David Harris, a nationally touring, Midwest Emmy Award-winning comedian, is headlining the Comedy Night Fundraiser for Bet Shalom on Nov. 9 at the Hopkins Center for the Arts. He will be joined on stage by Linda Aarons and Rick Logan, both local comedians.
Known for focusing on relatable experiences in his acts – namely family dynamics – Harris has entertained audiences for over 20 years as a comedian. With more than 2,000 live performances, he’s a seasoned performer whose credits include appearances at the New York Comedy Club and Rick Bronson’s House of Comedy at the Mall of America.
A native to Minnesota, Harris frequents stages across the city. “[Minneapolis] has a really good scene, and a lot of people running these rooms make it a great place in the country to come up as a stand-up comedian,” he said.
“I love getting the crowd involved, making each performance unique,” he said, reflecting on the connection he feels with his home-state audiences.
Harris originally began his career as a magician before transitioning to stand-up in 2008. He noted of the transition – “Magic gave me a safety net; you have tricks to fall back on. With comedy, it’s just you,” he said. “It felt more naked…because it really is. It’s a whole different thing.”
“Actually, I had been doing magic as a kid. I was always an entertainer.”
Despite the challenges, Harris embraced comedy’s vulnerability.“I bombed like a lot of people do when they start,” he said; however, Harris also noted the small victories: “someone was like, ‘Oh, you have really good timing,’ and that saved me,” he said.
“You can either compliment that person or blame them once you see me,” he said with a laugh.
For Harris, comedy is drawn directly from his own life experiences, touching on themes that resonate with a broad audience.
“I try to pull from what’s real…relationships, family, work, and all those little things in life that everyone can relate to,” he said.
Harris aims to balance vulnerability with humor in his shows. “I want it to be fun for the crowd…but I think that’s what we all connect with…the stuff that is more raw, you know?” he said.
Harris believes that comedy, at its best, brings audiences together by reflecting on the common struggles and joys people face.
“I think the universal is in the specific, and the specific is in the universal,” he said. For him, digging into his own story allows him to connect more deeply with his audience, letting them see themselves in his jokes.
Harris looks forward to supporting Bet Shalom as the headlining act for their fundraiser, and encourages all to join for a relaxed night of comedy.
“It’s just a comedy night out, a chance to relax, have some drinks, and enjoy the show,” he said. “Rick Logan and Linda Aarons are both veteran performers… they’re so good. It’ll be fun to see different styles of comedy that you’ll get to enjoy.
“I think the audience will connect with what we’re talking about. We all need to laugh here. There’s so much heaviness right now, and so it feels good to kind of have a release.”
Tickets are available for the event online.
