Stand-Up Science comedy show comes to Sonoma

Local academics join comedian at Sebastiani show on April 25.|

Know and Go:

What: Stand Up Science

Where: 476 First St. E., Sonoma

When: Thursday April 25, from 8 to 10 p.m.

Info and tickets: www.shanemauss.com/club-dates-1/2019/4/25/sonoma-ca

High school students might not think that science is particularly funny but comedian Shane Mauss would be quick to disagree.

Mauss is bringing his new show “Stand Up Science” to the Sebastiani Theatre on April 25. The comedy performance features academics from local universities who find the humor in science topics and related news. Appearing with Mauss in Sonoma will be Sonoma State professor Teed Rockwell, climate resilience expert Caitlin Cornwall and Oakland-based standup comic Krista Fatka.

Mauss will open the show with some funny material on brainy topics, and then special academic guests will attempt to make you laugh while you learn. After their performances, Shane and his comedian guests return to the stage for an interactive discussion and Q&A with the audience.

Mauss caught his first break in 2007 when he was dubbed “Best Stand Up” at the HBO U.S. Comedy Arts Festival. Since then, he has been headlining shows and appearing on “Conan,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” Showtime, Comedy Central and Netflix. Mauss also hosts the weekly podcast “Here We Are” where he interviews scientists on different topics.

Once Mauss became an established comedian, he had an itch to talk about things with more substance.

“Seven or eight years ago I started to reach out to some top scientists while trying to get this comedy science convo started,” Mauss said. “The podcast I started ‘Here We Are' was made to try and capture those conversations; now I can add to that with this show. “Stand-Up Science” is a combination of the two things I love most in the world: stand up comedy and science.”

From how we understand the complexities of stress to the inner workings of behavioral economics, these conversations combined with beer and comedy benefit everyone, according to Mauss. “These topics, that are both entertaining and really important, have become an obsession of mine,” he said.

“To be that bridge between academics and entertainment is pretty cool,” he added. “We always have such incredible and engaging audiences. All of these subject matters are so much more interesting than anyone could imagine.”

The show gives academics and professors, who are no strangers to public speaking, a chance to improvise and showcase their comedy skills. “I even get the chance to flex an important comedic muscle by improving my improv skills with this show,” Mauss said. “It's been a fun way to build that muscle.”

Mauss likes to showcase local academics at each venue. “There's no way for me to pull a show off without getting local academics,” Mauss said. “People are more excited that these academics are local. These are educators in their own town. It's always kind of a grab-bag kind of deal for every city we perform in, which makes it interesting.”

Although the Wisconsin native admitted he's rarely visited Northern California, Mauss says he thinks the show is ideal for Sonoma. “I'm excited about it because the Sonoma area has a market for a more intellectual crowd,” Mauss said. “I'm excited to learn and experience California more!”

“This is a very unique show,” said Sebastiani Theatre manager Tony Ginesi. “I have a good friend Matthew Layne, who runs FastLayne Comedy, and he was the one who suggested them. The second I saw some of the videos I was sold.”

Ginesi said this different style of stand up comedy fits perfectly for Sonoma's Sebastiani Theatre. “I'm an avid science buff and what better way to engage people in science and just deep conversations in general than to mix in hilarious stand up,” Ginesi said. “It will be a really fun night and you might learn something at the same time.”

Know and Go:

What: Stand Up Science

Where: 476 First St. E., Sonoma

When: Thursday April 25, from 8 to 10 p.m.

Info and tickets: www.shanemauss.com/club-dates-1/2019/4/25/sonoma-ca

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