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April 11, 2006
Comedian with message comes to Hamline
Hamline entertainment-seekers were in for a treat the evening of Thursday, March 30 when visiting comedian Josh Blue performed in Sundin Music Hall.
Blue, son of Professor Walter Blue of the Modern Languages department, was born in Cameroon and grew up in the Twin Cities. While attending Evergreen State College, he developed an interest in standup comedy, and was soon studying the art. Now, he is a widely acclaimed comedian who has appeared in numerous clubs, colleges, and business functions as well as on Comedy Central’s hit show Mind of Mencia.
Blue’s routine is varied, pulling from a number of subjects to keep audiences intrigued. Most of his jokes are playfully aimed at himself. Blue has cerebral palsy, a disease which affects the muscular and central nervous systems.
He brings out into the open the topic of disabilityčone that is all too often left out of conversations due to stereotypes or the fear of accidentally offending someone.
“This is the point in my performance where I inform you that you’re all going to hell for laughing at me,” Blue joked, making light of the aforementioned stigmas. Other jokes focused on topics such as family, dating, NASCAR, and politics.
Humor, however, isn’t Blue’s only domain. His artistic talents go beyond performance art, showcased in stunning paintings. Blue’s work is as natural in an art gallery as it is on stage at a comedy club. Aside from English, he speaks French and Wolof.
He is also an athlete. More specifically, he is a member of the U.S. Paralympics soccer team, and traveled with them to Athens to compete in the fall of 2004.
“Let’s just say my team didn’t need to be tested for any performancečenhancing drugs,” Blue said when discussing how the US soccer team fared. Nevertheless, he wore a white jersey during the performance- a symbol of how much he loves the sport.
Despite his outspoken performance and bold humor, Blue remains down-to-earth and talked casually to audience members after the show while signing his CD, Good Josh, Bad Arm.
Hamline’s disability awareness group, Access Now, organized his trip to campus. Access Now holds regular meetings and numerous events. Next on their list is the annual Rolling Tour.
Aside from frequent comedy club showings and corporate events, college performances such as his recent visit to Hamline are part of Blue’s regular routine, and if we’re lucky, he might just come back for an encore someday.
More information about Josh Blue, including pictures of his artwork and his tour schedule, can be found at www.joshblue.com.
Posted by dwright at April 11, 2006 12:39 PM
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