Ray DeVito is hoping to see lots of familiar faces when he performs July 30 at the Winchester in Lakewood.Ray DeVito may come back often to Lakewood to visit family and friends, but this time there is a show involved, too.
DeVito is set to perform at 9 p.m. July 30 at the Winchester Music Hall, 12112 Madison Ave., Lakewood, (216) 226-5681. Tickets are $10. Chad Zumock and Dan Birt also are on the bill.
He describes himself as “an everyday dude. Somebody who is simple and smart. Does that make sense?”
DeVito has spent the last several years based in New York City. He returned home for a time when his mother was diagnosed with cancer to spend time with her before she passed away.
Although DeVito still works comedy clubs he appreciates the freedom you can have at an independent venue like the Winchester.
“In New York City, if you’re at a club you’re expected to make fun of the tourists on Times Square.”
Here is his take on
The independent and alternative rooms give a performer more chances to experiment, he adds. “You can take more chances. People want you to be different. I can do a joke about (former) President Taft.”
Besides his stand-up act, DeVito regularly made short, funny videos for Asylum.com. That gig ended in January. “That means that I’ll be hitting the road more because I don’t have that income,” DeVito says.
Some people also know DeVito from his appearances on the podcast “Keith and the Girl.” He was surprised to find that people knew him from that when he was in Glasgow, Scotland.
He also is a co-producer of SACAPUNTAS!, New York City’s only private comedy laboratory in which brand-name funny people take the stage to test, sharpen and perfect new material. They have one comedian, one storyteller, one TV writer and one secret guest at each monthly show. Among the performers have been Kristen Schaal, Marc Maron and Tom Shillue.
DeVito hopes the next step for him is to keep increasing his following. “I want to get to the point where people are coming out to specifically see me, instead of just to see a comic.”
When asked about comedian who he is a fan of DeVito says he has “tons” of favorites. “There’s Bill Hicks, Todd Barry, Ted Alexandro, and from Cleveland Mike Polk — that guy does some amazing stuff.”
DeVito has many memories of performing in Cleveland, but one in particular stands out when he was hosting at the Cleveland Improv.
“This is insulting and cool at the same time. I had given my comedy CD to (radio personality) Maxwell and he played a clip of it on his show. It was about the crazy guy with the day planner. After the show this guy came up and told me to do my own jokes and not ones from the radio. I got accused of stealing my own joke.”
To anyone trying to forge a comedy career, DeVito’s advice is simple: “Do what you think is funny.”
Rodney Bengston covers Northeast Ohio's comedy scene. Contact him at [email protected].
See past columns at cleveland.com/comic-capers.