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Comedian Ira Ford to uplift peers in Black comedy showcase
Each comic will do a 15-minute set Friday night at the Hook and Ladder Theater & Lounge.
MINNEAPOLIS — Comedian Ira Ford will soon host a showcase featuring Twin Cities-based comedians he believes are funny but aren’t getting the spotlight they deserve.
“I was tired of having good comics looked over,” Ford said. “Comics I enjoy seeing will get a chance.”
“A couple of them are a couple of years in, and I remember when I was a couple of years in, I was funny but nobody was giving me shots,” Ford said. “It was only, like, open mics. Or, I can go to do a 3- or 5-minute guest spot on somebody else’s stuff.”
Ford is giving each comic an equal 15 minutes when they perform Friday, Feb. 16 at the Hook and Ladder Theater & Lounge. And because all of them are Black men, he’s calling the show:
“F.A.B. Comics,” Ford said. “Funny A-dollar-sign, dollar-sign, Black Comics.”
Their resumes range from about a year to 19 years, and seasoned comedians Hur and Sawyer agree there haven’t been many opportunities to shine.
“There used to be a Black scene here,” Hur said.
“It was called the Brothers, the Brothers Comedy,” Sawyer added.
“Well, there was that, then there was the Blackness, then there was Baddies,” Hur said.
Sawyer says the experience and frequency of performing differs depending on the area.
“I’ll do shows once a month if I’m lucky in the Twin Cities,” he said. “Generally, I’m in front of a bunch of people in rural towns in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, trying to make people I have nothing in common with laugh, and it works, and it’s like maybe one Black person there, and I’ll offer that Black person a ride back to the Cities just in case.”
The group is expecting a diverse audience at the Minneapolis venue Friday.
“I tend to talk to the audience before the show and find out who I’m talking to so I can know what I can get away with,” Sawyer said.
“You don’t have to be Black to enjoy the comedy,” Ford added.
Tickets cost $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Doors open at 7 p.m. for happy hour and mingling with the comedians, and the show starts at 8 p.m.
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MPD officers reviewed footage of the crash, which showed the woman had the right of way and a red sedan crashed into her without stopping, according to the charges.
MINNEAPOLIS — A Minneapolis man is charged with criminal vehicular operation and DWI after he allegedly struck and killed a student walking on the U of M campus and fled.
Prosecutors lay out their case against 30-year-old Ali Abas Samator in a criminal complaint filed in connection with the fatal incident, which took place on Nov. 7. Court documents say Minneapolis police officers were called to campus and found a young woman lying in the street.
The victim – who has since been identified as UMN student Rylie Saloum – suffered severe injuries died at the hospital days later, according to a GiveSendGo post.
Investigators reviewed footage of the crash, which reportedly showed Saloum was walking int the crosswalk and had the right of way when a red sedan hit her and drove off without stopping, according to the charges.
Police say they spotted the suspect vehicle on camera a few blocks away and responded to the location. Officers found Samator in the driver’s seat, say he showed multiple signs of impairment and was placed under arrest.
According to the charging documents, Samator has three prior alcohol-related driving convictions and his license was canceled at the time of the crash.
Police are looking for answers and urged anyone with information to contact CrimeStoppers.
MINNEAPOLIS — An 18-year-old man is dead after a shooting Tuesday night in the Phillips neighborhood in Minneapolis.
Minneapolis police said in a press release they responded to reports of a shooting on the 2500 block of Ogema Pl. around 8:40 p.m. Upon arrival, officers found the victim with gunshot wounds and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
In the release, Minneapolis police stated that investigators are working to figure out what happened. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner will release the victim’s name and cause of death.
If you have any information on this shooting, Minneapolis police urge you to call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit tips online at this website. All tips are anonymous.
The legendary musical is playing the Orpheum Theatre from Nov. 19 to Dec. 1 as part of the Bank of America Broadway on Hennepin series.
MINNEAPOLIS — The Tony Award-winning musical “Les Misérables” is back in Minneapolis as part of the Bank of America Broadway on Hennepin series.
Considered the sixth longest-running musical of all time, “Les Misérables” is based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel and set against the backdrop of 19th century France. It tells a story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption – a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit.
Performances run from Nov. 19 to Dec. 1 at the historic Orpheum Theatre in downtown Minneapolis. Tickets start at $40, and are available via the Hennepin Arts website or by visiting the State Theatre Box Office.
Some fun facts about the production:
- The show uses approximately 1,200 costumes filling one entire tractor trailer
- It takes approximately 21 hours to load in and approximately 8 hours to load out.
- 35 local stagehands are used for each performance.
- 11 trucks are used to move the production from city to city
Cast members Mya Rena Hunter (Éponine) and Jake David Smith (Marius) visited KARE 11 News at Noon to talk about the current staging of “Les Misérables,” and why fans keep coming back.
