NMU’s Primetime Productions will feature comedian Emily Galati at 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7 in 103 Jamrich. Galati has made it clear there is only one type of audience that she doesn’t want at her show: dogs.
“If you were just a pair of hands, but clapped instead of laughed, because you’re hands, after all, I would be happy you came to my show,” said Galati via email. “Let me be clear: Animals don’t find me funny, and dogs aren’t welcome.”
After six years in the standup business, Galati was chosen to represent Chicago this year in the “Best of the Midwest” Competition at Gilda’s LaughFest, according to her website. She has also been a semi-finalist in NBC’s “Stand Up for Diversity” showcase and a finalist in the Bob and Tom Comedy Contest.
“I started doing stand up in grad school,” Galati said. “I was taking improv classes in Chicago, working two jobs, and getting a masters. I didn’t have much time for improv, but there was an open mic by my house on Friday nights. I just started to go to that because it fit my schedule better.”
She said in her shows she covers a variety of topics that most people can relate to.
“I talk about my family, where I’m from,” Galati said. “I studied history and like to make references to something in the past, especially because students pick them up.”
President of Primetime Productions Alex Nye, an English writing senior, said the group is a Housing and Residence Life organization with many of its members coming from the freshman and sophomore classes living in the residence halls.
The group works to bring acts to campus, as well as promote performances through social media and postings. They also help with the set up before shows and other things performers need.
“Our main purpose is to give students an alternative to going out and partying on the weekends, like Thursday nights so most of our events are then,” Nye said.
Primetime Productions chose Galati after seeing her at a conference they attend in the spring where she was showcased to perform for the schools in attendance, Nye said.
“She drew us in because she stood out from the others,” Nye said. “A lot of other comedians were doing the comparisons of males and females. She was just doing her own thing. She was bold and her jokes were really hard hitting.”
“While males and females have so many differences, I tend to like the people who have faces,” Galati said. “Also, the people with faces who come to my show; I like them the most.”
Events usually take place in Jamrich 103 because of its availability on Thursdays, Nye said.
“We get pretty close to 300 [people] regardless of who we bring,” he said.
Primetime usually puts on free events every month, which can be large-scale or something like trivia or an open mic. The group meets at 9 p.m. Mondays in the Hunt/VA basement.
