Verge Theater will host a special one-off night of stand-up with Aaron Foster’s “Mostly Jokes” on Friday, September 19th. The event begins at 8pm.
Tackling highly personal topics like his own mental health (or lack thereof), his success as an actor (or lack thereof), and his ongoing mid-life crises (no lack thereof), dark, honest comedy is how Foster copes with the madness of our world as he tours the country winning best-in-show awards at Fringe Festivals.
Speaking on his career, Foster says “I’ve opened for Erica Rhodes, Marcella Arguello, Heather Pasternak, Adam Ferrara, Matt Knudsen, Vargus Mason and others. (Also, by ‘opened’ I mean I’ve gone on in before them in shows, not that they had any idea who I was or asked me to open for them. Then again, if that’s the criteria I’m using to try to make myself sound more accomplished than I am, I also technically “opened” for Robin Williams and Dana Carvey back in 2009. Yes, really. Long story.)
“My favorites and biggest inspirations are Marc Maron, Mike Birbiglia, Maria Bamford, Tig Notaro, Gary Gulman, Taylor Tomlinson and Neal Brennan. Their vulnerability, honesty and humor has, I won’t say saved my life, but I won’t not say it, either. They, and many other comics, have made me feel less alone in the world. And while it’s a borderline absurd thing to say, especially as a 52-year-old guy who got a late start, my hope is that someday I can do for someone what these comics did, and continue to do, for me.
“My comedic style has been described as dry and dark. I don’t know if that’s true and I can honestly say, as long as it’s funny, I don’t really care. I do sometimes talk about some dark topics that are very personal to me. Things like my own struggles with depression and anxiety are regular topics in my sets, and on special occasions, I’ll go a lot darker than that. Again, hopefully it’s still funny.”
Doors open at 7pm. Show runtime is 80 minutes with no intermission. Find ticketing access and more information at www.vergetheater.com. •
