OCR Text |
Show Monday • July 14, 2008 ^ New in Theatres The Dark Knight, July 18 Mamma Mia!, July 18 Yahoo Movies Stepbrothers, July 25 by Mel Sundquist- Life ed.tor Yahoo Movies New on DVD Most visitors to Cedar City are not originally from Utah. The vast majority had lived somewhere else, heard of Festival City USA. moved to Utah, and then came to visit. The city's largest attraction, the Utah Shakespearean Festival, has won a Tony and claims to be internationally famous, yet many Utah County residents don't even consider it to be a possible vacation destination. Some even skip over it to see the shows at the Tuacahn in St. George. Cedar City's location in relation to Utah County is unfortunate. It's far enough away to be a legitimate vacation, but for most who are willing to drive the four-plus hours, committing an extra two hours makes Las Vegas a much more attractive destination. The city has consistently struggled to become a destination instead of just another stop along the way. Partly due to a lack ,of advertising, their struggle has been a long and hard one without much headway. Despite the dozen or so festivals put on every summer and the quality theater, hiking, and other activities you can find there, people still are not attracted. However, this summer, gas conservation is a hot issue, so spending two hours fewer on the road makes Cedar City a much more attractive destination. The weather is a bit cooler than that of Utah County, and the city is within fifty miles of three national parks and monuments. In addition, the town itself is well laid out for pedestrian tourism. It has a distinct downtown area, filled with little shops and restaurants. Additionally, most of the main festivals are within walking distance of downtown. Utah is home to an abundance of summer festivals and fairs. However, Cedar City has attained a delicate balance that cannot be found in many other places. The town-is still small enough to feel homey, rural, and comfortable, but large enough to draw in the money necessary for specSee B2 for more information about Cedar City and the Utah Shakespearean Festival. Penelope, July 15 Amazon com Reno 911: The Complete Fifth Season, July 15 Amazon.com Amezon.com New on C D John Mellencamp: Life Death Love and Freedom, 15 Meet Marcus Luke Hickman Life writer The time to produce comedy never stops for standup comics. Marcus, who is gaining huge public momentum for his ongoing winning streak on NBC's Last Comic Standing, is no exception to that idea. As we sit together in a Hellboy II -press screening, I can't help but notice Marcus' contagious excitement as he emits geeky fanboy energy. The only other place you come close to witnessing this visual example of extreme anticipation is in the look on children's faces on Christmas morning. Halfway through the film, there's a very comedic point where Red and Abe Sapien toss back a few beers, get a little drunk, throw on some Barry Manilow and talk about the women they love. Just before the scene closes, you know that all hell is about to break loose. I lean over to Marcus and say, "This is the calm before the storm." And before I can sit upright again, he quips, "More like the Manilow before the Mayhem," And at that moment, I realize that my cliche'd analytical drabble will never stand up to the genius flow of his mind's natural runoff. Last Comic Standing can be compared to American Idol in the way that it is a hybrid competition/reality show. Instead of performing live weekly, the .majority of its standup performances are shot months before it airs. Only the last two episodes are filmed live and judged by any American with text messaging or outbound calling. And - j u s t like the most recent Idol — this season's Last Comic Standing also features a more-than-deserving Utahan: Marcus. Marcus, 31, grew up just south of Salt Lake City in West Jordan. Though his sights have not always been set on standup, two years ago he realized that it might be something worth giving a shot. "One day," says Marcus, "one of the guys who was playing Wiseguys said,' You should come by the club, meet the owner, and see if you can get some time.' "I went down there that night, met the owner, and he says, T v e heard of ya. Go.' "I did a couple little things for him, and he goes, 'That's really good. Come back Sunday.' "He put me up for five minutes in front of the headliner ... and I've never, ever left the stage since." Two years of struggling and trying to get by have passed, and now Marcus is one of the most promising final ten contestants on a popular network show. Not only can he make you laugh at the most average, everyday idea that anyone can relate to, but he's also got a special talent that you don't find too much in standup nowadays: Marcus can do the most spot-on .impressions of people you don't usually hear impressions of. But by the time Last Comic Standing got around to the semifinals, Marcus had been coined as an impressionist. During his three-minute semifinal audition in front of thousands in a Las Vegas arena, he only spouted out one tiny impression of Gene Wilder during a Willy Wonka routine. Marcus said that after the show, a very prominent individual in the comedy business asked, "Do you have any idea how much balls it took to do what you just did? Voices are a safety net. You can go out there at any show and do voices 'and people will absolutely love them. It's like heroin to an audience - they love them. You can do a string of horrible jokes and then go, 'Who would like some impressions,' do some great impressions, and you'll have the audience in the palm of your hand." Marcus replies, "I knew going in that I could do impressions — I've always known that - but 1 wanted to challenge myself to be more than that, to be bigger than that. I don't mind that I do Nas: Nas, July 15 impressions because that's something that 1 do ... but I wanted to show people that I can do whatever 1 want." Even though he changed his routine by striking See MARCUS • B4 Utah's Marcus from Last Comic Standing performs stand up comedy at Wise Guys.while in town. .1 David Bowie: Life in Santa Monica 72, July 22 Amj/oncom Photos by Dave Iba/UVU Review |