Album In Front Of Audience

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY — A comedian, who grew up in Rockville Centre, is putting together her first album.

Chrissie Mayr, a graduate of South Side High School, will record it in front of an audience at Governor's Comedy Club in Levittown on Jan. 6.

"I was at the Capitol on January 6th covering the protest and the rally, just doing 'Man on the Street' interviews," Mayr told Patch. "I know I'm going to weave that experience into my set."

After five years as an improv comic, Mayr realized stand-up was her best outlet. She has performed solo for more than a decade.

"You can just sort of be yourself," she admitted. "It takes years for you to figure out how to be yourself on stage."

But before getting caught up in comedy, Mayr was contemplating a career in journalism during college. She interned at Dateline NBC.

"I was bored out of my mind," she said.

However, she was able to transfer to "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," when he was still at 30 Rock. For her senior year, Mayr got to be part of the high-energy show, sparking her interest in comedy for pay. Although, advice from the late-night host, not so much.

"You're getting his food. You're retrieving his credit card from whatever bar he left it at the night before," Mayr said. "You're getting his coffee."

But, her experiences with writer staff did rub off on her and encouraged her to get into improv.

Now living in Westchester, Mayr hopes her Levittown appearance will bring out her former classmates. As for her family, that is a tougher sell.

"I think they may have come to a couple of shows over the years. But my family has never been like fans of what I do even now," she said. "I don't think any of them listen to the podcast."

That eponymous podcast features her in long-form interviews ranging from politicians to other TV personalities.

"It looks like I'm getting to a place where I can make my whole living off of just comedy, which is great," Mayr said.