Jean S. Wagaman

ann_arbor, mi

Events:

Norm Stulz

Where: Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase

Date: 2007-04-26 20:00:00

Type:

Norm Stulz started his professional comedy life back in 1981 and has gone on to become the industry's premier comic story teller. Truth is always funnier than fiction and no one can tell the truth more humorously than Norm Stulz, whether it is material about raising three children, or funny stories about his childhood sweetheart and now wife Sharon Marie. Norm successfully divides his time between his family, comedy, and the many charities that he supports. Norm takes the events of his life and transforms them into hilarious pieces that are timeless. It is these stories that make Norm's brand of humor so special, and have delighted audiences nationally and internationally. Norm Stulz is truly today's Master Storyteller. Tim Allen: "I wish I could tell a story the way Norm does… he's a master" Detroit Monthly: "Norm is one headline performer you should not miss"

Billy Ray Bauer

Where: Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase

Date: 2007-06-16 20:00:00

Type:

Billy Ray has been performing stand-up comedy across America for the last 20 years. From headlining at great comedy clubs to performing for large corporations, he’s established himself as a tried and true funny guy. From skewed descriptions of growing up in Detroit in the sixties, to the gory details of raising four boys in the new millennium, Billy Ray will leave you laughing and exhausted from his ordeal. Add to the mix some unusual vocal acrobatics including impressions and dialects, and you have some idea of an evening with Billy Ray. Billy Ray has been a repeat guest on the Bob and Tom Show heard across America . He’s also been heard on the Dick Purtan radio show in Detroit and co-hosted the Appliance Doctor Radio program there for three years. Showtimes: 8:00 & 10:30 pm Tickets: $8 in advance, $10 at the door Friday & Saturday 8pm shows are all non-smoking

Emo Philips

Where: Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase

Date: 2007-10-04 20:00:00

Type:

An appearance on "Late Night with David Letterman" in 1984 was the break he was looking for. His comedy album "E=MO Squared", was critically acclaimed and award winning. A half-hour Cinemax "Comedy Experiment," followed, and a one-hour HBO special "Emo Philips Live at the Hasty Pudding Theatre." Finally, an appearance on "Saturday Night Live" helped make Emo a household name (at least in relatively-hip households). It is always a breath of fresh air when a comedian is able to stand out not only on his persona but also on extremely well written material. . If you have never seen Emo perform it would be very difficult to describe. As one reviewer writes: "With his wide-eyed expression of innocence, gawky gestures, and lilting voice, Emo Philips has an individual, albeit bizarre, style." But behind the unsettling persona lays some of the best written material found any place. Emo Philips has appeared numerous times on “The Late Show with David Letterman”, “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and “The Howard Stern Show.” According to Jay Leno host of NBC’s The Tonight Show, “Emo is the best joke writer in America”. Philips’ animated character has made impressions all over the world. From England and Scotland to America where he has been immortalized into cartoon form for the television series “Dr. Katz” on Comedy Central. Additionally he was an associate producer for the hit feature film comedy “Meet The Parents” starring Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro. From television to movies, Emo Philips has been everywhere including GQ Magazine. In the 1999 Comedy Issue of GQ, Emo received the highest honor of his career having three of his jokes among the 75 best jokes of all time. Emo is an amazing comedian, comedy lovers should not miss this show!! Showtime: 8:00 pm Tickets: $11 in advance, $13 at the door THURSDAY DRINK SPECIALS!

Greg Brown

Where: Ark

Date: 2007-09-22 20:00:00

Type:

Greg Brown's prolific and seasoned songwriting is based on an unusual combination of wanderlust and down-home roots, penetrated by blues, jazz, calypso and rock.

Peter Berman

Where: Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase

Date: 2007-10-26 20:00:00

Type:

Peter Berman wanted to be a stand up comic since a very young age. While attending the University of Michigan, he finally had his opportunity. Within no time at all he was opening shows for Tim Allen, Paul Reiser, and Jerry Seinfeld. A Boston native, now living in Los Angeles, Peter has performed in every great comedy club and rotten hellhole throughout the United States, Canada, England and Ireland. His first television appearance was as a contestant on the MTV game show Remote Control. He came in second to a kid named Puck. Peter dusted himself off from this defeat and went on to win a national stand up search naming him The Funniest College Student in America. After numerous appearances on stand-up comedy shows on MTV, VH-1, Comedy Central and A&E, he went on to become the Host of NBC’s “Friday Night,” and most recently (this year) his own comedy special on Comedy Central, “Comedy Central Presents Peter Berman.” Peter recently appeared on CBS’s Late, Late Show with Craig Kilborn. In addition to television, Peter quickly became the Host of Morning Sickness, his own nationally syndicated morning radio program on the ComedyWorld Radio Network, after starting out as a writer. He has also contributed material to The Howard Stern Radio Program. Somehow he was lucky enough to find his beautiful wife, Teresa, and trick her into marrying him. Luck struck two more times with the birth of their sons Jack and Miles. All is good in his neighborhood. Just tell his three dogs to quit barking. At the present time, Peter continues to make people laugh.....and continues to make people laugh....and continues to make people laugh. SHOWTIMES: 8:00 & 10:30 pm TICKETS: $10 in advance, $12 at the door

The Guggenheim Grotto

Where: Ark

Date: 2007-08-14 20:00:00

Type:

The multi-instrumental Guggenheim Grotto mix brilliantly written pop, folk, psychedelia and watertight harmonies.

Better World Breakfast

Where: Broken Egg

Date: 2007-05-03 07:30:00

Type:

Join us to learn more about an injustice created by globalization, to write to leaders about that injustice, and of course, to eat breakfast. Drop by anytime between 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. at the Broken Egg, 221 N. Main Street in Ann Arbor.

The Business of Birth

Where: Kerrytown Concert House

Date: 2007-09-29 19:00:00

Type:

BirthNetwork National is presenting a special sneak preview of "The Business of Birth", a film produced by actress Ricki Lake and directed by Abby Epstein( Director of Emmy-Award winning Until the Violence Stops). This is a must-see movie for anyone who has experienced pregnancy, has been close to someone who has, or is interested in the balance between nature and technology. Real-life footage of several pregnant women in NYC, Epstein's own pregnancy, and interviews with medical professionals everywhere highlight the film. The screening will be followed by a talkback panel, featuring local and national birth experts. The flm, acquired by New Line Cinema and Red Hat Entertainment, is scheduled to be released in theaters this fall. Don't miss out on the chance to see this special pre-screening! A donation of $10.00 is suggested.

10-day Vipassana Meditation Course

Where: retreat center

Date: 2007-05-17 14:00:00

Type:

Vipassana Meditation as taught by S.N. Goenka in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin Vipassana is a simple and practical method of mental purification, which makes it possible to face the tensions and problems of daily life in a calm and balanced way. This path of self-awareness is extraordinary in its simplicity, its lack of dogma, and above all its results. Vipassana literally means “to see things as they really are”. It is a systematic way of developing insight and can be practiced by anyone. The technique of Vipassana Meditation is taught at ten-day residential courses during which participants learn the basics of the method, and practice sufficiently to experience its beneficial results. All courses are run solely on a donations basis. All expenses are met by donations from those who, having completed a course and experienced the benefits of Vipassana, wish to give others the same opportunity. New Vipassana students may make contributions on the last day of their first course. Neither the Teacher nor the assistant teachers receive remuneration; the teachers and those who serve the courses volunteer their time. Thus Vipassana is offered free from commercialization. Courses are offered year round and all over the world. International Vipassana Website: www.dhamma.org Michigan Vipassana Website: www.mi.us.dhamma.org

Tom Foss

Where: Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase

Date: 2007-11-01 20:00:00

Type:

Tom Foss is a high-energy, highly animated comic, who acts out his fascinating (and immense) archive of jokes reflecting on himself, his family, his home of West Virginia, and the world around him. It’s hard to tell if his material is simple, or brilliantly intellectual, but those who watch Tom will be laughing so hard, it doesn’t matter. Audiences and industry often compare Tom to George Carlin and Robin Williams. We think he’d be perfect for the blue collar tour. Though his audiences will agree his show doesn’t need it, Tom is always working to improve. It’s not uncommon to see Tom with a pen in his hand, jotting down brand new material, seconds before he’s announced onstage. Tom Foss has performed everywhere, from Las Vegas showrooms and Norwegian Cruise Lines, to Iraq. He’s always the consummate professional, and he passionately believes he owes every individual audience member the best show he has to give, every show. As part of Comic's On Duty in 2005-2007, Tom Foss traveled around the world seven times and was on top of it once! Entertaining our troops in Iraq three times, Afghanistan three times, Kuwait four times, Italy, Spain, England, Greece, Belgium, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Africa, USS Enterprise, USS Boxer, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Greenland, Hawaii and all across The United States. While entertaining the troops overseas, Foss has managed to keep a foot back here in the states as a regular at the Improv's and Funnybones. He can also be heard regularly on XM Radio, Sirius Radio and “The Bob and Tom Show.” High-energy, rapid-fire, and very funny comedy is what you'll see at his show. Don’t miss the return of Tom Foss this week at the Comedy Showcase. Showtime: 8:00 pm Tickets: $7 in advance, $9 at the door

Dave Dyer

Where: Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase

Date: 2008-02-08 20:00:00

Type:

Dave’s dynamic humor explores everything from raising kids and marriage to current events and even ear hair, putting a hilarious twist on all we hold ordinary. He challenges the audience to approach topics from a different angle and discover the things going on in the background of life rather than right out front. He has contributed material for ABC’s “Politically Incorrect,” and “The Zany Report” on the “Bob & Tom Show.” Traveling the country making people laugh is Dave at his best, and having tread upon stages for over ten years Dave is now considered a “Comedian-American.” Showtimes: 8:00 & 10:30pm Tickets: $10 in advance, $12 at the door

Kira Soltonavich

Where: Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase

Date: 2008-02-16 20:00:00

Type:

She’s the perfect comedienne for this Valentine’s Day and Weekend. Born in the former Soviet Union, and raised by immigrant parents in San Francisco, Kira Soltanovich has plenty to laugh about. "Like most kids, my parents took me to Disneyland …not for the rides, for the lines. They assumed there’d be food at the end of them.” And whether it's stand-up comedy, sketch, hidden camera or improv, Kira keeps nightclub and television audiences laughing. A series regular for four seasons on Oxygen’s syndicated show, “Girls Behaving Badly”, Kira has also appeared on such shows as “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” “3rd Rock From The Sun,” and in a sketch on “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno. She recently hosted a pilot called "Box Seat" with Dennis Rodman, Jose Conseco and Jenny McCarthy. You’ve also seen her on “Boy Meets World” on Disney and “18 Wheels of Justice” on TNN. Showtimes: 8:00 & 10:30 pm Tickets: $12 in advance, $14 at the door