DeVito hopes he is starting drive to top of comedy heap

"Comic Capers"
By RODNEY BENGSTON

July 12, 2001

Sometimes you get a phone call and it means you're going on a 700-mile road trip.

That's the case when you're just beginning as a road comic trying to work up the comedy club ladder.

Ray DeVito got the call just before the Fourth of July. So he threw a suitcase in the car and headed down to Birmingham, Ala. to perform at the Stardome.

"It's the Taj Mahal of comedy clubs," Devito says of the entertainment complex, which can seat 460 people in its main room.

The Lakewood resident says his show could not have gone better.

"Those people are there to laugh. As long as you're funny, you're going to rock the house."

Although it was a long drive for a one-night gig, DeVito feels it was well worth it. "I got a great (video) tape out of the show."

A big part of his presentation, DeVito adds, is talking about his Italian background.

"No one prays more than old Italian folks, but notice they never pray to God, just the saints, because they figure if they die and make it to heaven they want to make sure they've got connections. It makes sense because St. Peter meets you at the gate, so you don't need to be in with God, just take care of the guy who's working the door."

DeVito also laments the fact that he had to wear so many hand-me-downs growing up — from his sisters. "It's hard to look cool when you're wearing shirts that say 'Ricky Schroeder is a hunk' or 'Nobody is more foxy than Chachi.' "

Second City improv training also has helped his stand-up act, DeVito says.

"I physically act out most of my jokes as I say them. I find that being animated makes it easier to keep the crowd's attention."

So far, DeVito, 26, is enjoying life on the road.

"I've been everywhere. I've been to New Mexico, a few times to Florida, Colorado, Iowa. I've seen this whole country, but the funny thing is that a lot of it's the same. Every place has MTV, CNN, a Blockbuster (Video) and there's a Starbucks on the corner."

Many comics have tales of awful gigs, but DeVito says he's been lucky so far. "Sometimes, though, I'll have to ask people, 'What's the name of this city again?' And, 'What day of the week is it?' They think you're joking, but often I'm serious, a lot of times the days and cities just blend together."

He may not be able to keep the days straight, but people can stay up to date on his activities on his Web site www.italianfreak.com.

"Don't let the name scare you," he says. "It's G-rated stuff."

DeVito figures the next step for him is to try and get into the lucrative college market within the next year. "I've got some leads on agents in New York City, so I would not be going there cold turkey."

But, for now, DeVito is concentrating on his act, and performing throughout the country has made him appreciate the Buckeye state even more.

"Ohio is awesome for comedy," he says.

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ON STAGE: Gary Owen headlines through Sunday at Cleveland Improv, with George Kanter and David Beck also on the bill.

Greg Ray tops the bill at Hilarities through Saturday with Two Sick Tickets as the feature act.

Rodney Bengston, an editor in Sun Newspapers' Metro office, covers northeastern Ohio's comedy scene.