Stand up comedian Sean Donnelly will be performing at Zanies May 5-10th.
Donnelly says he was funny at the dinner table and was greatly influenced by his dad, who was a “funny dude.”
“I was obsessed with stand up comedy as a kid,” Donnelly said. “I saw George Carlin with my dad. As I got older, I got into Brian Regan, Kevin Brennan, and Jim Gaffigan. “ When he was 28 years old, he gave it a go and has stuck with it ever since. His work is self-deprecating and autobiographical yet he finds universal truths that resonate with audiences.
He loves the immediate reaction of stand up comedy and getting to connect with people.
“Getting a laugh is one of the greatest feelings in the world,” Donnelly says. “I also realize I have the ability to affect someone’s day. I’ve had people come up to me after a show and say, ‘Hey, I was having a crappy day before and you made it better.’”
Sean Donnelly. Photo by Mindy Tucker Headshots.
After only doing stand up for nine years Donnelly has a couple greatest achievements so far. He performed on The Late Show with David Letterman.
“When I got started I didn’t even dream that could happen,” he says. With Letterman leaving soon, he was glad to get in.
He had a very memorable experience. The mic set up he wore pulled his tie to the side and no one was able to fix it. He ended up performing with a crooked tie.
“When Letterman came over to thank me for being on the show, he fixed my tie,” he says. “People will see that bit and say, ‘Hey that was kind of weird.’”
He’s performed at the legendary comedy club The Comedy Cellar in New York where he met comedian extraordinaire Louis CK. He got to talk to Louis about comedy and Louis complimented him on one of his jokes.
"He didn’t have to do that," he said. "But it’s incredible when a comic you respect pays you a compliment."
My Dumb Friends Podcast
He advises new comedians to be as objective with themselves, perform as much as possible, every day of the week, and know it’s going to change their life.
“Be down to Earth,” he says. “And never think you’re the funniest you can be.”
Donnelly has many exciting things in the future including touring, more TV appearances, and putting together an album. Donnelly also has a weekly podcast he conducts with his friend, fellow comic Dan St. Germaine, called My Dumb Friends. They convene with comedy friends and talk about “the dumb things they’ve done in their life.”
For more information about Donnelly’s upcoming show at Zanies, visit zanies.com. For more information about Donnelly or his podcast visit seandonnellycomedy.com or follow him on Twitter at @seanytime
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