Students filled The Perch on Nov. 9 for “Comedy and Cocktails,” the latest event held by Hawk Hill Productions (HHP). The event was a night of laughs, a free nacho bar, free soft drinks and even cocktails for the over-21 crowd.
Comedians Kiry Shabazz and Ali Clayton entertained the audience in two one-hour sets.
“I am very excited,” said Jonathan Jack ’21 at the start of the show. “I love comedy, and the free food is definitely a plus.”
Megan Azzalina, assistant director of Student Leadership and Activities and HHP advisor, said student leaders got the idea to host the comedy night after attending the National Association for Campus Activities (NACA) national convention.
“A few comedians from StandUp NBC performed, and HHP decided that they would be great acts to bring to campus,” Azzalina said.
StandUp NBC, formerly NBC’s Standup for Diversity, is an initiative created to search for standup comedians across the country who come from diverse backgrounds.
Starting in 2003, the search offers each comedian the opportunity to showcase their talent in front of executives at NBCUniversal and throughout the comedy industry. The best comedians are offered an NBC talent holding
deal, meetings with NBCUniversal casting development executives and an invitation to showcase at NACA for the opportunity to tour the U.S. college circuit.
Shabazz, a black man who grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, won the World Series of Comedy Competition and is the winner of the 2018 StandUp NBC.
Clayton is a lesbian comedian from North Carolina who has been performing stand-up for 10 years. Last year, she got her first TV credit on the Vice series “Funny How.”
Both of the comedians interacted with students in the audience during their performance at St. Joe’s. Shabazz asked students their majors and cracked jokes with their responses.
Asa Peerez ’21, who attends most of the events that are hosted in the Perch, said this show was one of his favorite
events he’s attended.
“I thought it was really cool that they did something different,” Peerez said.
Emmly Cherival ’21 said she really enjoyed Shabazz’s routine.
“My favorite performer had to be Kiry [Shabazz],” Cherival said. “I just think that he was a lot more relatable to me and his punchlines where hilarious.”
