‘Just for Laughs’ Comedy Revue featuring OSU Alumni from the ‘60s Returns to Campus April 4-6

Madcap Program to Raise Money for Student Scholarships

Just for Laughs—a madcap comedy revue starring Jeffrey Weissman who played George McFly in the Back to the Future movies—features live music and a cast of wacky characters that pay tribute to comedy in America. The troupe, which includes OSU alumni Denis Freeh and Richard D. Farshler, will present a weekend of benefit performances Friday, April 4 and Saturday, April 5 at 7:30 pm, and Sunday, April 6 at 3 pm in Roy Bowen Theatre, Drake Performance Center, 1849 Cannon Dr on campus. All proceeds from the performances will benefit student scholarships in the Department of Theatre.

Audiences nationwide have enjoyed the unique interactive elements of a Just for Laughs show – which include Charlie, the head usher and his  pre-show antics in seating the audience, and how spectators participate as a makeshift orchestra. The musical satire and comedy sketches feature a cast of eight: Freeh and Farshler, Jeffrey Weissman, Laurie Burke, Elaine Burke, Jonathan Watkins, Mike Wawro and Jim Dole.

“We are absolutely thrilled that some of our successful alumni want to return to Ohio State with their award-winning troupe to help ‘pay back’ the university for launching their careers,” says Mark Shanda, chair, Department of Theatre.  “We warmly welcome them back to campus more than 40 years after their hilarious debut as an improvisational comedy group. Their production today is sure to put a smile on your face . . . and will help fund a new performance scholarship for future students of theatre.”

Just for Laughs has its roots in a 1963 OSU experimental theatre production called the Esoterics at Large, created by Freeh and Farshler. Their shows resulted in standing-room-only crowds during their two performances. From there, the troupe appeared on local television and later were signed as the comedy act for Hootnanny 63. They also toured nationally and had three performances at Carnegie Hall.

In 2004 the group reunited as Just for Laughs and appeared in a four-week run in Hollywood. Two years later, the production sold out seven performances at the San Francisco Fringe Festival and garnered five-star reviews.

The Ohio State production will include a satire on Broadway opening production numbers; The Fabulous Flames; Weissman starring as the Lobsterman and performing classic Groucho Marx and Charlie Chaplin bits; Vaudeville acts; off-the-wall comedy sketches and more. Elaine Burke’s bright new score includes 12 songs complementing the comedy skits.

Tickets are $25 (tax deductible) and are available at the door or by calling (614) 292-2295. All ticket sales will be used to establish the Esoterics OSU Actors Scholarship. For more information, call the theatre box office at (614) 292-2295 or visit arts.osu.edu.