St. Louis Funny Bone

August 24 – 29: John Roy @The St.Louis Funny Bone!

Wednesday: 8:00
Thursday: 8:00
Friday : 8:00 & 10:30
Saturday: 7:00 & 10:00 & 12:00
Sunday: 7:30

St. Louis Funny Bone
614 Westport Plaza Dr.
Maryland Heights, MO, 63146
(314)469-6692

Chicago comic John Roy is a unique voice on modern urban life.

A city dweller all his life, John grew up in Chicago’s ethnically diverse Rogers Park neighborhood, the son of an ex Jesuit who worked for Chicago’s urban Loyola University, and a psychotherapist. Growing up white and Catholic in a neighborhood full of African Americans, Orthodox Jews, Nigerians, Mexicans, Indians, Pakistanis, and every ethnic and religious group imaginable gave John a unique perspective on getting along in a crowded world. John’s life saving heart surgery and altruistic parents gave him an appreciation of the importance of comedy as a means to social change. Chicago’s rich cultural heritage, economic differences, and fast paced lifestyle contributed to his observations on how we get by in a changing world.

John began his professional career at the famous Zanies Comedy Club on Wells St. in Chicago’s Old Town. He went on to tour the country’s best clubs, including the Laugh Stop in Houston, and the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles, where John became a regular perfomer in 2002. In 2003, he appeared on the CBS television show, “Star Search,” and was its first champion, earning 100,000 dollars and a development deal with CBS.

A move to Los Angeles traded one city for another, and John began to soak in the new cultures, lifestyles, and history of his new home and examine them in his comedy.

In 2003, John performed at the NACA Central convention and was the most requested act in any category. In 2004, John appeared in the prestigious US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, as a square on “Hollywood Squares,” and on HBO. John has appeared many times on the nationally syndicated “Bob and Tom” radio program, available in over 200 markets. John is a regular performer at the Comedy and Magic Club in Hermosa Beach, the prestigious “Comedy Death Ray” show at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theater in Los Angeles, and the Hollywood Improv.

John appeared on Comedy Central’s “Premium Blend” in the 2005-2006 season, and a November 2005 episode of CBS’ “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.” In 2006, John contributed an essay to CollegeHumor.com that was collected in their nationally released book. John appeared in several episodes of NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” where he advanced to the semifinals of the reality show/ competition.

In 2007, John made an unprecedented four appearances in two months on the nationally syndicated TV show, “Comics Unleashed.” His CD, “1246 W. Arthur,” was released, featuring John headlining at his home club of Zanies in Chicago. He became a regular performer at the Comic Strip in New York City, and made his second appearance on “Craig Ferguson.”

In January, 2008 John made his debut performance on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” He also had the honor of performing for the World Bank in Washington, D.C. In May, he received a deal from RBC Records to record his nationally distributed CD, “Dressed for Recess,” available in stores and on ITunes August 5. John also appeared on Fox News’ “The Red Eye,” and VH-1′s “100 Greatest Rock Songs of All Time.” He also appeared on TBS as part of their “Bitcoms” promotion.

In 2009, John will perform for a second time on “The Tonight Show,” and continue his regular appearances on “The Red Eye.”

John was invited to the prestigious Just For Laughs Festival in Chicago in June of 2009, where he taped a performance for TBS’ new show, “Very Funny.”

John is managed by Dave Rath at Generate.
Dave@genereatela.com

John’s TV appearances, touring schedule, and his column, “Unmiked,” can be viewed on his website, www.johnroylive.com