Stand-up comedian Ryan Reiss won’t just make you laugh, he’ll show you how it’s done when the University Players present him for a workshop and performance on Thursday, April 13, at 7 p.m. in the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Auditorium at Wieden Hall. Both the workshop and the performance, rated PG-13, are free and open to the public.
Reiss, a stand-up comedian out of New York City, began his comedy career while still in college at New York University. He has appeared on MTV, Fox, and is the current warm-up comic for Late Night with Seth Meyers on NBC. He is also a regular at the World Famous Comedy Cellar, and performs at comedy clubs throughout the country.
Reiss has also hosted WE’s hit series Three Men & a Chick Flick, Nickelodeon’s U Pick Live, and the Howard Stern Show. His comedy work has led him to writing and co-producing Jimmy Fallon & Drew Barrymore’s Spring Break Face Off and serving as a staff comedy writer for Spike TV.
Through special arrangement, Reiss will present a stand-up comedy workshop at 3 p.m. ahead of his performance. Designed with budding comics in mind, Reiss will give participants an inside look at how to prepare for a stand-up routine, relate to an audience, and keep them laughing. This special opportunity is free and open to members of the public age 18 or older, though spots are limited and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Attendees are asked to bring about 5 minutes of written material with them—Reiss will workshop with participants to “mine the funny” out of it.
“I first heard of Ryan Reiss when I attended many Maya & Marty tapings in NYC over the summer,” Darci Faye, University Players co-advisor, said. “He was the warm-up comedian for a few of the tapings and he had me in stitches every time! What I think makes Ryan a special comedian is his ability to interact with the audience and think on his feet. I know he will be a hit at UMPI! I am also very excited about the workshop. It’s going to be a great time to learn stand-up from a performer that does it every day professionally. It’s going to be a great time, filled with lots of laughs, so don’t miss out!”
For more information or to sign-up for the comedy workshop, contact Faye at darci.faye@maine.edu.