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Comedians from rival cities will share stage
By GUY D’ASTOLFO
YOUNGSTOWN
The rivalry between Pittsburgh and Cleveland is no laughing matter.
But for one night, it will be just that.
A quartet of comedians – two of the best from each – will take turns with the microphone at 7 p.m. Thursday at Crossroads Comedy Rivalry at Ford Family Recital Hall, 260 W. Federal St., downtown Youngstown.
The special event will feature Pittsburgh’s Aaron Kleiber and Mike Wysocki and Cleveland’s Mike Paramore and Bill Squire.
Unlike on the football field, there won’t be any losers. But there will be a winner, because the good-natured event will raise funds for Meridian HealthCare.
Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at MeridianHealthCare.net or by calling 330-259-8604.
Proceeds from the show will go toward the addiction- prevention education and treatment/recovery programs at Meridian.
While the comedians could take some potshots, the truth is Clevelanders and Pittsburghers have far more in common than they have differences. And while Youngstown splits its sports allegiances between the two cities, folks here will find common ground with the comedians. Each has played Youngstown-area clubs multiple times over the years.
Paramore has a special link to the city; his parents grew up in Youngstown and went to old Rayen High School.
You can tell he knows what he’s talking about. In a phone interview, Paramore enunciated when he called THE Rayen School by its formal name.
Paramore said he’s glad to be involved in the Rivalry show, but he doesn’t harbor any ill will against the Steel City.
“I always liked Pittsburgh,” he said. “Pittsburgh and Cleveland are pretty much the same people.”
The four comedians are actually friends and colleagues.
“I really like Cleveland,” said Kleiber. “Hilarities comedy club [in Cleveland] is one of my favorites in the country.”
Kleiber said he’s much more of a hockey fan than a football fan, so don’t expect him to go there. “Mike Wysocki does a lot of sports humor,” he said. “I’ll leave that to him.”
Still, he didn’t pause before he tossed out a zinger or two.
“What could they say, anyway? You must be weak from carrying around all those trophies?”
Kleiber also took issue with a banner he recently saw in Cleveland.
“It said ‘City of Champions.’ I said, ‘Hey – that word shouldn’t be plural. You need more than one.’”
Like all comedians, Kleiber’s best material comes from what he knows best.
“I have three kids, and there is nothing else I do in life,” he said. “If I’m not on stage, I’m with my wife and kids.”
His kids have proven to be a comedy gold mine that resonates with just about everybody.
“When I had my third child, I said, ‘Yay, 18 more years of material’,” he said.