By: Chamberlain Stull
University of Maryland students looking for something to do during Homecoming week can see comedians Sal Vulcano and Josh Johnson take the stage at Xfinity Center on Oct. 15.
The Homecoming Comedy Show, organized by Student Entertainment Events (SEE), will begin at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 for UMD community members.
For SEE Comedy Director Diego Varisco, the show is a chance for students to see two comedians with different audiences and styles without leaving campus.
“If you want to have a good time, just sitting back, relaxing and watching your favorite comedians come to a comedy show, come to the Homecoming Comedy Show,” Varisco said.
For sophomore business management major Emma Burk, Johnson was the comedian who caught her attention when she saw the lineup on SEE’s Instagram.
“I am honestly going to watch Josh Johnson just because of him,” Burk said.
Burk plans to attend with a group of about 15 friends, many of whom are going specifically to see Sal Vulcano, one of the stars of “Impractical Jokers.” The pairing of Vulcano and Johnson was intentional, according to Varisco.
“We were trying to get two different audiences, but still be able to have a good event overall,” Varisco said.
Varisco began thinking about potential comedians for the show in February and March. SEE also considers suggestions from its general body and board, works with a talent agent and researches comedians before making its final decisions. Vulcano was a comedian Varisco had wanted to bring to campus for years.
“I’ve been watching Sal since I was in middle school,” Varisco said. “I love Sal because he was my favorite character on ‘Impractical Jokers.’”
Johnson brought a different audience to the lineup. Varisco said SEE knew him from his stand-up comedy and work as a correspondent on “The Daily Show.”
Burk has followed Johnson’s comedy for years and said she enjoys his dry humor and the way he incorporates the places where he performs into his jokes.
“I’m excited to see what he does about College Park because I think that’ll be really interesting to hear,” Burk said.
Burk said the chance to see Johnson perform live is part of what makes the show appealing. She also attended last year’s Homecoming Comedy Show featuring Marcello Hernandez, an experience that made her want to return this year. Seeing a comedian she normally watches online in person was part of the appeal.
“You see clips of it on TikTok, but it’s different being there in person and getting to see all of the gestures and things,” Burk said.
That experience has Burk looking forward to another night of comedy on campus.
“I think SEE did a really good job of picking two different comedians from different kinds of sectors of audiences,” Burk said. “There’s a little bit for everyone.”
Varisco said he has already seen excitement from students around campus. He said classmates have told him they are looking forward to seeing Vulcano and Johnson.
“Just seeing that they’re so excited for a show that I’ve been programming for so long makes me really happy,” Varisco said.
For Varisco, the opportunity to see Vulcano and Johnson share a stage is something students will not get again.
“You’re never going to see this pairing of Josh Johnson and Sal Vulcano,” Varisco said. “That sentence will never be occurring post October 15th.”
With a $20 ticket and a show within walking distance for many students, Varisco said the Homecoming Comedy Show is an opportunity students will not want to miss.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime,” Varisco said.
