Stars from NBC’s Last Comic Standing come to Miller

By Allen Brewer
Western Herald

Kalamazoo has been a hotbed of comedic activity recently with the first Kalamazoo Improv Festival and other happenings at the Whole Art Theatre. Saturday, however, it’ll hit the big stage at Miller Auditorium with the newest Last Comic Standing tour.

The Last Comic Standing tour features the five finalists from the stand-up comedy reality TV show competition’s sixth season including the winner, Iliza Shlesinger.

Shlesinger, the 25-year-old Dallas native who moved to Los Angeles from Boston, said she has always been interested in comedy but didn’t try stand-up until the move to California.

“It just clicked, I can’t explain it,” Shlesinger said. “It was like, ‘this is the next thing I have to do.’”
Despite being raised on a diet of Adam Sandler and Saturday Night Live, Shlesinger didn’t jump right into comedy. Instead, she worked as a personal assistant when first living in L.A.

“I worked for some straight to DVD producer and an online blackjack company,” she said. “I would go to work, go to the gym, then go do a show.”

During the days, Shlesinger would work on her own promotion while working as an assistant.
“I would make fliers and book for my shows,” she said.

Of her experience on Last Comic Standing, Shlesinger said she felt a number of conflicting emotions.
“It was exhilarating and exciting and nerve wracking,” she said laughing. “It was a battle between enthusiasm and nausea.”

By her own admission, Shlesinger’s humor revolves around her life.

“It’s all you can talk about,” she said. “Also, it’s honest and self-deprecating.”
The decision to audition for the reality show sprung for a desire for exposure.

“Every comic knows about the show,” Shlesinger said. “You do it to get your jokes on national television.”
The Last Comic Standing tour has been running since the end of August, according to NBC’s Web site and Miller Auditorium will be its last stop.

“The tour’s been a lot of fun,” Shlesinger said. “You get to make new fans and perform for old ones. Just make sure you have new material.”

Since becoming the winner of the competition, Shlesinger said that opportunities have opened up for her. On her plate coming up are auditions for television pilots and writing meetings.

“It lets you work on a greater scale,” she said. “It’s nice to get a little recognition.”

Joining Shlesinger on the tour are fellow finalists Marcus, Jeff Dye, Jim Tavare and Louis Ramey.
Bethany Gauthier, assistant marketing director at Miller Auditorium, said that the Last Comic Standing tour is back due to popular demand and the current economic climate.

“With all sorts of bad stuff in the news, it’s nice to see something like this where you can just sit back and laugh,” Gauthier said.

The performance will begin on Saturday at Miller Auditorium at 8 p.m. Ticket prices are $35, $25 and $15.

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Posted by HeraldAdmin on Jan 29 2009. Filed under A & E, Weekend Scene. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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