The University of Findlay to Host 14th Annual Comedy Jam and Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS Silent Auction

Expand your memorabilia collections and donate to a great cause! Then stay for some laughs. The University of Findlay’s Campus Program Board invites you to a Broadway Cares, Equity Fights AIDS Silent Auction, followed by the 14^th Annual Comedy Jam to be held Saturday, Jan. 30 at the new Marathon Center for the Performing Arts, 200 W. Main Cross St. in downtown Findlay. This will be the first time that UF events will be held at this off-campus, independent venue, which opened earlier this month in the beautifully renovated and expanded former Central Middle School.
Framed and autographed posters and special Broadway memorabilia will be on display for bidding. The autographed show posters will include “All the Way,” “Avenue Q,” “Book of Mormon,” “Chicago,” “Pippin,” “Phantom of the Opera,’ “Sideshow,” “Spider-man Turn off the Dark” and “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime.
Silent bidding will take place from 6:30-7:45 p.m. For the winning bidders of the silent auction, please have cash or personal checks available for payment.
Beginning at 8 p.m., Dakaboom, a music/comedy duo hailing from Los Angeles and New York, will emcee Comedy Jam, which will also include headliner Eric O’Shea and feature Mark Poolos.
Hailing from New Haven, Connecticut, O’Shea traveled the Midwest on the comedy club circuit for three years before landing a job at ABC/Disney’s Caroline’s Comedy Club in New York City. Since then, he has been touring colleges all over the country and has been nominated six times for Campus Activities Magazine’s National Comedy Performance of the Year. In 2007, he won the magazine’s National College Comedian of the Year award. He has created hundreds of YouTube videos, including “Songs for Commercials,” which has received more than four million views. This video earned him a spot at the 2009 Creative Emmy Awards where he performed the bit live. He has also enjoyed working with comedian greats Seth MacFarlane, Carrol Burnett and Betty White.

Poolos, a Minnesota native who stands at six feet seven inches tall and weighs 350-ish pounds, weaves a story of his life as a bumbling giant through fast, engaging storytelling and comedic relief. He has starred in two independent films titled “Attack of the Killer Snow Cone Zombies” and “Joanie Loves Furbies,” and dreams of starring in a film that people will actually watch. His humor has been compared to that of Adam Sandler’s, Jim Gaffagan’s and Louie Anderson’s.
Dakaboom includes best friends Ben McLain and Paul Peglar. Described as postmodern vaudeville, their show combines a capella, stand up, sketch, crowd interaction and multiple musical genres to create an experience that must be seen to be understood. McClain has made multiple appearances on “General Hospital,” but spends most of his time in Los Angeles, California with his a capella group ARORA, which was featured on NBC’s “The Sing Off” under its former name Sonos. Pegler was the original piano player on Fox’s “Glee” and he works with many internet stars whose works appear on YouTube. He was also musical director for three years at The American School In Switzerland. Pegler now spends his summers touring through Europe with his band, The Haze.

Comedy Jam admission tickets can be purchased online at www.marathoncenterarts.org for $17.50. If tickets do not sell out, they will be available at the ticket window the night of the show for $27.50. UF students, faculty and staff are eligible to receive one free ticket by visiting www.marathoncenterarts.org and inputting your UF email address where indicated on the ticket order form. Additional tickets can be purchased online for $17.50 each. UF free tickets will not be available the night of the show. All tickets at the door the night of the show will be $27.50. Anyone wishing to purchase tickets in person may do so by visiting the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts box office located at the venue. Tickets for everyone may also be purchased at the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts box office, which is open Tuesday through Friday from noon to 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and one hour before all performances. The box office phone number is (419) 423-2787.
Free shuttle transportation to Marathon Center for the Performing Arts will be provided to UF students and their guests beginning at 6:30 p.m. The shuttle will depart from the Frazer Street entrance of the Alumni Memorial Union and will run until 7:45 p.m. Transportation back to campus will also be provided after the auction concludes and until 11 p.m. Students wishing to ride the shuttle must have a valid UF I.D. to board. Guests must have their UF Comedy Jam Tickets to ride.

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