Comedy shows of any measurable caliber don’t usually stop in Ypsilanti, but due to an Eastern Michigan University connection, some of New York’s top comedians will be in town on Saturday, September 12.
There will be four funny men on stage at Riverside Arts Center in Ypsilanti for two shows.
1999 Eastern Michigan University graduate, Vince Averill, and Garden City native, Jessie Popp will bring along two more of their comedian buddies for one night here in Ypsilanti.
We haven’t been home in a while so it’ll be a good time,” Popp said about Michigan natives, himself and Averill. “It’s nice to come home, there’s still family there.”
The four comics are traveling from NYC to perform. Each has at least six years in the comedy business and they are all making strong headway in that run for stardom.
They are all working comics, making a living telling jokes and living in the very pricey Big Apple while they’re doing it. How expensive is it?
“It’s ‘$%!!’ expensive” said Averill, “real ‘$%!!’ expensive to live in New York.”
The headliner of Saturday’s show, Kenny Zimlinghaus, is on “Cosmo Radio” on the Sirius Satellite XM Radio Network.
The fourth comic is Greg Johnson, who was named one of New York’s Top 10 Comedians earlier this summer by a New York magazine, “Death Taxes.”
EMU grad Averill has performed in comedy shows with Demetri Martin and with Aziz Ansari and he was also on “Live at Gotham” on Comedy Central in 2008.
Jessie Popp has performed with comedy heavyweights, Dave Attell, Lewis Black and the late Mitch Hedberg. Averill and Johnson each host their own weekly comedy night at a New York club. Johnson is host of “The Comedians” at Piano’s and Averill hosts “Sunday Night Comedy at The Beauty Bar.”
“In January they were here for two nights,” said Maureen Harding of The Riverside Arts Center. “They sold out one night and we were almost full the other night. It was a huge success last time.”
“Three of us were here last time,” said Averill. “This time Kenny (Zimlinghaus) is on the show.”
“Kenny’s done a few shows (recently, around the country) and he’s drawing (crowds of people) because of the radio show on Sirius,” Popp said.
See all four comics on Saturday September 12, 7:30pm and 9:30pm show times, $12 admission, at the Riverside Arts Center, 76 N. Huron St. in Ypsilanti. Tickets are available in advance at www.brownpapertickets.com and at the door on the evening of the show, as available.
