'Comedy' kicks off at U-Club

Crying Laughter Productions, a new student organization that hopes to encourage interest in education through comedic means, will present is first annual "Comedy Kickoff for Education." The comedy show will be held tonight in the U-Club on the first floor of the Michigan Union.

"The purpose of the event is to promote higher education through comedy," said LSA senior Alena Green, the group's president and founding member.

The members of Crying Laughter Productions tutor high-school students at local Ann Arbor schools. They believe it is important to help the younger generation achieve higher education.

Mike Bonner will host "Comedy Kickoff for Education" at the U-Club tonight.

Through comedy, young students can see the positive ways in which they can contribute to society. Establishing a release through humor is a good way to relieve stress and forget about the pressures of the classroom and the workplace.

"It is important to allow students to see both the academic and social side of college life so they will know how to balance their fun and studies," she explained.

Green calls herself the Queen of Comedy and has opened for Black Entertainment Television (B.E.T.) comedians Mike Bonner and D.L. Hughley.

The organization extended their mentorship by allowing the high-school students to participate in planning for this event.

"I love comedy and have been truly blessed with the skill, and I just want other young students to see the funny, but positive side of comedy," said Green.

"Everybody is really excited because we plan to take comedy to another level," said Green.

The comedy show is being sponsored by The University Activities Center and the Michigan Union Programming Board.

The host of the show is Detroit's own Mike Bonner. He has appeared on B.E.T half hour stand-up comedy and is currently a candidate being considered for the new host of B.E.T's "Comic View."

Horace Sanders, an LSA senior, and another comedian from "Comic View" will also aide Bonner and Green in kicking off the first Crying Laughter Production.

Sanders has also appeared at The 1996 Mascarade Ball and several other campus events.

"It has been great working with everyone," said Green. "It's going to be the phattest comedy jam of the semester," said Green.

PREVIEW
	Comedy Kickoff for Education Tonight at 7:30 U-Club - $5

After e-mailing all University organizations and posting flyers around campus, Green said she knows the event will be successful because they have been planning the event since the summer.

The $1,250 expected profit will be used to help fund the P.L.A.Y.E.R of the year competition, an event being held for the Martin Luther King Symposium on Jan. 25.

The Positive Leaders And Young Effective Role-models competition is an event where young men will be judged by a panel of female judges based on their appearance, education and personality.

"The purpose of the P.L.A.Y.E.R competition is to show everyone that there are a lot of positive black male role models," said Green.

Green said that Crying Laughter Productions has put a lot of time and effort into making the event a positive, but entertaining experience.

"We would appreciate everyone's support, but be there promptly at 7:30 or get talked about," Green said.

12-05-97