SNL writer at Clayton tonight

Feeling a bit stressed and need a little laughter in your life? Clayton State Theater presents An Evening with Mark Podojil, former writer for “Saturday Night Live” and current stand up comedian, on Wednesday, Mar. 16, at 8 p.m. in the Arts & Sciences Theater (room 132, Arts & Sciences Building). This event is free and open to the public.

“A look inside the mind of this comic genius will prove enlightening and enlivening for anyone who hears this interview,” says Clayton State Theater Director Phillip DePoy, who will interview Podojil in a style similar to cable television’s “Inside the Actors Studio.” “He’s got the Soul of Funny.”

But the man with the Soul of Funny wasn’t always in the comedy business. Originally a student at the University of Georgia studying classical guitar and geology - not exactly courses that lead to a life of comedy - Podojil came into his own when he joined Dad’s Garage, an improv theatre near Little Five Points, in 1998. After working with comedy groups and going it solo for a while, Podojil started his own humor magazine, “The Rag” (www.TheRag.com), in 2001.

Then, in 2001and 2002, Podojil lived the comedic writer’s dream when he worked for the popular late night television show “Saturday Night Live” as a joke writer for the show’s Weekend Update segment. DePoy feels that Podojil’s “Saturday Night Live” experience along with his current job as a comedian with the sketch comedy group Waking the Neighbors, will make for some interesting interview questions, especially when it comes to Clayton State students who hope to make it big in improv.

“Many of our theatre students want to write comedy or participate in improv comedy, and Mark’s a veteran at both,” says DePoy. “He can speak to them with the voice of authority. Which, in his case, sounds oddly like Daffy Duck - but still authoritative.”

When he’s not on the stage performing comedy routines, Podojil works as a contract software programmer and makes time for the novel he’s writing. Born in Cleveland, Podojil currently lives in east Atlanta.

Don’t miss the opportunity to get a glimpse inside the world of improv and comedic writing. For more information, contact DePoy at 770-960-2162 or e-mail phillipdepoy@mail.clayton.edu. For directions to Clayton State, visit www.clayton.edu.