Ryan, Johnson are hoping to rock house during shows

May 25, 2000

Things could get a bit raucous during the next two weeks at Hilarities in Cuyahoga Falls.

That's because the two headliners — Marc Ryan this week and Chris Johnson next week — are promising high-energy shows.

Some comedians don't like dealing with rowdy crowds, but it's a challenge that these 28-year-olds relish.

"I want it to be like a party," Johnson says.

Ryan feels the same way.

"I see it as a challenge," he says.

Johnson began his career by winning a national amateur contest with Jay Leno. Ryan won an amateur contest while still attending a Baton Rouge, La., high school. His stepmother signed him up for it.

"I thought I was the star that night," Ryan says.

But there were some bumps in the road for both comedians. After his initial foray into comedy, Ryan started performing at open mike nights in Cajun bars. His audiences were "oil rig workers who had been out at sea for two months."

"I quickly became very blue to overcompensate," he says. "When I started out in clubs, they kept telling me how dirty I was."

For Johnson, one of the most unnerving things was having an audience member suffer a heart attack during one of his shows.

"They wanted me to continue, and nobody was paying any attention to what I was doing," he says.

It's easy, too, for Johnson to recall the best time.

"I opened for Weird Al Yankovic in Rockford, Ill. I was the local kid making good, playing in front of 3,000 people. I got a standing ovation. That was a rush."

Ryan also has seen the extremes. When he worked with Rodney Carrington at the Stardome in Alabama, they were playing to crowds of a couple thousand where "they treat you like rock stars." But he's seen the other end of the spectrum.

"The smallest crowd I ever played before was three people," he says. "That's because the guy was paying us, so I had to go on."

Ryan says his act showcases the positive aspects of the South. For example, he says few people know that South Carolina has a BMW plant, or that Mercedes-Benz automobiles are made in Alabama.

When it comes to influences, Ryan doesn't list one of the usual suspects, but Todd Yohn, who has headlined at Hilarities and the Cleveland Improv in the past. He met Yohn as part of a high school assignment.

"I was supposed to do something on what I wanted to do with my future," Ryan says. "I went to our local comedy club and interviewed Todd for an hour and a half. We became friends after that."

For Johnson, it's a big-name guy.

"Jim Carrey probably was a very huge influence on me. A lot of people say that I remind them of him. That's because I'm so physical on stage."

Ryan says his material about relationships usually scores with audiences. Johnson adds that anything about growing up seems to score with people.

"People that are 22-45 really seem to relate to the stuff that I do — things like how every toy has to be so safe now, and when we were growing up they had lawn darts," Johnson says.

Ryan, who was named comedy.com's 1998 Comedian of the Year, says folks can stay updated on his career by visiting www.marcryan.com. Johnson lists a Showtime appearance among his credits.

Both comedians dream of having their own sitcoms one day. Ryan has already made the move to Los Angeles. After his stop at Hilarities, he'll be heading to the Chicago Comedy Festival.

"It's all industry people. A sitcom is my No. 1 goal right now."

Johnson, who has been on the road full time for three years, also dreams of a TV show.

"By age 32, I'd like to be living out in L.A. with a sitcom."

If the sitcom dream doesn't come true, Ryan says he's not too worried.

"I worked 49 weeks last year," he says.

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ON STAGE: Rahn Ramey, who was in "Planes, Trains & Automobiles," headlines through Sunday at the Cleveland Improv. Next week's headliner is Todd Glass, who lists "The Dennis Miller Show" among his credits.

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