Emmy-winning comedian John Mulaney will participate in a question and answer format
appearance with a Ferris State University audience of students, faculty, staff, and
alumni Thursday, Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. The event is a final element of Ferris' Homecoming
celebration.Opportunity, arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, is a rare occurrence. Accordingly, Ferris State University alumni can join students, faculty and staff in enjoying a virtual question-and-answer event at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, with Emmy-Award winning comedian John Mulaney, as part of the university’s Homecoming 2020 schedule.
Lane Steffke, a fifth-year student from Beal City in the Music and Entertainment Business program, is Student Homecoming Committee President and coordinator for the event, organized by the Center for Leadership, Activities and Career Services. Steffke said the pandemic’s impact on the entertainment industry was a benefit in the agreement with Mulaney.
“We are very excited to have an Emmy winner joining us, someone with his credentials, which includes Netflix specials and major talk show stand-up appearances, so he’s a great fit for a college-age audience,” Steffke said. “By deciding to pursue a virtual presentation, rather than a Williams Auditorium appearance with a limited on-site audience meant we could manage to secure someone of John’s stature, which will be fantastic for us.”
Steffke said once they decided to go with a virtual presentation, their third party vendor, Fan FX received their contract, which will provide unique amenities to a Ferris-based audience.
“We will be offering a moderated question-and-answer format, which will allow those who RSVP and sign up to access a portal and offer their questions before the event,” Steffke said.
The tradition of a Ferris student serving as a warm-up comedian continues in 2020 as Steffke said all prospects are welcome to participate in a competition scheduled for 7 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25.
“There’s a form we ask that they complete, so we can prepare our roster of participants for a show in the North Quad that evening,” Steffke said. “All interested students are invited to give this a try, as Entertainment Unlimited will have a panel of judges from the campus who will decide on the warm-up act, that evening.”
Further information on the Fan FX registration mechanism for students, faculty and staff, and Ferris alumni, will go public in advance of Mulaney’s appearance.
“We should have a great time that evening since this is a free event with a very notable comedian,” Steffke said. “Our EU board and CLACS staff are looking forward to this more personalized experience being offered this year.”