AMY WINKLER

Theatre arts sophomore Samara Brown, far left, agricultural education and agricultural technology management senior Tamale Sepp, center, and theatre arts sophomore Corwin Gibson of the Charles Darwin Experience comedy club perform a shower scene during the group's show in the Modern Languages auditorium Tuesday. The Charles Darwin Experience, along with other UA comedy clubs, will hold a fund-raiser tonight in social Sciences 100. The minimal donation is $3 with all money going to the Red Cross.

Thursday September 27, 2001

Comedy troupes team up tonight to benefit Sept. 11 fund

Jason Moore, the president of the Charles Darwin Experience, along with the cast of Comedy Corner, wants you and 500 other people to find out how funny they are.

The two comedy troupes team up tonight to perform a two-hour benefit show for the World Trade Center tragedy.

"This is a chance for students to help out with the crisis with lighter spirits," said Moore. "In a time of need, we're needed the most as entertainers to make people laugh."

The accomplished troupes competed in national comedy festivals and have links to the Groundlings, "Saturday Night Live", "Who's Line Is It Anyway"?, "Second City" and "Late night with Conan O'Brien."

"It's not just about making fun," said Moore. "It's about making people happy. We have so many funny, talented people in the show. You're guaranteed to see some of these people on TV."

The CDE originally planned a show for the night of the crises, which they considered canceling, but didn't.

"We all thought that the students who did come were in need of it," said Moore. "We had so many people come up and thank us after the show."

With so much talk lately of moving on, getting on with sports events, movies and plays and so many people looking to help, the troupes wanted to offer the opportunity to do both. The show is usually free of charge, but because this is a benefit show, admission is $3. The entire cast will also pay admittance, and additional donations will be accepted.

"This is one of the biggest tragedies that has ever taken place in the United States," said Drew Grubich, CDE cast member and theatre arts junior. "We're a lot like comedy superheroes. We can save people for a little while by making them laugh - by giving them a diversion. Then we put our glasses back on and go back to being ordinary students. It's nice to finally use our powers for good."

Many former cast members of the CDE moved to New York City to pursue careers in entertainment, and some were in the World Trade Center the day before the attacks.

"The whole cast was hit pretty hard by it," said Moore

The groups generated a steady fan base around campus.

"The shows are for anyone who is a fan of spontaneous hilarity," said Geoff Gardener, a UA alumnus and fan. "You'd think that a group of students wouldn't be as funny as professionals on TV, but because they're so talented and because as part of the audience you become part of the show, it's actually better."

Another fan, psychology junior Effie Fleming, attends the shows weekly.

"No matter what kind of mood you're in when you go, you always leave laughing," Fleming said. "It's something you have to see to appreciate. There isn't a type of person who would enjoy it- it's for everyone."

Some claim laughter is the best medicine, and the comedic troupes say they are here to alleviate sorrow.

"I hope that we can find something positive in this tragedy, that it will make us see what we have and what's important, and that it will unify us," said Grubich. "The goal of comedy is to unify." The Comedy Corner and Charles Darwin Experience benefit show takes place at 10 tonight in romm 100 of the Social Sciences building. Admission is $3. Additional donations will be accepted for victims of the terrorist attacks.