Like to laugh? Next Saturday two comedians who graduated from San Ramon Valley High are appearing at the Village Theatre in Danville for “A Night of Stand Up Comedy” to showcase the talents they’ve honed in the last decade.
Tommy Drake, class of ’91, said his jokes are based on what’s interesting in life. “I try to be observant,” he said. “Some things are the same everywhere – relationships between husbands and wives, children and parents, people and cops.”
Andrew Norelli said he writes about things he connects to personally – “something that bothers me, customer service snafus I’ve gotten into, technology that bothers me. I do have a few bits about my childhood, how crazy my family is, a lot about health, physical and mental health.”
“My show is very accessible,” he added. “That’s part of being a good comic – taking anything and being able to convey it and make it funny.”
Drake said in school he was the “drama nerd,” into speech, drama and theater, both performance and writing. He also had a juggling and magic act by the time he was 12 and performed at children’s parties.
Norelli said in high school he thought he was too cool for drama. “I wanted to play sports instead, but in junior high and high school I was so tiny – not even 5 feet tall,” he said. “I didn’t realize I was better suited to drama.”
He said his old teachers might be embarrassed at his comedic success because they discouraged him from being disruptive in class. “I would say nicely timed, funny things – but they were poorly timed, according to the teacher,” he said.
After graduating from high school, Drake headed to New York, where he never missed a chance to perform at open mike nights. “Really the best training is performing comedy, getting on the stage all the time,” he said.
The last 14 years of his life have given him the material he needs to be successful. “Now I’ve been married for 10 years and been on the road for seven or eight,” he said. “Eighteen-year-olds don’t have a whole lot of life experience to share. I was doing jokes about doing my laundry for the first time.”
He returned to California after a year and worked at Paramount’s Great America in Santa Clara doing street theater in the park. There he learned about being a professional: showing up on time, following direction, and how to entertain all kinds of people. He worked in the park for several years, and married Becky, whom he met at his brother’s wedding. After living in California for almost two years, Becky wanted to resume her real estate career in Texas, and Tommy felt he was ready to work anywhere as a performer so they moved to the Woodlands, outside Houston.
Drake appeared in Houston clubs, then started to get out of town work and eventually did some headlining. His manager called in 2003 to see if he could open for Cher on her Farewell Tour. Cher liked what she saw and Drake joined the tour as her opening act in 2003 and 2004 – 125 dates around the country.
“Yes, this changed my life,” he said. “It paid really well.”
He also found himself playing to audiences of up to 15,000, instead of the usual 200 at a comedy club. “If a joke didn’t work, only 2,000-3,000 would laugh,” he recalled. “Even when a joke really bombs, there are a couple hundred laughing.”
Drake just completed a tour of “50 States in 50 Days” with two other comedians. A documentary of the tour will debut at the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal in July.
Norelli headed for college after graduating in 1992 from San Ramon. He earned a degree in sociology from UC Berkeley in 1997, not sure wanted he wanted to do.
“I started doing open mikes and got better and better,” Norelli recalled. “Before I knew it, I was making money at it, and I figured I would try to do it fulltime and have it be my only source of income – I had to make a leap of faith.”
“There’s no substitute for doing it and working hard at it,” he agreed with Drake. “It’s always a constant struggle to make your material better and better. That’s the true challenge.”
Drake comes back several times a year to visit with his family. His parents, Georgia and Basil Drake, still live in Alamo and Georgia owns Evolutions beauty salon. So when Norelli, who still lives in the East Bay, suggested the local comedy show, it sounded like a good idea.
Drake describes his style as “classic.” “I set up the punch line,” he explained. “I have a lot of relationship material.” He noted that Norelli has a contrasting style. “He’s very ‘ranty,’ very smart,” said Drake. “And he makes you feel smart while you listen to him. Half will like me more and half will like him more. It’s a good mix.”
“Our styles reflect our personalities,” said Norelli. “Tommy is more even-keeled, much more laid back. I’m more hyperactive, a little more edgy. Comedy has made us close friends.”
He would like folks to realize the value of a night of standup comedy compared to other entertainment, such as a movie. “The filter system is much stronger in comedy,” he explained. “In the Bay Area, the comedians are topnotch.”
At $16.50, the show next week at the Village Theatre is good value, he added. There’s not even a two-drink minimum.
Local laughs
What: A Night of Stand Up Comedy
Who: Tommy Drake, Andrew Norelli
When: 8 p.m., Saturday, June 25
Where: Village Theatre, 233 Front St., Danville
Tickets: Call 314-3463 or visit villagetheatreshows.com
Cost: $16.50
