08-26-10

Reggie Watts will bring his free-form comedy to Iowa State University Sept. 18

AMES, Iowa -- Reggie Watts, a free-form comedian-musician who recently toured with Conan O'Brien, will perform Iowa State University's comedy opener on Saturday, Sept. 18. Watts' "Comedy on the Edge" will be at 8 p.m. at Stephens Auditorium, the closing event of Engineers' Week on campus. The show is free and open to the public. Doors open at 7 p.m.

Far from a traditional stand-up comedian, Watts' act defies audience expectations. His thought-provoking material ranges from the history of Google and the Internet to absurd monologues performed in any number of accents and voices. His improvised musical sets are created on the spot using only his formidable voice and a looping machine. Known as an avowed disinformest, Watts enjoys disorienting his audiences while also entertaining them.

Watts has performed at many music festivals, including Bonnaroo and SXSW, as well as comedy festivals in Canada and Australia, and has played to sold-out runs in London, Sydney and throughout Europe. He has appeared on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon," HBO's "The Yes Men Save the World" and PBS' revamped "Electric Company."

Watts received the Andy Kaufmann Award in 2006 for his distinctive brand of innovative stand-up performance. In 2009, he took top honors for Best Musical Comedy Act from the ECNY Awards, (originally known as the Emerging Comics of New York Awards), which celebrate the best in New York comedy.

The performance is cosponsored by Engineers' Week, the Student Union Board and the Committee on Lectures, which is funded by the Government of the Student Body

More information on ISU lectures is available at http://www.lectures.iastate.edu, or by calling (515) 294-9935.

-30-