Seattle Comedy Club Guide

The Quick and Easy on Diana Hassenger

Who: Up-and-coming comic Diana Hassenger
What: She wants to turn a previous weekend hobby into a full-time career: making you laugh.
Where: Open mics around the city and the wonderful wide web.
When: Sporadically throughout the week; her MySpace page is currently under works but will soon show upcoming events.
Why: Because Seattle's comedy scene and Diana's comedy career are growing together. And, she's really friggin' funny.

Funny girl Diana Hassenger invited me to her charming abode, a beautifully decorated apartment where classic and sophisticated meets bohemian artist, to discuss why Seattle is a great place for an aspiring comedian to test material and hone her craft. Its venues are plentiful, its audience kind. Over fits of giggles and grunts (Hassenger’s three tiny orphan-turned-pet dogs tried, albeit unsuccessfully, to steal the spotlight), the budding comedian divulged her plan of stalking the Seattle stage to sharpen her shtick and conquer the world. Though, she’d settle for headlining a big show. Or, being recognized at her local grocery store.  

After exploring a knack for timing and delivery via comedic theater at her Scottsdale, Arizona high school, Hassenger shifted to improv to round out her college years. While moving around the country she took her quick wit with her and landed upon Seattle’s Unexpected Productions, a group akin to Chicago’s famed The Second City. Of the experience Hassenger says, “I took classes from there and I also performed in a play. They do Theatresports which is very, very funny…but um, the ex-boyfriend thing, wink, wink, nudge, nudge. So…”

Regardless of whether a scorned lover truly prompted the (at least temporary) end of her improv stint, Hassenger switched gears once again and started dabbling in stand-up. It was a passage made easy thanks to the guidance of Stu Stuart and his widely recognized course, “Beginning Stand-Up Comedy” at the ASUW Experimental College. Hassenger says, “[The class] was great because it was like pulling off the band-aid. It was very short…and [Stu] gets you through that awkward stage fright of, ‘What do you do with a microphone? How do you transition into the next joke?’”

The course was also invaluable in the feedback she received from classmates, other promising humorists that Hassenger now runs into while working the open mic circuit, company that she claims “is supportive” and among which she’s “never felt any competition.” When mentioning the names of established groups like People’s Republic of Komedy (a local crew that performs sketch comedy shows interlaced with invited stand-up comics), she reveals her plan of prevalence. “Another goal of mine is that once they see me often enough they’ll invite me to partake in some of the shows that they produce.”

One way Hassenger plans on making her face more recognized is by putting it on every stage possible, including the theoretical theater of cyberspace. “I’m part of a sketch comedy troupe as well called Def Tourettes and we had a fantastic sketch for The Stranger’s ‘Gong Show’ at Chop Suey. So with that I’m looking at other venues to help promote my comedic career and we’ll see what happens.” Watch we shall; the group’s skits should be splitting sides of YouTube viewers very soon.   

It is through these channels: stand-up and sketch writing and performing that Hassenger hopes to experiment with material and define herself as a comedic artist. She says, “I’m trying to find my own voice and my own persona and make it really me, Diana Hassenger, Esquire.” I sincerely suggest that you too take advantage of the city’s emergent scene and see for yourself just whom that talented individual is.

Seattle Comedy Club Guide
From stand-up to improv to sketch comedy to random acts of hilarity in the park, Seattle wants to make you laugh. Although there are mainstay venues whose stages have been graced by some of the world’s best comedians, even pizza joints and billiard halls are turning into impromptu comedy clubs. Whether you want to live out your comedic dreams at open mic or prefer to chuckle from the comforts of your seat, Seattle is a great place to tickle your funny bone.