Jason Schommer: Are You Kidding Me?

"Are you Kidding Me? A Comedy Show by Jason Schommer and Friends!"
Tickets: $18 General Admission
Doors: 6pm, Showtime: 7pm.

Great River Arts proudly presents Jason Schommer with the comedy show “Are You Kidding Me?” on Saturday, September 28! Jason Schommer and friends return to Great River Arts for one night only with stand-up comedy, storytelling, and sketch comedy. Doors open at 6pm and showtime is at 7pm. Tickets are $18 and all seating is general admission. Tickets can be purchased by phone at (320) 632-0960, at the Great River Arts office during business hours, or at the door. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.greatart.org

“Are You Kidding Me?” covers a wide range of topics from everyday life with an unexpected and hilarious twist! From bizarre mishaps while traveling to laugh-until-you-cry moments with family and so much more, this show offers something for everyone! Life is never a dull moment! Whether Jason is being tricked into going on a hike in the wilderness or roaming the busy streets of New York City, it is one hilarious adventure after another. Jason has a knack for finding the comedic gold in life’s most mundane and routine moments and delights audiences by proving that truth really is funnier than fiction. Patrick Strait from MN Comedy says “Nobody tells a better story than Jason Schommer. A long-time opener for the legendary Louie Anderson, Schommer is a multi-layered talent who combines stand-up, storytelling, acting and improv to create a unique experience every time he’s on stage. Jason is a true performer in every sense of the word, and one of the most engaging personalities in all avenues of Twin Cities comedy – well beyond stand-up.”.

Making a special appearance is guest comedian Jodie Maruska! Jodie is an audience favorite and returns to the Great River Arts stage with her clever joke writing and gut-busting take on aging and life’s challenges. With pre-show and intermission music ranging from well-known hits and hidden gems by vocalist Kelly Cordes. Kelly is an audience favorite and continues to wow audiences with her powerful voice and emotional delivery of songs across various genres.

This evening of hilarity also includes a special performance of “Prudence Pan in Never Falls” (a spoof of Peter Pan) by Prudence from Bowlus and her Theatre Troup! This outrageously funny parody with a special local twist is based on the timeless tale of heroic Peter Pan versus the evil Captain Hook and the bumbling pirates on the mysterious island of Never Falls! Join Prudence from Bowlus as Prudence Pan and her nemesis Rhonda (Robyn Gray) as Capt. Hook as they put their own stamp on this classic story of good versus evil that is packed full of local references! Joining the hilarious chaos in various roles is Susy Prosapio, Rick Converse, Allen Riedeman, Julie Richgels, Kenny Simon, Patricia Soltis, Pat Arnold, Randy Soltis, Melissa Peterson, Laurie Koll, Abigail Arnold and Jonathan Wichmann.

Kelly Cordes has been performing since the age of 13, and has opened for many popular bands including Diamond Rio, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and many more at country music festivals throughout the US. As a musician, Kelly plays a variety of music ranging from rock, country, pop, and blues. Kelly is also known to audiences throughout central Minnesota as the co-host of the morning radio show on Minnesota’s New Country 98.1 and host of “It Matters with Kelly Cordes” on WJON AM1240.

Jodie Maruska may have grown up in Minnesota, but using the restroom at Cabella’s is as close to camping as she gets! After being asked for her autograph the first night she performed standup, Jodie knew she had found her calling. 20+ years later, she is a comedy veteran who has performed across the country in clubs, at events, theaters, casinos, colleges and yes, even a couple of backyards. In the Twin Cities, she can be seen regularly at Rick Bronson’s House of Comedy and the Comedy Corner Underground. In 2017, she made her debut appearance in the 10,000 Laughs Comedy Festival, where she was thrilled to be a part of the “Best of the Festival” show! Jodie appeals to audiences of all ages and uses her familiar “Minnesota-nice” demeanor to great, unexpected comedic effect. Just don’t ask her to go fishing!

Jason Schommer is a standup comedian and storyteller who spent two years as the opening act for comedy legend Louie Anderson in Las Vegas and toured with Louie regularly. Comedy icon Louie Anderson said “Jason is funny, clever, smart, and on his way to the big time!”. As a stand up comic, Jason has performed in clubs and theaters all over the USA as well as Canada and for the US Military in Japan. A regular performer at The Moth, Jason has won numerous Story Slam competitions and was invited to perform at the GrandSlam at The Fitzgerald Theatre in St. Paul in 2016 and 2023 and in 2018 at The Guthrie Theater and The Pantages Theater in 2022. Jason has been heard nationally on The Moth Radio Hour as well as featured on the podcast. Jason has worked in New York City for The Rosie O’Donnell Show and has worked behind the scenes in Hollywood as a stand in for Louie Anderson on the FX television series Baskets. In 2017 Jason released his first live comedy album “Confessions of a Local Celebrity”. Most recently Jason went viral on TikTok by starring in a video with Dave Ryan from KDWB and hitting over 5.3 million views. Jason has also been featured on The Morning Show and The Jason Show with Jason Matheson on FOX9 and Twin Cities Live on KSTP.