Big Laughs

When Ralphie May was asked to lose weight for the role of “fat guy” at an audition, it had to be a rude awakening. But I would think coming in second to Dat “I’ve proven it’s possible to take Margaret Cho’s act and make it less funny” Phan on NBC’s Last Comic Standing would be a slap in the face from which no comic could ever recover. I was wrong, and Ralphie May has been sailing the comedy club circuit ever since. From The Funnybone in Omaha, Nebraska, to The Funnybone in Richmond, Virginia, May has traveled the country, making stops at The Tonight Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live along the way. The Houston native manages to pull off the white-boy hip-hop routine fairly well, capturing the interest of film producers like the ones at Hat to the Back Productions, who cast May in the 2004 movie GAS. His goals are lofty. As he told Comedyspeak.com, “I could just do the regular dick jokes…but what I’m here for is more than that…to make them think and laugh, that is hard to do.” Ralphie May performs at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, continuing at various times through Sunday at the Addison Improv, 4980 Belt Line Road. Tickets are $17 to $20. Call 972-404-8501 or visit improvclubs.com

Thu., June 22, 8:30 p.m.; Fri., June 23, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m.; Sat., June 24, 7, 9 & 11 p.m.; Sun., June 25, 7:30 p.m.