Students will get the chance to showcase their comedic talent this weekend at RootopComedy’s stand-up and short film contest at Higherground.
Derek Brehm, activities coordinator of the University Activities Commission, said any student can participate in the competition on March 2 at Higherground in Crest Wellness Center. The contest starts at 7 p.m. and admission is free.
Students are allowed three to 10 minutes for their routine. The top eight, voted on by a panel of RooftopComedy representatives, will be chosen to participate in the regional competition at the Acme Comedy Club in Minneapolis, Brehm said.
Students will then compete against other student comedians from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. The top four finalists will move on to the national competition in Aspen, Colo., Brehm said.
Senior Kaylyn Kertzman said she attends Shenanigans local comedy night and thinks the competition is a good idea for students to promote themselves and get experience standing up in front of people.
“I would consider going.it would be interesting to see what the local talent is,” Kertzman said.
UW-Eau Claire was one of 32 universities chosen to participate in the national college competition and was the only school chosen in Wisconsin, Brehm said.
The UAC and RooftopComedy are sponsoring the event and it costs nothing for the university. Brehm said they only had to find a space and equipment.
Brehm said students are asked to sign up ahead of time, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Cabin in Davies Center, where RooftopComedy representatives will be on hand for general information and recruitment.
He said another part of the competition includes the short film contest where students can submit their 15 second to five minute films on the RooftopComedy Web site. The films must be received by March 31, and the finalists will move on to nationals.
“Rooftop’s panel of celebrity comedians and filmmakers will choose 16 films to be shown online,” Brehm said. “Viewers will vote for their favorites and the four most popular will win an all expense paid trip to go to the national competition in Aspen, Colo.”
RooftopComedy company records, produces and distributes uncensored comedy and sets itself away from the “Hollywood” style by not filtering anything, according to its Web site, www.rooftopcomedy.com.
The company works for its comedians and comedy partners. This include different venues in the United States and around the globe, distributors including YouTube and investors, which includes Azure Capital Partners, a leading venture capital firm, according to its Web site.
RooftopComedy began in Sept. 2005 and is based in San Francisco, Calif., according to its Web site. The company chooses performances from comedy clubs around the globe and publishes them on the online RooftopComedy network, allowing comedians to have more exposure.
