Nick Offerman will headline the Student Association’s 15th annual Comedy Series, SA announced Monday.
Offerman, 45, is most well known for his role as Ron Swanson on the NBC comedy series “Parks and Recreation,” which ran from 2009-15. He will perform in Alumni Arena on April 2 at 8 p.m., and the performance is free for all undergraduate students through the mandatory student activity fee of $104.75 a semester. Standup comedian Ahmed Bharoocha will open for Offerman.
“I think it will be a really popular pick with students,” said SA President Minahil Khan. “Nick Offerman is definitely a mainstream comedian and that goes a long way with students to have that name recognition.”
Offerman’s “Parks and Recreation” co-star Aziz Ansari headlined the Comedy Series in 2014, and Khan said Offerman is similar to Ansari in popularity.
Per the contracts, Khan could not disclose the amount SA will pay the performers. Last year’s Comedy Series had an allotted budget of $45,000 for talent and $15,000 for production, although then-president James Ingram said the show cost less than $40,000. The budget for this year’s Comedy Series was not immediately available.
Offerman’s breakout role was Ron Swanson, a character known for his deadpan delivery, masculinity, libertarianism and mustache. Offerman has also appeared in several films, performed standup and music, wrote several books and is a carpenter.
Khan said choosing the performer for the Comedy Series involves UB Athletics providing dates Alumni Arena will be available and then a “game of which comic is available,” but that Offerman was one of SA’s first choices and everything worked out with the scheduling.
SA has been working on the Comedy Series since November and the contract with Offerman was just finalized, hence Monday’s announcement. Khan said it’s important for SA to get the word out earlier this year because it has more seats to fill.
Last year’s Comedy Series, headlined by Jessica Williams of “The Daily Show,” was held in the Center for the Arts, which meant no tickets for the general public. Offerman’s performance in the larger Alumni Arena means free tickets reserved for students and tickets for the general public.
The breakdown of tickets for students and the general public was not immediately available, but Khan said she doesn’t foresee SA running out of tickets for students.
Alumni Arena has a capacity of 6,100.
Khan said tickets will be be available for students sometime closer to the show, as the show is several months away and students could lose their tickets in the meantime.
Tom Dinki is the editor in chief and can be reached at tom.dinki@ubspectrum.com. Follow him on Twitter at @tomdinki.
