The Words, November 2016

Minnesota Tonight Takes on the 2016 Election

By Liz Hallgren ‘17

In anticipation of Minnesota Tonight’s Election Night Party at the Brave New Workshop, the oldest comedy theater in the U.S., The Words is taking a closer look at this “news comedy show focused on local events and issues” run by executive producer and Mac English alumnus Jonathan Gershberg ‘13. Gershberg is not the only Mac English veteran on the team (he was a minor in his day); Lara Avery ‘10 also writes for the show. MN Tonight is both a hilarious comedy show and an exciting representation of the diverse career paths Mac English alumni take. For this edition of The Words, I had the chance to sit down with Gershberg and delve into life post-Mac, and how MN Tonight plans to tackle the monster of an election facing voters in a few days.

When asked about how his Mac experience played a role in his trajectory to MN Tonight, Gershberg pointed to professors Dianna Shandy and Marlon James as key mentors. Each supported the comedic voice of his writing, and urged him to follow “what feels urgent,” encouraging him to expand his stand-up repertoire to politics. Gershberg sees MN Tonight as a reflection of his best Macalester instincts, helping him to combine the local with the global in his comedic analysis of issues – while still getting to act like his “true 14 year-old self.”

MN Tonight uses comedy to keep people informed about important issues, and aims to make Minnesota a “more equitable, just, sustainable and fun place to live.” Gershberg sees shows like Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, The Daily Show and Saturday Night Live, as inspirations, and follows their model of mixing strong research with comedy to inspire audiences to make informed decisions.

Taped at the Minneapolis Telecommunications Network in Northeast Minneapolis, MN Tonight welcomes live audiences for their bi-weekly performances. On November 8th, MN Tonight will host an Election Night Party in front of a live studio audience. Masterminded by Lara Avery, the Election Night Party will include improv games, monologues, sketches, and updates on election results (to be presented comedically, of course) until the election is called. After a quick pause to watch the acceptance/concession speeches, the party will continue until they are “kicked out of the space.”

The MN Tonight team sees comedy as a useful tool to approach the “disheartening and stressful” events of this charged election. By emphasizing local politics, MN Tonight takes the pressure off of the national election. The team plans to refocus any negative energy coming out of the election to state-level politics, which they see as the most important political platform. 

No matter who wins the election, MN Tonight has put in extensive time and effort to be sure that even if the results aren’t ideal, everyone, Republicans and Democrats alike, will still have fun on election night. MN Tonight is ready to take on 2016’s election, poking fun at both candidates, and our political system, with “lots of Iowa jokes” in the process. If you’re looking for a light-hearted way to spend election night, buy your tickets in the link below, and head on over to the Brave New Workshop next Tuesday night!

Buy your tickets here for a night of fun-filled comedy and politics.