Get schooled in comedy
Tillamook Education Foundation holds comedy night this Saturday
By Chelsea Yarnell
For the TODAY
What school building has the most stories? The library.
Which instructor always has the correct answer? The English teacher — because they’re always write.
There might not actually be any school-related puns at this stand-up comedy show, but it will benefit the education of others.
The Tillamook Education Foundation will host its Comedy Night fund-raiser on Saturday, Jan. 10, featuring Portland comedians Adam Pasi and Joe Dimeo. The evening begins with a reception, heavy appetizers and social time from 5 to 6:30 pm at Pacific Restaurant.
“The Tillamook Education Foundation is a way for our community to help support local Tillamook schools, in a variety of ways,” Board Member Brett Hurliman said. “The Foundation tries to help pay for unexpected expenses that are typically not budgeted for in the grand scheme of things.”
Past projects funded by the foundation include new curtains for the Tillamook High School auditorium and seed money to begin a new robotics club.
“We’ll have some of the projects we are looking to fund this year at the reception, so if you feel moved you can donate directly to that specific program to make sure it gets funded,” Hurliman said. “Each year we reach out to all of our schools and try to find wish lists that teachers have for their classrooms, but just don’t have available money to support. This also gives us real time feedback as to what sort of programs our community wants us to fund.”
After the reception, the comedy show will begin at 7 pm right down the block at the Coliseum Theater.
“The Coliseum Theater is one of the best venues, acoustically, that you are going to find around here,” Hurliman said. “The comics love performing there. For the acts themselves, we work with the former owner of Harvey’s Comedy Club. COVID caused their physical location to close, but it was a staple of Northwest comedy for years before that. When it closed, the comics started looking for new venues to perform in, so it was natural to connect with them. These are some of the funniest comics you are ever going to see, and you can see them without having to drive over Highway 6.”
Pasi is a Portland comic who is quickly becoming among the most recognized names in Northwestern comedy. Born in Tacoma, Washington, and raised on army bases on the East Coast and in Germany, his unique outlook on life allows him to craft absurd yet relatable stories, culminating in admittedly ridiculous calls to arms. He has appeared on the IFC show “Portlandia” and has performed on the Limestone, Wenatchee and Bridgetown comedy festivals.
He is a regular host at Helium Comedy Club, as well as a co-host of the bi-monthly comedy game show “Funny Humans vs. The Wheel.” Frequently intense, but never taking himself too seriously, Pasi encourages all who’ll listen to join him in his mostly imaginary, but always amusing crusade against...well, something.
Dimeo is a 10-year comic and small business owner. He headlines shows around Portland and works extensively with Harvey’s Comedy Club.
“I know what laughter did for me in rehab,” he said. “I know how much it helped me and the guys around me when we could crack a joke and feel a little lighter, even just for a moment.”
“This is going to be a great event,” Hurliman said. “You get the chance to go out and catch a couple of national-caliber comedians without having to leave town, and you get to support our schools while having a great time. That’s a real win/win.”
All funds raised from the evening will be used to provide enhanced educational experiences for students from grant requests received from staff within Tillamook School District. Funds will also contribute to the senior scholarship fund.
Saturday's reception begins at 5 pm at Pacific Restaurant, located at 205 Main Avenue in Tillamook and the Comedy Show begins at 7 pm at the Coliseum Theater, located 310 Main Avenue. Tickets for the event are $52 per person and include the reception. For more information and tickets, go to tillamook-education-foundation.square.site.