LOL at comedy show set at the State Theatre
Yannis Pappas is in the business of making people laugh.
“I graduated college and the reality set in that I would have to work a real job and I thought how could I continue to be a child, and this is the perfect solution,” said Pappas during a recent interview.
Pappas along with other fellow comedians will participate in “A Night of Laughter” April 29 at the State Theatre Center for the Arts in downtown Uniontown.
The comedy event is a fundraiser that will benefit the MS Society, Relay for Life: American Cancer Society, Teddy Roberts Animal Rescue and The Warrior Foundation.
Pappas first shared his unique brand of comedy, a combination of social satire, personal and autobiographical style comedy, during what the comedy world calls a “bringer” where comedians pack the house with their friends and family.
“I did a bringer show, you bring all your friends to come see you. I did five minutes at Carolines on Broadway and I absolutely murdered it because it was all my friends and family. This is going to be a breeze because I am good at this,” he said. “And then I just bombed for the next five years while getting better.”
In 2014, Pappas recorded a comedy special that aired on Comedy Central.
“That was awesome. We shot that in Boston. I had this big joke about how Boston hates New York and we don’t think about them at all, ever. It is like Boston treats New York like we used to date back in the day and now Boston is stalking our Facebook page,” said Pappas with a laugh. “It was great to finally shoot a standup special and they (people) can also go and watch that on ComedyCentral.com.”
Two years later, Pappas received album of the year for 2016 by Sirius XM for his album “Let Me Be Yannis.”
“That was very nice of Sirius. I was in Madison, Wisconsin doing a weekend of shows there and they told me they had the club recently miked and setup and it would be perfect for someone who wanted to record their album. They were like, ‘Do you want to record?’ And I said ‘Yeah, why not?’ I didn’t really plan on it until I went to Wisconsin, but necessity is the mother of invention,” he said. “I saw an opportunity there and I put it (the album) out. It is material I don’t do anymore. It is great and people should pick it up.”
In addition to his Comedy Central special and album, Pappas also had experience as a show host for the channel Fusion Live.
“That was a great experience. It was for a year. It was an ABC/Univision created network. I think ABC is no longer involved. It was a great experience to be a part of a network that big. I don’t think that would happen again because of the Internet,” he explained. “With Fusion Live it was like a morning show. I would have to get up every day at 3:30 a.m. and went in at 5 a.m. I really learned how to host.”
Throughout his comedic career Pappas worked with Joel Richardson, the producer for the April 29 comedy show.
“I have known Joel for about 10 years now. When I first started headlining, Joel started headlining me and he was producing shows in New Jersey and Pennsylvania,” he said. “I loved Joel and he asked me to do this and I was like absolutely. It’s awesome.”
Joining Pappas will be fellow headliner James Mattern and special guests Richardson and Adam Lucidi and the band “One Bad Night” who will perform at 7 p.m.
Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. For tickets and information call 908-414-7097 SoulJoel.com or SJPComedy.com.
“They (the audience) can expect to laugh their butts off and have a good time and forget about their problems. It is going to be a good time and they will remember it forever. It is a great night out,” said Pappas.
“Life is absurd and you have to laugh a little bit. People must come out. This has been prescribed by your doctor. It is a mandatory requirement that if you live in Uniontown you have to come out and see it.”