As the appeal of a night walking Athens’ streets drops with the temperature, a troupe of student comedians will welcome audiences to Baker University Center on Saturday evenings.
Blue Pencil Comedy continues its run of shows in the Bobcat Student Lounge and other venues this semester and is encouraging students to try their hand at stand-up comedy and join their club.
Each week, a set of meetings is held to develop the acts of seasoned veterans as well as help newcomers establish their jokes and stage presence.
Open to anyone, the group assembles Monday nights from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Baker 341 and Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Baker 237.
Zac Coleman, president of Blue Pencil Comedy, said that the laid-back atmosphere of the meetings allows for an informative mix of business and pleasure.
“The meetings are a lot of fun, because we also go over videos of our sets to kind of figure out what’s working and what’s not working, hopefully for the better,” Coleman said.
Blue Pencil is also branching out this semester to perform at stages outside of Baker Center in the hopes of broadening its support base to include local residents. They can also be found at Casa Nueva on Feb. 28 with DJ Barticus.
Few open seats were available at this past Saturday’s show as the group showcased the work of familiar acts Max Cothrel and Dan Ahrens as well as those of first-timers Matt Albani and Drew Tonkovich.
Eudora Peterson, who graduated from OU this past winter with a bachelor’s degree in magazine journalism, said that Coleman has done well to foster the growth of Blue Pencil since she resigned as president this past summer.
“Last summer, I stepped back and let Zac Coleman take the reins, and they’re thriving,” Peterson said. “They don’t need me anymore.”
jd202409@ohiou.edu
If You Go:
What: Blue Pencil Comedy Stand-Up
When: 8 p.m. Saturdays
Where: Bobcat Student Lounge
Admission: Free
