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| “Ernie,” one of the main acts at the Native American
Comedy Night, performs an ’80s rock re-enactment. |
Photo by Rebecca Straughmatt |
Native American comedy
Huge crowd forces one night event into two
Dalton Walker
Mesa Legend
Outside the Kirk Student Center less than a handful of students
scampered through the silent sprinkles of rain, but inside the Kirk
Center hundreds of people were full of laughter while taking in
“Comedy Night.”
Native American comedy acts invaded the MCC campus Feb. 17. Hundreds
of people were in line patiently waiting with their advanced tickets
in hand for the Navajo room doors to finally open.
Lines for the event started to form an hour before the scheduled
opening, and zigzagged outside the Kirk Center reaching the MCC
counseling offices. Another line formed with those who did not have
advanced tickets, but were hoping they could still get inside the
event.
Bo Colbert, Director of American Indian Center said the event was
a success. “We didn’t expect this type of response,”
Colbert said with a smile.
“The event was well promoted. The request for advanced tickets
started to pick-up this week. In all, we sold about 250-300 (advanced)
tickets.”
The doors officially opened at 6:15 p.m., and the program started
at 7, a late start due to the overwhelming amount of people attending.
Inside the Navajo room rows of chairs dominated the open space.
Local vendors quickly set up their tables with torques and sterling
silver jewelry for future sales.
Members of the Inter-tribal Student Organization were preparing
to sell soda and nachos to benefit future Native American scholarships,
and a trip to Washington D.C., in May.
The audience was seated and waiting for Native American comedians,
“James and Ernie”, Teresa Choyguha, T.O. Lupe, and MCC
student, Rachel Sanchez, who performed songs.
ISO members started to scamper around campus for more chairs to
accommodate the unexpected crowd. About 90 people were still standing
in line for tickets, when the doors were shut due to limited space.
The event was sponsored by MCC American Indian Services, Arizona
Native Scene newspaper and NDNS4Wellness.
Members of the committee were so overwhelmed with the unexpected
attendance, that a second show was scheduled for the following night.
Loren Tapahe, publisher of Arizona Native Scene newspaper, which
is based out of Mesa, spoke on the microphone most of the night
addressing the crowd with each performer.
“We expected 250 tops!” Tapahe said. “Nearly 400
people tonight, we sold out.”
Tapahe is familiar with setting up community events like “Comedy
Night” at hotels, however this is his first time at a community
college.
He said the event would help promote the college to the Native American
population. Loretta Damon, program advisor at American Indian Center
shared and Tapahe spoke to each other in hopes of MCC holding a
community event. Tapahe said that he and Damon are “old friends.”
“We were talking one day,” Tapahe said of Damon. “Let’s
put it together and help put the MCC campus on the map.”
Tapahe also thought the idea of a comedy night at a community college
would bring a positive result for everyone involved.
“We invited everybody, not just Native Americans, to come
see something special,” Tapahe said. “It brings people
the aspect of good things and something positive for the community.”
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