Jacqueline Novak (born September 3, 1982) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and published author. Her off-Broadway, one-woman show Get On Your Knees was a New York Times "Critic's Pick.",[1] and her performance was nominated for a 2020 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Solo Performance.[2] In 2024, Get On Your Knees was made into a Netflix special, directed by Natasha Lyonne.[3][4] for which she received a 2024 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special.[5]
After graduating from college, Novak began doing stand-up in the downtown New York City comedy scene, often hosting shows with comic/actor John Early.[15] During this time, she wrote her memoir How to Weep in Public. She put her efforts next on developing a one-person show, which eventually became the hit Off-Broadway performance Get On Your Knees.[15]
Since 2020, Novak has also co-hosted the comedy wellness podcast "POOG" alongside comedian Kate Berlant.[7]
Get On Your Knees
Get On Your Knees began as a one-woman show Novak presented at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland in 2018.[21] At the time, the show was called How Embarrassing for Her.[22] After the festival, she workshopped it in Los Angeles.[23] Mike Birbiglia and Natasha Lyonne saw the show, and Birbiglia decided to produce it for a six-week Off-Broadway run at the Cherry Lane Theatre in Manhattan's West Village.[20] Lyonne agreed to present it.[24][20] John Early was chosen as director.[20] Due to its popularity, the run at Cherry Lane was extended, then moved to the larger Off-Broadway Lucille Lortel Theatre, also in the West Village.[25] Recognized on two New York Times lists, "Best Theater of 2019"[26] and "Best Comedy of 2019",[27] the show was extended several more times.[28]
A U.S. and international tour of the show was scheduled in 2020, but due to COVID-19 it was postponed.[29] The show's tour resumed in 2021 and continued into 2022.[30]
Get On Your Knees was released as a Netflix comedy special directed by Natasha Lyonne on January 23, 2024.[4] She received a 2024 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special for the Netflix special.[31]
^Brantley, Ben; Green, Jesse; Collins-Hughes, Laura; Soloski, Alexis; Vincentelli, Elisabeth (December 3, 2019). "Best Theater of 2019". The New York Times. Retrieved January 25, 2024.