DELRAY BEACH – Plenty of stories detail comedians using stand-up comedy to help them overcome fears or deal with disabilities.
Here’s one about a stand-up comedian up comedian hoping to use comedy to help others overcome their issues.
Aidan Park’s debilitating depression led to suicidal thoughts. He’s discussed it during his stand-up shows, finding he’s not alone. In fact, Park learned many of his issues are also commonly found in military veterans. He’s hoping comedy can help them, too.
The story that leads today’s Stand-Up Spotlight details Park’s struggles and victories. It’s quite the tale.
Last week the Spotlight told the story of Marlon Wayans performing minutes after learning of his father’s death. Below is a story about how comedy has helped him deal with the loss of his father. There’s also news about a comedy club in Arizona helping women launch their careers, and one comedian’s guide to crowd work.
Let’s keep the funny rolling.
STAND-UP SPOTLIGHT – April 12, 2023
The secret to overcoming hardship? Comedian Aidan Park calls it ‘the art of Yay!’
One of the first things you notice about Aidan Park is the joyfully buoyant “hahas!” punctuating his speech. As a stand-up comedian, Park often laughs at his own jokes with the same fervor on stage, to the point where he can disarm a crowd that may not know what to make of him at first. But the instinct to laugh at himself is often contagious in a room full of strangers that has them busting up by the end.
“I think humor makes things OK,” he says. “Like, I played Montana last month. It was all straight, white people. There were 150 of them and I asked if there were any gay people in the audience and there was silence.
Marlon Wayans’ Stand-up Helped Him After Dad’s Death
Marlon Wayans has credited his stand-up comedy performances for helping him cope and move forward following the death of his father Howell on April 1.
Despite being devastated by the loss of both his father and mother Elvira, who passed away in July 2020, the 50-year-old actor and comedian have stated that his shows have been a source of support during his most challenging moments.
Click here to view original web page at Marlon Wayans’ Stand-up Helped Him After Dad’s Death
Tucson comedians creating a safe space for funny women
The first open mic Linda Ray felt truly comfortable in was one hosted by a woman at the Surly Wench Pub in Tucson.
Ray, who writes about comedy for the Tucson Weekly, started doing comedy at “The Estrogen Hour,” an open mic comedy show for women, in 2016.
Last year, “Lady Haha,” an open mic show for women, LGBQT+ and supporters, started hosting open mic shows, giving female comedians one more safe space to perform.
Click here to view original web page at Tucson comedians creating a safe space for funny women
Stand-up comedian Rahul Subramanian defines rules he follows during his shows: ‘I don’t want to make anyone feel small’
Stand-up comedian Rahul Subramanian’s special ‘Rahul Talks To People’ recently premiered on Amazon Prime Video. The crowd work special is directed by comedian Biswa Kalyan Rath. ‘Crowdwork’ is one of the sub-genres of stand-up comedy. In this, Rahul explained, “The whole humour is derived from having conversations with audience members.” The comedian started experimenting with the genre in 2019 and since then he and his audience has been enjoying it.
