On Wednesday, March 19, 2025, comedian and author James “Murr” Murray graced the stage at the Kimball Theatre in Colonial Williamsburg as part of his much-anticipated "Errors Tour." Known for his role on the TBS comedy series "Impractical Jokers," which features his childhood friends Brian "Q" Quinn, Sal Vulcano, and the recently departed Joe Gatto, Murray's performance delighted fans with a mix of stand-up comedy, audience interaction, and exclusive clips from the show.
Murray's tour not only serves as a platform for his comedic talents but also promotes his latest thriller novel, "You Better Watch Out," co-authored with Darren Wearmouth. He also shared exciting news about his 2020 novel, "Don’t Move," which is set to be adapted into a film scheduled for release in fall 2025. “My whole idea of writing these thriller novels has been hoping that one day they will be turned into movies,” Murray expressed during the show.
The evening began with Murray reflecting on his past errors of judgment, accompanied by a humorous slideshow. He entertained the audience with fan-made memes from "Impractical Jokers," prank messages he had sent in a Ring doorbell “Neighbors” chat, and amusing interactions with Amazon chatbots. One particularly poignant moment involved a farewell voice message recorded by his six-year-old brother-in-law for Murray's late mother, which contained humorous gaffes such as “you had a good run” and “well, God tried his best.” Murray shared that he immediately texted the message to his fellow Jokers, leading to a laugh from Joe Gatto, who insisted it be included in Murray's new tour.
The show also featured unseen clips from "Impractical Jokers," including a memorable moment where Murray drew cartoonish eyebrows on his face while interacting with fans in London. He introduced a clip of a “creep off” competition where the Jokers vied to be the creepiest in public, stating, “This video is one of my favorite things we’ve ever filmed.”
In a lively second half, Murray invited three audience members on stage for a game of “text roulette,” where he sent dramatic prank messages to their friends and family. One participant, Jessica Sigsbee, found herself texting her friend Charlotte that Murray had thrown up all over her. The surprise escalated when Murray FaceTimed Charlotte in front of the audience, leading to uproarious laughter. “It was just super fun. I grew up watching ‘Impractical Jokers,’ so when I heard Murr was coming here, I was like, I have to go,” Sigsbee said, highlighting the joy of the experience.
Adding to the fun, supporting comic Chris Johnston participated in a live "Impractical Jokers" challenge outside the theatre, connected via FaceTime. He shot basketballs into tables and knocked over stanchions at Murray’s request, showcasing the playful spirit of the Jokers. Johnston, reflecting on the challenge, said, “I’ve done it with Murr a bunch. It’s always nerve-wracking, there’s always anxiety.”
As the show wrapped up, Murray acknowledged that "Impractical Jokers" is celebrating 15 years of filming this month. He reflected on how the Jokers had transitioned from their 30s into a more settled life while their celebrity status grew. “It makes me realize that all the amazing things that have happened to us in the past 15 years are entirely because of you,” Murray told the audience. “I do not consider you guys our fans; I consider you my friends, my family. I literally feel like I’ve grown up with you and your families on TV.”
The Williamsburg stop held special significance for Murray, as he has family roots in the Richmond and Norfolk areas. During the performance, he even addressed his nephew and brother-in-law in the audience, stating, “It’s like coming home.”
The annual Ampersand International Arts Festival, organized by AVAdventure Productions with support from the City of Williamsburg, has been a platform for various artistic expressions. While tickets for events are sold, students from the College of William and Mary have the opportunity to wait in line for free standby seats as availability permits. Josephine Rozner, a lead intern for Murray’s show, noted that the interns play a crucial role in managing the event, from filtering crowds to selling merchandise.
“We had a really great turnout. We were able to accept a lot of students that were on standby, I think like 32 students on standby,” said Abby Johnson, a student intern, expressing excitement about the sold-out show.
In contrast to Murray’s lighthearted performance, the comedy world faced darker news with allegations against Joe Gatto, another member of the "Impractical Jokers" family. Gatto has been accused of sexual misconduct by two women, with the first accuser alleging that he sexually assaulted her when she was 19. This was publicly shared in a TikTok video on March 20, where the accuser, known as joozyb, claimed the incident occurred after meeting Gatto in Milwaukee in 2023.
Gatto has denied these allegations, stating, “I have used poor judgment and as a result have violated the trust of the people I love most. But anyone who knows me at all knows full well that I wouldn’t assault anyone.” Following the allegations, a second woman came forward with claims of sexual harassment while working under Gatto.
As a result of the allegations, Gatto announced the cancellation of his upcoming comedy tour dates and stated that he plans to enter an inpatient treatment facility. “Having taken some time to reflect, I’ve decided to voluntarily enter an inpatient program to continue working on myself,” he said in a statement.
Gatto, who has been married to his wife Bessy since 2013, reconciled with her in 2023 after previously announcing their separation in 2021. His former co-stars from "Impractical Jokers" have not publicly commented on the allegations against him.
The contrasting experiences of Murray and Gatto highlight the unpredictable nature of fame and the complexities of personal lives intertwined with public personas. As Murray continues to entertain and connect with fans, Gatto faces serious allegations that could alter his career trajectory.
