Theatre VCU Presents First Stand-Up Comedy Special

By Tom Gresham

A group of students will make their stand-up comedy debuts tonight and Saturday as Theatre VCU presents “An Evening of Stand-Up Comedy,” in the Hodges Theatre in the Singleton Center for the Performing Arts.

The 15 students will deliver sets of approximately five minutes each, providing laughs in a format new to the Theatre VCU offerings. Stephen Rosenfield, the director of the American Comedy Institute, is serving as director of the event. He’s worked with the students to hone their writing and find their individual voices.

Morgan Barbour, one of the performers, said the students will offer a wide range of comedic styles and personas. Some will crack jokes, others will find the funny in long-form stories and others will lean on a stable of comedic characters and impressions.

“We all have our own twists on this,” Barbour said. “It’s really interesting to see how everyone took this and put their own spin on it.”

Barbour said stand-up comedy gives students a chance to utilize some of the traditional performance skills that they have acquired while breaking down the fourth wall that traditionally keeps theater performers from directly acknowledging the audience. In stand-up comedy, connecting with the audience is key, she said.

The stand-up comedy form also allows performers unusual flexibility. They write their own pieces, develop their own characters and perform alone. For Tyra Robinson, the appeal of stand-up is simple. It’s a way of brightening someone’s day.

“Being able to make someone smile or laugh is a way of giving love,” Robinson said.

Rosenfield is a nationally known comedy teacher whose students have appeared on Letterman, Conan and Leno, meaning the VCU students have enjoyed the advantage of top-flight instruction as they prepare their sets. Robinson has dreamed of performing stand-up comedy for years, even writing some previous sets and performing for friends. She said Rosenfield’s work with the students has been “amazing.”

“He’s helped me refine my work and made me better as a performer,” Robinson said.

Robinson said Rosenfield’s instruction has extended to the professional world of stand-up comedy, giving students an understanding of the ins and outs of the business so that they can pursue the craft further if they choose. She said the students’ access to Rosenfield was another example of the abundance of opportunities for Theatre VCU students.

“It’s mind-boggling the talent and resources that the students have here,” Robinson said.

Barbour said she might try some open mic nights at comedy clubs in the future because of the experience this event has provided her. Although she does not expect to pursue a stand-up career, she said the experience provides her with another skill set that will make her a better performer professionally.

“And the more skills that you pick up the more marketable you are,” Barbour said.

Performances for “An Evening of Stand-Up Comedy” will be held on Friday, Feb. 24, at 8 p.m. and on Saturday, Feb. 25, at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at http://vcutheatre.showclix.com or by calling 804-828-6026 or e-mailing theatretix@vcu.edu. Tickets are $5 for students with a valid ID, $10 for senior citizens and VCU faculty and staff and $15 for general admission.