IF YOU GO:What: Make Me Laugh: Syracuse, N.Y.Where: Palace TheaterWhen: Tonight, 8 p.m.How much: $8

A three to four minute act may be all that a Central New Yorker needs to be the next Jerry Seinfeld or Chris Rock.

Produced by Dan Frigolette, a Syracuse University ’05 alum and founder of Comma, D Productions, aspiring comics from the Syracuse area will compete in ‘Make Me Laugh: Syracuse, N.Y.’ tonight at 8 p.m. in the Palace Theater.

‘The contest is a comedic revival to Syracuse, N.Y.,’ said Frigolette. ‘Syracuse University didn’t have anything like (SU student-run WooHoo Comedy Club) for myself, and coming out of college, I really wanted to get into comedy, but I really had no idea how. (The event) really gives people the opportunity to really try to get into comedy.’

Auditions for the event began at Onondaga Community College and were held throughout October and the beginning of November at Le Moyne College, WiseGuys Comedy Club, Coffee Pavilion, SUNY Morrisville, the Wingate Hotel and Syracuse University, Frigolette said.

Comics who moved on will be presenting two acts, ranging from three to eight minutes, before an audience of 500 and a panel of comedian and celebrity judges, Frigolette said.

Panelists will include Bruno Schirripa, the owner of WiseGuys Comedy Club, and comedian Yannis Pappas whose work has appeared on VH1’s ‘Best Week Ever,’ BET’s ‘106 & Park’ and Comedy Central’s ‘Chappelle’s Show,’ Frigolette said.

Panelist Pappas, who will perform after the competition, became involved in the event through past work experience with Frigolette at comedy shows and is looking for stage presence and joke quality in the competitors.

‘If you want to be a comedian, you have to go up stage and try out in front of an audience, deal with stage fright and put your ego on the line,’ Pappas said.

Having performed all his life, Syracuse freshman and amateur comic Tyler Gildin will get a shot at winning the event along side three other SU students. Gildin’s tryout at Schine Student Center has led to an opportunity to pursue more in comedy, he said.

According to Frigolette, performances at the WiseGuys Comedy Club, Comedy Works in Albany, Rochester’s Comix Cafe and an opening spot on a Comma, D show in New York City are guaranteed for the winner of the competition, as well as a bundle of prizes.

‘At the end of the day, comedians are just looking for a venue,’ Frigolette said. ‘Comedians are diehards. Put people in a room and give us a microphone, and we’re going to do it.’

Published on November 8, 2007 at 12:00 pm