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Comedian Brian Regan bringing tour with 'no title and no theme' to MSU

March 24, 2017
Photo by Brian Friedman | and Brian Friedman The State News

Brian Regan is one of the most famed comedians in the U.S., ranging from his recent Comedy Central special “ Brian Regan: Live from Radio City Music Hall,” to the big screen in “Top Five” to his current tour–a tour which doesn’t have a title.

“When I first started playing theaters, I was told I should title the tour,” Regan said. “It’s just me ... you can say ‘Brian Regan with no title and no theme is coming to town.’”

Regan’s tour that doesn’t have a title or theme will be stopping at the Wharton Center on April 6.

"It's a good show for everybody, good comedy for everybody," Marketing and Group Sales Manager of the Wharton Center Tara Peplowski said.  "It always does well and is popular on campus."

Regan said he travels “anywhere and everywhere,”  an aspect of comedy that he enjoys.

“You can play east coast, west coast, north, south, big cities, little cities,” Regan said. “I like being able to go around the country and play different places, but I usually try to resist sitting down and saying, ‘I do want to go here, I don’t want to go there.’”

When Regan started his comedic career, he said many factors led him to the decision, but a speech class in college had a big impact.

“I use to make my small room of classmates laugh, but what was more intriguing was making the teacher laugh,” Regan said. “I’m thinking ‘I’ve never had a teacher like anything I’ve ever done ever,’ so to actually have teacher know that I exist and think I’m successful at something was a pretty cool feeling.”

Regan said he never had one mentor when he first started, but learned from several other comedians when on the road and performing at shows.

“We’re human beings, we’re going to be influenced by what we see and hear because that’s natural,” Regan said. “At the same time, you’re trying to make sure that you allow yourself to be influenced in certain ways, like learning stage skills, techniques and that sort of thing.”

Regan said you also have to resist being influenced in certain areas of your comedic tactics.

“You try to resist being influenced in how to be creative and what your comedic message is,” Regan said. “That’s unique as possible.”

This helps when creating your individuality as a comedian or an artist, Regan said.

“I think once you cross that line of trying to figure out what people want then there’s really no purpose for you,” Regan said. “You’re just giving them what they want, so anybody can do that.”

Resistant to a certain type of joke or topic in modern society has stopped comedians such as Jerry Seinfeld and Larry the Cable Guy from performing on college campuses.

For Regan, he said his comedic style isn’t as opinionated as other comedians and is more “lighthearted.”

“It’s more about how we are as human beings in the world and how we all get along with each other and about silly and goofy observations,” Regan said. “It’s not the kind of show someone would protest. I can’t see people holding up placards going, ‘No more jokes about donuts.’”

This is the comedic side, but Regan said there’s also a free speech part of the equation. Regan is a firm believer in people should take in all types of opinions.

“You don’t have to change your mind, you can listen and if they change your mind, OK, that’s cool and if they don’t, they don’t,” Regan said. “I’m kind of perplexed by the fear of even listening to someone you disagree with. That confuses me.”

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