Jason Schommer
50: A Totally Rad Comedy! By Jason Schommer with JC Lippold and special guest Jodie Maruska.
Friday, March 13th
Doors, 6:30pm, Show 7:30pm
Turning 50 years old, Jason found himself unemployed, single and in trouble for splashing his nemesis in water aerobics class. Sometimes, when life crashes and burns, all you can do is laugh! Told through wildly hilarious stand-up comedy and poignant storytelling, this wildly hysterical life reckoning of a Gen Xer is seen through the lens of outrageous pop culture moments, classic 80’s television and the endless doom and gloom catastrophes we were warned about while growing up. Quicksand and Killer Bees and Acid Rain, oh my!
"50: A Totally Rad Comedy!" premiered to rave reviews at the Minnesota Fringe Festival and played to packed audiences.
AUDIENCES RAVED ABOUT “50: A Totally Rad Comedy”!
4 ½ stars out of 5!
“Jason is the David Sedaris of Minneapolis!” – Dawn Bentley, Executive Director of MN Fringe.
“Amazing!”
“Touching and hilarious!”
“Fantastic musical interludes!”
“Comedic storytelling at its best!”
“Laugh out loud funny!”
“Delightful!”
Funny and poignant!
“Incredible!”
“Loved it!”
“Endless laughter!”
“Razor sharp wit!”
“JC elevates the narrative with music!”
“Beautifully executed!”
“If you haven’t seen it, GO!”
“Great show from a gifted and hilarious storyteller!”
“I laughed out loud so much during this show!”
“The show keeps jabbing with great laughs and has several knockout punches!”
“The music was phenomenal, the stories were hilarious, and the atmosphere was electric!”
JASON SCHOMMER:
"Jason is funny, clever, smart, and on his way to the big time!" - Louie Anderson, Emmy Award Winning Comedian and Legend.
"Nobody tells a better story than Jason Schommer. A long-time opener for the legendary Louie Anderson, Schommer is a multi-layered talent who combines stand-up, storytelling, acting, and improv to create a unique experience every time he is on stage. Jason is a true performer in every sense of the word, and one of the most engaging personalities in all avenues of Twin Cities comedy." - Patrick Strait, MN Comedy.
Jason Schommer is a stand-up comedian and storyteller who spent two years as the opening act for comedy icon Louie Anderson in Las Vegas and toured with Louie regularly.
As a stand-up comic, Jason has performed all over the USA as well as Canada and for the US Military in Japan. Jason's sharp wit and spur of the moment playfulness keeps the audience on the edge of their seat with crazy and absurd "is-this-really-happening" stories to jokes with unexpected twists and turns and off-the-cuff refs. The laughs come fast and furious as Jason mines everyday life, turning the seemingly mundane and routine into comedy gold.
A regular performer at The Moth, Jason has won numerous Story Slam competitions and was invited to perform at the GrandSlams at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul (2016, 2023) and the Guthrie Theater (2018) and at the Pantages Theater (2022). Jason has been heard nationally on The Moth Radio Hour numerous times as well as featured on the podcast.
Jason has worked in New York City for The Rosie O'Donnell Show and has worked behind the scenes in Hollywood as a stand-in for Louie Anderson on the FX television series Baskets. In 2017, Jason released his first live comedy album "Confessions of a Local Celebrity". Most recently, Jason went viral on TikTok by starring in a video with Dave Ryan from KDWB and hitting over 5.4 million views.
JC LIPPOLD:
JC Lippold is a professional homemaker: holding space for others as a nationally renowned teacher of movement and mindset, community engager and social movement trailblazer, a theatre director and as a full time Leadership and Change Management Coach and Consultant & the Director of People and Partnerships at Cadre. Whether in the yoga studio or the board room, on a marathon course or in the theatre, JC aspires to be a masterful student each and every day. You can often find JC on the Twin Cities’ ABC syndicate, KSTP-TV as their wellness expert. JC leads workshops and is writing the seminal text on his concept of Enough-ness, the empowering practice of affirming that you are already, indeed enough.
JC also has an extensive career bringing his unique lens to the music and theatre scene. With 20+ years’ experience as a gigging pianist and vocalist, regular Music Director at Stages Theatre Company and Artistic Director of Alive & Kickin', Minnesota's Premier Senior Rock Ensemble, JC cheers others on as they get out of their own darn way and change the world through their music and stories.
JODIE MARUSKA:
Jodie Maruska may have grown up in Minnesota, but using the restroom at Cabella’s is as close to camping as she gets! After being asked for her autograph the first night she performed standup, she knew she had found her calling. 20+ years later, she is a comedy veteran who has performed across the country in clubs, at events, theaters, casinos, colleges and yes, even a couple of backyards.
In the Twin Cities, she can be seen regularly at Rick Bronson’s House of Comedy and the Comedy Corner Underground and some of her favorite recent appearances include co-headlining the Joke Joint Comedy Club, Twin Cities Pride, One Man Minneapolis at the Pantages Theater. In October 2017, she made her debut appearance in the 10,000 Laughs Comedy Festival, where she was thrilled to be a part of the “Best of the Festival” show, and is excited to be back in the festival in October 2018! Jodie appeals to audiences of all ages and uses her familiar “Minnesota-nice” demeanor to great, unexpected comedic effect. Just don’t ask her to go fishing!
Hannah Flowers
Friday, March 20th
Doors 6pm, Show 7pm
Hannah Flowers is a singer and harpist from St. Paul, Minnesota. Classically trained from a young age, she discovered Traditional Irish music as a teenager and hasn’t looked back since. Known for her sensitive and lyrical accompaniment of songs as well as her syncopated and rhythmic accompaniment of dance tunes, Hannah enjoys exploring the full depth of traditional Irish music and song. She holds a B.A. in music and a Master's Degree in Irish Traditional Music Performance from Maynooth University in Ireland.
GRA Theater: Nunsense
April 17-19, 24-25
Tickets: Member $20/ Non-Member $25
Show Dates:
Friday, April 17th: Doors 6pm, Show 7pm
Saturday, April 18th: Doors 6pm, Show 7pm
Sunday, April 19th: Doors 1pm, Show 2pm
Friday, April 24th: Doors 6pm, Show 7pm
Saturday, April 25th: Doors 6pm, Show 7pm
Seating is first come first serve. Cash bar available.
About the play:
Nunsense is habit-forming! This riotous show is a fundraiser put on by the Little Sisters of Hoboken to raise money to bury sisters accidentally poisoned by the convent cook, Sister Julia (Child of God).
A Musical Comedy
Book, Music, & Lyrics by Dan Goggin
Presented by arrangements with Concord Theatricals
www.concordtheatricals.com
Jordan Messerole
Friday, May 15th
Doors 6pm, Show 7pm
Tickets: $10
Open Mic Night: First Thursdays Of The Month
Join us on the GRA stage for our monthly Open Mic Nights! The area’s longest-running open mic invites you to bring your talent, whether it’s musical, literary, or otherwise. All ages are welcome, & all ages are regulars here at this supportive & enthusiastic session. Bring your voice or instrument ready to plug in and share!
Be sure to check regularly for upcoming events and live performances or follow us on our Facebook page, Great River Arts, for real time updates.
Thank you to Five Wings Arts Council, Minnesota State Arts Board, and the Clean Land Water Land and Legacy Amendment for their support.
"These activities are made possible, in part, by the voters of Minnesota, through a general operating grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund."
"These activities are made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Five Wings Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund."
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