LDS comedy group hits Salt Lake City

SALT LAKE CITY — He already went viral. Now, he'll try and do it again, live.

Stephen Jones, best known for his BYU Old Spice parody YouTube hit that notched more than 2.5 million views, joins The Left Field Stand Up Comedy for live performances in Salt Lake City this weekend.

"Look at your weekend, now look at mine, now back at your weekend, now back to mine," says Jones, referencing his popular impersonation in a news release. "Sadly, it's not mine. But if you stopped sitting at home watching YouTube videos and came out to see a live show, it could be like mine."

Founded by Jones and seven other BYU students this past fall, The Left Field Stand Up Comedy is a traveling ensemble of Mormon comedians united over a commitment to perform clean, family-friendly material.

This weekend, the comics will be filmed during their Salt Lake City shows for the group's debut DVD and CD, to be released at a later date.

"We're excited about the DVD," performer James Littlejohn said in a release. "It's more exciting than doing a VHS because I don't think anyone buys those anymore."

Off Property Productions, which produces The Left Field Stand Up Comedy shows, hails the ensemble as the "cleanest stand up comedy club in the world."

Executive producer Tanner Kay said it is not unusual for the group to perform for more than 2,400 people during a typical weekend in Utah County.

"Families love our shows, and all ages have a great time," Kay said.

The Left Field credits its success to avoiding vulgar comedy while maintaining a high comedic standard.

"It's fulfilling because there are not a lot of ways to do comedy in a good, clean way without being dorky," said Bryson Kearl, producer and performer. "But it's uplifting and doesn't resort to crude material."

The Left Field collaborates to write and rehearse performances, although the comedians perform their own acts.

"They are solo performances, but it's a group effort," Kay said. "It's practically a fraternity — we succeed together."

Comics include Jones, Littlejohn, Josh Bolding, Abi Harrison, Kearl, Jefferson Snow, James Archibald and Pete Kern.

The Left Field will perform three shows at Jeanne Wagner Theater in Salt Lake City: Friday, Jan. 14 at 9:30 p.m.; and Saturday, Jan. 15, at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tickets for each show can be purchased at the door or at www.arttix.org where the promo code "BEARS" can be typed in for 20 percent off.

If you go:

What: The Left Field Stand Up Comedy

Where: Jeanne Wagner Theater in the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, 138 West 300 South

When: Jan. 14, 9:30 p.m.; Jan. 15, 7 and 9:30 p.m.

How much: $15

Phone: 801-355-2787

Web: www.arttix.org

e-mail: smoreton@desnews.com