Entertainers on the vaudeville circuit heavily shaped today’s entertainment, and their influence is still evident in sketch comedy, stand-up, and late-night variety shows. In “Jake & Matt’s One-Man Show: Two Guys, Half a Plan,” Jake Ben Suazo and Matt Mattson aim to stage an evening of modern-day vaudeville, with “comedy, story, improv, friendship — all real.”
“It’s mostly an improv show, but there’s music, comedy, and a lot of audience interaction,” says Suazo.
“My friend and I used to always say to each other, ‘When I have my one-man show…,’ or ‘In my one-man show I’m gonna…,” the popular entertainer explains. “Then we thought, ‘Let’s do this one-man show together.’ Along with being friends, Matt and I are both actors and comedians, but also musicians, so we were also excited to do musical things.”
In this form of improv, audiences may be a part of the show. “We sometimes bring people on stage with us: we’ll have them act in scenes, or we’ll sing with the crowd. There’s so much fun to be had if you come with a mind to join in,” Suazo says.
“There’s nothing more awesome than getting together, having a lot of laughs, and creating a memory that will stay with you a long time,” he adds. “In the past, with our improv group The Thrillionaires, we did a lot of shows, and those are some of the best memories I’ve ever had in my life — I mean, other than having kids.”
According to program notes, “‘Jake and Matt’s One-Man Show: Two Guys, Half a Plan’ is a high-energy night of improv, comedy, and live music where the audience fuels the entire experience. No two shows are the same as Jake and Matt turn your suggestions into scenes, songs, and unexpected moments that range from hilarious to surprisingly heartfelt. It is fast, playful, and completely made up on the spot.”
► The Rivoli Theater in Springville, Utah, May 16, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: impletix.com/e/jake-matt-s-one-man-show-tickets-263788
