This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Maybe in the immediate aftermath of Election Night, you made a donation to Planned Parenthood — maybe even in the name of Vice President-elect Mike Pence.
Maybe in the subsequent months, your post-election resolution to commit to activism has waned a bit, reduced to the occasional Facebook comment about the confirmation hearing of a cabinet nominee, all the while hoping in vain that somehow, some way, you'd wake up one morning to discover that an impending Donald Trump presidency was merely a bad dream.
And maybe, now that Inauguration Day is actually here, you're again looking for a way to support the social causes and programs you feel are at risk, while simultaneously trying to find a way for your head not to explode.
Maybe you should go to the "What A Joke" comedy fest on Friday night at The State Room in Salt Lake City.
The event, which is the brainchild of New York City comics Emily Winter and Jenn Welch, is part of a coordinated effort taking place in 32 cities across the United States and United Kingdom over the weekend. All proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the American Civil Liberties Union.
"There's a lot of fear, and I think it's important to try to connect to your sense of humor about the thing," Andy Farnsworth, the producer of and a performer in the Salt Lake City show, said in an interview. "… Yes, it's really important to speak your mind, but it's also important not to lose it. And it's also important not to let the thing completely rule your life, and to focus on the things you can change."
Farnsworth, a former performer in NYC who is acquaintances with Winter and Welch, said the former got in contact with him to gauge the possibility of staging a show in Salt Lake.
"She was reaching out to people in most of the major markets — I mean, Salt Lake's not a major market, but there's a Whole Foods here. Is that an indicator of something?" he joked.
While the initial conversation was to see if Farnsworth knew anyone who could set up a show here, he said he happily accepted responsibility for it.
He will be performing, as will local comics Jason Harvey and Natasha Mower. The band Pig-Eon will be playing in between sets and after the show as well.
Though Trump was the inspiration for "What A Joke," he won't be the sole subject of it, Farnsworth said, just in case a couple hours of nonstop political talk isn't your idea of a good time.
"This isn't a Trump-bashing thing," he said. "… Honestly, most of the comics that I know are pretty autobiographical. I believe all comedy is political, but no, it's not gonna be 'A Night of Jokes with Bill Maher.' The idea is just to get your mind off of things."
Should you not want to altogether, though, he added that there will be a swag table set up that will include a spot for patrons to make additional donations (cash or check only) to go to the ACLU's national headquarters.
"The idea is just to kinda get people connected on Inauguration Day, and have like-minded people maybe hold each other's hands while the bomb drops, so to speak," Farnsworth said.
Twitter: @esotericwalden —
"What A Joke" comedy fest
A coordinated comedy effort will take place in 32 cities across the U.S. and U.K. over Inauguration Day weekend, with all proceeds from ticket sales being donated to the ACLU.
When • Friday, Jan. 20, 8 p.m.
Where • The State Room, 638 S. State St., Salt Lake City
Tickets • $25; Ticketfly