December 31, 2004

Local student arranges standup showcase at EVHS

Already comic, 17-year-old Chris Sifflet tries hand at promotion

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

Youthful standup comedian Chris Sifflet has taken the reins of destiny arranging a Jan. 20 comedy showcase at Evergreen Valley High School. The EVHS senior will perform alongside several comedy club tour veterans including Tim ‘Slappy’ Babb—of Mix 106.5—Norm Goldblatt, Tim Lee, Kevin Avery and Matt Morales.

The plan: generate a personal venue locally while raising community awareness of the comedy scene and funding for the school’s drama department.

An encore performance—featuring additional, equally renowned comics—is slated the following month, on Feb. 24. The second performance will culminate a trial series, which Sifflet, Evergreen’s Principal Tim McDonough and Drama Department Chair Jesse Griffin hope will carry on as tradition.

Sifflet
In the eyes of its creator, Sifflet, the show represents an opportunity to expose his personal talent and to grant easy access passes to view a medium of expression often inaccessible to suburban areas such as Evergreen.

“People that live in the suburbs want to go and see comedy live, but there are few opportunities,” said 17-year-old Sifflet, whose resume lists such comedy venues as Rooster T. Feathers, The Rose and Crown, Rudy’s Pub in Palo Alto, The Brainwash, The Mock Café, Gotham Comedy Club and Stand Up NY. “Unfortunately, most of the places comics perform are over-21. My friends all ask, ‘Where can I come see you?’ and it’s like well, when you grow up…”
“People want something they can walk next door and see.”

Shear luck matched Sifflet with his passion for comedy. Prior to a sophomore year transfer out of Valley Christian High School, he had never considered performing comedy live.

“I wasn’t sure I was funny,” commented Sifflet. “I would think of stuff to say in class at Valley, but I knew the things I wanted to say wouldn’t have gone over well.”

Further, Sifflet felt that certain facts that he had come to accept in everyday life were not condoned by the private high school.

“My brother is gay,” he elaborated. “They didn’t like me to talk about a lot of my opinions regarding politics, etc.”

Upon transferring to EVHS, Sifflet gained comfort in perceived diversity.

“Kids in the classroom would support me in what I thought was funny,” he continued. “They were laughing.”

Talent show opens door
That year EVHS held a talent show. On a whim, Sifflet signed himself into a slot to perform stand-up comedy.

“I just thought, ‘I could do that,” said Sifflet. The set spanned a somewhat unprecedented 30 minutes to the surprise and satisfaction of an onlooking Griffin, the school’s pundit of dramatic arts, and a former stand-up as well.

“Chris has got to be one of the singularly most motivated students I have ever been associated with,” said Griffin.

“It’s tough to come up with five minutes of material when you’re starting out. Chris is constantly developing, looking into what types of courses and workshops would benefit him.”

One instance stood out in particular to Griffin as an indication of Sifflet’s depth and breadth of effort.

“We were discussing the psychological frame of mind one must bring to work as a stand- up comic,” said Griffin. “I was telling him about this and that and he was elaborating on everything I had to say. He already understood what I was attempting to explain and had this much more information than I.”

In his own intimation, Sifflet’s comedy transcends the lines of category.

“I don’t have a particularly definable style or topic range,” said Sifflet. “I’ll talk about politics and religion. I also like talking about my family. My mom’s white and my dad’s black. It’s funny. I don’t look black.”

Fighting for rights
While the idea was conceived first in the mind of prodigious youth, Sifflet knew he needed the sage advice of Griffin as well as the blessing of EVHS Principal McDonough.

“I went to Mr. Griffin first,” said Sifflet. “When he said he would help, I knew we had something. I wouldn’t have done it without the theater facility.”

“It’s one of the most technologically elaborate control systems I have ever seen,” said Griffin of the theater. “We are truly capable of competing with shows in San Francisco and major metropolitan areas.”

With Griffin on board, Sifflet shifted his attention to McDonough. He knew to address one pressing issue: would a professional comedy show generate the perceived benefits without alienating any members of the community with profane and inappropriate material, which many comics are guilty of delivering?

In a meeting held behind closed doors, Sifflet met with McDonough and Griffin. The lines were drawn, yet each party emerged a winner.

“I met with Mr. Griffin and Chris and they expressed what support for the performing arts this show would generate,” recalled McDonough. “I thought it sounded like a wonderful idea assuming we could convey to the comics that the show was a high school fundraiser. It’s money in the bank for the drama department. Hopefully this event and others to follow will allow them to reach their goals.”

“If the comics swear, they’ve been forewarned that we’ll turn off their mikes,” said Sifflet. “But I don’t think it will be a problem. When you are a touring comic, like the comics we’ve booked, you have to be able to play to all kinds of audiences.”

Talent
Tim ‘Slappy’ Babb was a finalist several times over at various comedy contests including the Las Vegas Comedy Competition and the Rooster T. Feathers New Talent Competition in 2003. Appearances alongside notables such as Sinbad, Weird ‘Al’ Yankovich, Jake Johannson and Will Durst have prepped the Mix 106.5 radio personality for a successful career. Check out Tim’s web site at www.kezr.com/slappy.htm.

Kevin Avery—has, in his own words, ‘been a stage rat all his life.’ In 1998 Avery made it to the semi-finals in the San Francisco Comedy Competition. That was when he was named one of the “Top 99 People to Watch” by Metropolitan Magazine. His web site is www.kevinavery.com.

Tim Lee—Following work gaining a Ph.D. in Ecology from UC-Davis, Lee delved into the local comedy scene tickling audiences with, “TV-clean material that is largely observational. I like bits that point out the absurdity around us that everyone else is ignoring,” said Lee. An avid surfer, Lee got his start telling jokes in Sharkey’s comedy club.

Norm Goldblatt—According to his Web site, Goldblatt has performed throughout the Bay Area for many years. One highlight includes a contributing role on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, in addition to holding a daily position as a Senior Optical Engineer at Abbott Labs—funny in itself. Norm’s web site is www.foresight.org/SrAssoc/BioGoldblatt.html.

Matt Morales—Morales finished in third place at the 2004 Twisted Sea Biscuit Competition. In addition, he was voted the third funniest person in Louisiana, finishing just one place behind Bobby Boucher. Master P won. His web site is www.mattmorales.com.

The rap
Tickets will be sold at $ 10 per until the EVHS Theater is filled—450 seats.

“The show I intend to put on is a comedy showcase,” summed Sifflet. “It will feature professional comics that I have either seen or heard perform. Many of the comics perform at local A-list Clubs such as Cobbs and the Punchline.
Others are almost there as well.”

“The show is a great opportunity to perform in front of a younger crowd. It allows us to figure out what kind of bits work with a different audience and hopefully introduce young people to the art of stand-up comedy,” added comic Lee:

“Chris approached me at a showcase and asked me if I’d like to perform,” he continued. “It sounds like a cool gig, and Chris is very talented so I said, ‘yes.”

“Chris is noted as one of the best young comics in the Bay Area,” he finished.