Spring Break
Connecticut-Native Comedian To Perform
Joe Budzelek
Issue date: 2/22/07 Section: Focus
It's hard to expect anything but quality jokes from a man who has been nominated for "National College Comedian of the Year." It's fair to expect an amazing routine from a man that has been nominated three times.
Critically-acclaimed Eric O'Shea will be taking his comedy to the Student Union Theater this Thursday night.
"Eric just wants you to sit back, relax, and let his clean wit and priceless observations take you through your embarrassing childhood and everyday, awkward moments that drive you insane," according to his personal Web site, ericoshea.com.
Born in New Haven, O'Shea built his comedic roots from performing as the class clown while growing up,
"I grew up in Connecticut […] and there were no comedy clubs there, but I used to do imitations of teachers and friends and just sort of got pushed into comedy," Shea said in an interview with talkingcomedy.com.
All those years of performing turned out for the best, as O'Shea has mastered several celebrity and television show impressions, including Elmo and Family Guy.
O'Shea's comedic career spanned nearly a decade. In 1997, O'Shea began taking his act to college campuses. After honing his craft by opening for more established acts, O'Shea was able to headline campus tours on his own after only six months. Since then, O'Shea has performed at over 800 colleges and universities.
While O'Shea has refined his own comedic style, he is still a comedic student admiring the work of legendary comedians. O'Shea is influenced by George Carlin and Paul Reiser, although he most admires comedians like Jerry Seinfield and Bill Cosby, who are able to put a smile on every audience members without resorting to dirty jokes.
"I like guys who are clean and funny," O'Shea said in an interview from TalkingComedy.com, "I like dirty comics too, but I really like comics that make you think, rather than just throwing out something a guy can do at a bar. You kinda try to separate yourself."
Much of O'Shea's comedy revolves around recollections of his childhood. His Web site said, "Eric will surprise you with similar experiences you're not even aware of […] from family reunions to board games, from surviving with Mom to surviving all 24 hours of the day."
O'Shea's focus on family memories during his childhood is what comes most natural to him.
"I was never catering to little kids or even the college crowd," O'Shea said. "It just happened to go like that. I'm very close to my family and that's what came out of my mouth."
O'Shea has earned rave reviews from colleges all across the nation, including Harvard University, Lowell and Sacred Heart University.
"O'Shea is by far one of the most talented and captivating comedians on the circuit today. His presence just takes the audience by storm and from the very first laugh you can tell that they are hooked," said Meredith Morris of Sacred Heart University, according to ericoshea.com.
Critically-acclaimed Eric O'Shea will be taking his comedy to the Student Union Theater this Thursday night.
"Eric just wants you to sit back, relax, and let his clean wit and priceless observations take you through your embarrassing childhood and everyday, awkward moments that drive you insane," according to his personal Web site, ericoshea.com.
Born in New Haven, O'Shea built his comedic roots from performing as the class clown while growing up,
"I grew up in Connecticut […] and there were no comedy clubs there, but I used to do imitations of teachers and friends and just sort of got pushed into comedy," Shea said in an interview with talkingcomedy.com.
All those years of performing turned out for the best, as O'Shea has mastered several celebrity and television show impressions, including Elmo and Family Guy.
O'Shea's comedic career spanned nearly a decade. In 1997, O'Shea began taking his act to college campuses. After honing his craft by opening for more established acts, O'Shea was able to headline campus tours on his own after only six months. Since then, O'Shea has performed at over 800 colleges and universities.
While O'Shea has refined his own comedic style, he is still a comedic student admiring the work of legendary comedians. O'Shea is influenced by George Carlin and Paul Reiser, although he most admires comedians like Jerry Seinfield and Bill Cosby, who are able to put a smile on every audience members without resorting to dirty jokes.
"I like guys who are clean and funny," O'Shea said in an interview from TalkingComedy.com, "I like dirty comics too, but I really like comics that make you think, rather than just throwing out something a guy can do at a bar. You kinda try to separate yourself."
Much of O'Shea's comedy revolves around recollections of his childhood. His Web site said, "Eric will surprise you with similar experiences you're not even aware of […] from family reunions to board games, from surviving with Mom to surviving all 24 hours of the day."
O'Shea's focus on family memories during his childhood is what comes most natural to him.
"I was never catering to little kids or even the college crowd," O'Shea said. "It just happened to go like that. I'm very close to my family and that's what came out of my mouth."
O'Shea has earned rave reviews from colleges all across the nation, including Harvard University, Lowell and Sacred Heart University.
"O'Shea is by far one of the most talented and captivating comedians on the circuit today. His presence just takes the audience by storm and from the very first laugh you can tell that they are hooked," said Meredith Morris of Sacred Heart University, according to ericoshea.com.
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