w w 0 0 U U U 0 a i 10B -- The Michigan Daily - Weekend Maguine - Thursday, February 5, 2004 The Michigan Daily - Weekend Magazine In da club: Finding the2 laughs in A By Jiwon Lee Daily Arts Writer Going to a stand-up comedy performance in Ann Arbor is definitely a uique experience. There's something about the dark (and usually somewhat smoky) room with its intimate proximity to the lit stage that adds to the anticipation of a live performance wholly designed to make you laugh. 'Dances' celebrates fusion of cultures I became hooked on stand-up com- edy my freshman year after watching a show at the Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase. I have transitioned from audience member to being onstage, but the special chemistry is still com- pletely unique and different every single time. Sitcoms and even watch- ing stand-up on television simply do not compare to the live performance. There is a slightly risky element about going to see a stand-up come- dian perform. Chances are, unless you've already seen them on Comedy Central or the like, you are trusting a comic to be funny. I was reluctant to take a chance on a name I'd never heard of before my first few times. Each time, I walked out of the room still laughing at a joke, wanting to repeat the material to someone. I still have yet to be disappointed, after dozens of shows. All of this for less than the price of a student movie ticket. Roger Feeney, owner of the Comedy Showcase, says, "My goal is to mix it up so there's variety every week. If you don't like it one week, then chances are it'll be a different type of comedy the week after." The Club has seen many big names through the years, such as Tim Allen, Drew Carey, Ellen DeGeneres, Louis Black and Norm MacDonald. This is no accident, as Ann Arbor is known to comics as a great place for come- dy. "The industry says the coasts have the highest caliber of comedy while the Midwest doesn't, but I think Ann Arbor comics compete with the best. It's a very smart comedy here," says LSA senior John O'Donnell, a sea- soned comic. Brent Sullivan, an accomplished stand-up comedian and LSA sopho- more, said, "Ann Arbor, because of the University, is incredibly unique. When someone can go on stage and tell a good refreshing joke that does- n't involve bedroom or bathroom JORDAN STECKLOFF/Daily Stand up comics have numerous venues to choose from Ann Arbor's booming comedy scene. U I-_ /1 tslZeel 1/2 Sandwich & Soup Combo humor, and still get a good response, that's amazing. The audience is very unique in that sense." Sullivan also attributes Ann Arbor's liberal qualities as contribut- ing to great comedy, saying, "I think comedy is a very liberal thing. If you look at big names and their acts, such as Dennis Miller or Jon Stewart, there's a lot of free thinking. Liberal people like to debunk things and look at them differently, which is what comics do naturally." O'Donnell described student life as a key reason for Ann Arbor's healthy stand-up scene, saying, "The culture in Ann Arbor is great. . . there's a lot of cool people just hang- ing out, open to dialogue and discus- sion." A night of comedy, as opposed to the usual dinner-and-a-movie, is relaxing and provoking at the same time. Sullivan says, "The best comics are the smartest. Comedy has to be somewhat stimulating and introspec- tive." You could argue the same is true for a movie or television, but the live aspect is a huge part of why stand up comedy is so exciting. "It's real interaction," said LSA senior Elizabeth Rourke after watch- ing a performance at the Heidelberg. When asked why he preferred watching stand up comedy to other entertainment, LSA and Music soph- omore John Hartman answered, "I wanted to do something that wasn't as common." "Ann Arbor is a great town for comedy because the audience is intelligent, sophisticated and will honestly listen to what you have to say," Sullivan says. Both Sullivan and O'Donnell are aware of the competitive and cut- throat nature of the stand-up busi- ness. "Comedy is one of those jobs that is not guaranteed at all. You could be huge tomorrow and still have no one want to see you in three years," said Sullivan. He added, "It took me two years to get my first paying gig. You need friends and con- nections for jobs, and I relied on peo- ple liking my jokes." When asked why he was still drawn to such a volatile career, Sullivan said, "Comedy is the kind of thing where By Archana Ravi Daily Arts Writer As part of a series of events cele- brating the culture that evolved in St. Petersburg, Russia between 1703 and the present, the University Dance Company will exhibit "Dances for St. Petersburg" this week. The event, titled "Celebrating St. Petersburg" commemorates the 300th anniversary of a city that has had an enormous impact on American culture, especially through dance and music. The production will feature guest artist Alonzo King, founder of San Francisco's LINES Ballet and for- mer choreographer for the Joffrey Ballet, Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre of Harlem, and the Frankfurt Ballet. The Los Angeles Times distinguish- es his work as "the most sophisticat- ed modernism in classical dance." King choreographs Shostakovich's String Quartet No. 15 in B flat minor Op. 144 to be performed by the UM Rosseels String Quartet. The San Francisco Chronicle describes this particular piece as "one of the San Francisco dance- maker's most affecting works...mir- ror(ing) the tragedy and hope of Shostakovich's music." The dance includes a series of small ensembles and solo performances. Peter Sparling contributes chore- ography in his work, "The Second Space," which takes its title from a poem by Czeslaw Milosz and is set to "Symphonies of Wind Instruments" by Igor Stravinsky. The piece corresponds to St. Petersburg's long ascent to utopian order, and functions beyond religion and politics. The work's imagery is derived and influenced by the Suprematist vision of avant-garde painter Kasimar Malevich. Bill De Young also displays his work set to the music of composer Edison Denisov. Denisov's work, titled "Sonata for Alto Sax and Piano Op. 37" portrays elements of both American Jazz and Russian musicals from the 1960's. Faculty member Gay Delanghe will examine the influence of the 1904 trip to St. Petersburg by American modern dance pioneer Isadora Duncan on the Russian Ballet choreographer Michel Fokine. Her piece, entitled "La Duncan and Fokine" presents a comical and insightful look at both styles. Ruth Leney-Midkiff will use the work of painter Mikhail Larionov to explore St. Petersburg's reputation as the "Venice of the North." Her piece, entitled "Point of No Return" is largely influenced by theories of light, industrialization and the cele- bration of speed, much like the Rayonist Painting Movement in Russia circa 1914. This piece is set to Prokofiev's "Etude Op. 2" and Sonata #7 in B-flat major" played THE JOHN MARSHALL LAW SCHOOL by Ming-Hsiu Yen, School of Music piano performance major and Concerto Competition winner. At large, the festival is a celebra- tion and tribute to the great Marinsky alum, George Balanchine. The festival examines various ele- ments of Balanchine's life and art. Balanchine is known for the way in which he transformed American popular dance and culture by fusing it with St. Petersburg's cultural her- itage and dance training. Balanchine's contributions out- side of ballet are multitudinous and significant. He made several contri- butions to American pop culture through American film and Broadway. He also worked exten- sively with great black dancers such as Harold and Fayard Nicholas and Katherine Dunham. Although step- ping outside of his heritage when pursuing these endeavors, he never abandoned his training in St. Petersburg. Dances for St. Petersburg is par- tially supported by a grant from the National College Choreography Initiative Foundation, a leadership initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts with addi- tional support by the Dana Foundation. It is administered by Dance USA, the national service organization for professional dance. WEEKEND: As IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING BETTER TO DO. F I "Dances from St. Petersburg" celebrates the city's artistic influence on American 312 S. State Street - 611 Church Street - Michigan Union 1st Floor *Available with select sandwiches only ** Not available at the Michigan Union Location Open House T he John Marshall Law School invites you to attend an open house to learn how flexible schedules, groundbreaking specialties and 21st century curricula can help you in your career. Saturday, Feb. 7; 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, Feb. 12; 6 - 8 p.m. Students and faculty will share their insights into John Marshall's day and evening programs, give tours of the facilities, and answer your questions about the law school. FRSl SOPHO JL4NId Want to W Spring/Summer The Michigan Daily will give y following busin * Sell Advertising to Lo * Manage your own acce * Work in a team-orient * Earn Commission-bas Please pick up Student Public 420 Maynard S or call (73' Application Deadl Spring/Sumn February WANTED UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE UM STUDENTS WITH CROHN'S DISEASE OR ULCERATIVE COLITIS Please e-mailfor more information rajus@umich.edu See COMEDY, Page UIB