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Show February 19-25, 1999 Xeber State Lf inj ixers ity Volume II Number 19 Well-known comedians bring LA.-style laughter, entertainment to Utah L By Tyler A. Holt MANAGING EDITOR-ThF SlGNPOST oosen your collars, conservative Utah. Comedian and producer Larry Allen has come to Weber State University to host the Def Comedy Jam show tonight, and he's ready to thaw some cultural barriers. "Right from the beginning of the show, the first thing I do when I Finish saying, 'Welcome to 'Def Jam Comedians Come to Utah.' There's laughter in these hills, and, hey, let me break the ice right now.. .how the f ya'll doin'?" Will Hawes, chairman for co-sponsor Spotlight Productions, said the Comedy Jam featuring Def Comedy Jam Comedians will make history at WSU, beginning at 8:30 p.m. in the Swenson Gym. The posters promoting the hip-hop evening bear the disclosure "18 and over preferred: explicit lyrics." This seems to be the main subject of conversation as one talks about the upcoming show. It will definitely be something Utahns aren't used to, where the usual weekend activities include bowling, movies or a night at the local watcrcd-down comedy club. But vice president of WSU's IMPACT Council T.R. Khan said he feels Utahns will benefit from the new experience. "I'm hoping to show the audience thai escn though it's not ;i rated PG-13 show, it can slili be funny and entertaining. It'll show them that people don't act like they do in the real world. I consider Utah its own country," Khan said. "There's a gate in and a gate out. ..we need to show them there's something more out there. You must open your mind. Because if you've never been out of this land they call the Wasatch Front, you've never seen the world." Hawes said the Swenson Gym will be transformed into a Back East playground with a chain-link fence, benches and a basketball hoop. The sound system will be wired to pump enough laugh-boosting script and hip-hop music as the comedy show will conclude with an after-party that will last until 1 a.m. The show will begin with Allen, a.k.a. the Blaq Man, doing his break-the-ice thang, and opener D-Militant will soon follow. The co-headliners are entertainment-industry regulars, Speedy and Mo'nique. Speedy has appeared on LLCool J's "In the House" and the WB's "Jamie Foxx Show" and Mo'nique has frequented a variety of comedy stages, including HBO's Comedy Hour, Black Entertainment Television's Comic View, New York's SNAPPS and the Apollo Theater. "These comedians are funny. They're pros. ..I've been watching Speedy the last 10 or 15 years. You're seen him on 'Martin,' you've seen him on 'Def Jam.' And Mo'nique. You're going to love Mo'nique. Two weeks ago, she fouled up Chris Rock and got a standing ovation. She's hysterically funny," Allen said. "I tried to get the best people I could get for this show, and I did." Frank Dankwa, graphic artist for IMPACT, said he believes the comedians will be insightful enough to know their audience and not push too many buttons. "I don't think it's going to be anything too abrasive for the people. These arc comedians that have been in the mainstream for quite awhile, so they respect people," Dankwa said. "I don't think they're going to come in here thinking they're the greatest thing to happen since sliced bread. I think they'll respect us and respect the values that are within here. They'll hold to that and not go overboard." IMPACT president Tcrri Sloyer calls it contemporary, urban, hip-hop language. Allen calls it life. "People like laughter. I don't care where it is. We make fun of ourselves," Allen said. "I don't care what nationality or religion you arc, there's certain things people do that are funny." see Comedy page 2 Q 11 , 7 i 'These comedians are funny. They're pros... I tried to get the best people I could for this show, and I did." Larry Allen, host and producer of the show "3 it 3 o o ii L r j - f |