I am Morgan’s School Project
Morgan took some time out of her busy 10 year old schedule to interview me for a school report. Here it is…
Interview With Alysia Wood
By: Morgan
Alysia Wood moved from Louisiana to Los Angeles, California. There she was found by Budd Friedman, founder of the Improv chain, who said she was “America’s Next Funniest Comedian”. To prove the title she was a finalist in many comedy competitions, including California’s Funniest Female Competition. Also, college audiences agree that “Wood can turn almost anything into a joke.”
1)Who or what inspired you to be a comedian?
I’ve been a fan of comedy for as long as I can remember. When I was a kid, I tried to stay awake to watch the comedians on the late night shows (sometimes I fell asleep and if so, I was mad that I missed the comedian). I didn’t always understand the jokes, but I knew that I wanted to make people laugh the way comedians did.
2)How do you feel when you are up on-stage?
For me, being on stage is the greatest feeling. I am very comfortable on stage. I share my imagination with the audience. If I do my job correctly, we can go anywhere and feel anything together.
3) How would you re-gain your confidence if an audience was silent?
In the beginning, a silent audience was problematic for me. I thought silence meant that they hated my guts or I wasn’t doing a good job. Well, it turns out, that’s not true! When they are silent, they are listening which isn’t a bad thing. That’s a good thing! So now I am very comfortable with silence. I don’t lose my confidence any more. I have learned that the audience follows your lead. As the leader, if you look nervous, then they are nervous for you (maybe even MORE nervous than you are). So the big trick is to LOOK confident (no matter what) and then they will be confident in you.
4) When did you decide that comedy was your passion?
The first time I got on stage, I decided comedy was my passion. I got one laugh and I knew I felt better about that then anything else I’d ever done before (and I did a lot of things!).
5)How does it make you feel when the audience roars with unstoppable laughter?
When the audience roars with unstoppable laughter, it is the best feeling in the world – THE BEST! I try to keep a straight face so that the audience doesn’t know how much I enjoy it, but sometimes they make me laugh, too.
6)If you could be any Muppets character who would you be?
Fozzy.
7) Why?
I really like Animal. I have been compared to him before. However, if I could be a muppet character, I wouldn’t want to be the drummer, I would want to be the comedian, like Fozzy!
8) If you could go anywhere to preform live where would you go?
AUSTRALIA!
9) Why there specifically?
I’ve never been to Australia, but I never met an Australian that I didn’t like. Rumor has it that Australia has a wonderful, fun comedy scene and I want to see it! Plus, I’ve never been off of our continent and I have a passport book that needs stamps!
10) How would you like your life to be different in 10 years?
In 10 years, I would like to be performing in big, big theaters with every seat in the house taken. THAT would be awesome!
