Updated: A&O to feature comedian Adam DeVine as spring speaker

Comedian Adam DeVine will perform April 8 as A&O Productions’ spring speaker. DeVine is known for his roles on the Comedy Central shows “Workaholics” and “Adam DeVine’s House Party.”

Source: A&O Productions

Comedian Adam DeVine will perform April 8 as A&O Productions’ spring speaker. DeVine is known for his roles on the Comedy Central shows “Workaholics” and “Adam DeVine’s House Party.”

Rebecca Savransky, Campus Editor

Next week, Northwestern will have one more workaholic than usual.

Comedian Adam DeVine will perform April 8 at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall as A&O Productions’ spring speaker.

DeVine, a stand-up comedian, actor, writer and producer, is known for his roles as both a creator and actor on the Comedy Central shows “Workaholics” and “Adam DeVine’s House Party.” He was given a Teen Choice Award for his role in the 2012 film “Pitch Perfect.”

A&O chairman Demetrios Cokinos said the organization’s poll results and other data showed there was a large following of “Workaholics” on campus, making DeVine a clear choice through the process.

“He is one of the most loved characters on the show so we thought that when he came up, he’d be a good pick,” the Communication senior said.

The event will open with performances from Communication senior Mike Schultz and Communication junior Alex Heller, followed by comedian Adam Ray. A&O spokeswoman Rosalind Mowitt said the members of the organization’s speakers committee attend several events on campus to find student openers who will engage the crowd and keep energy high leading up to the main performance.

“Heller and Schultz are both really talented stand-up comedians,” said Mowitt, a Weinberg senior. “Heller is someone we’ve had our eye on for a while. She has a really great routine and then Schultz was also just an excellent candidate.”

Mowitt said she was looking forward to featuring a comedian as the main performer for the event this year, noting it was important to vary the type of performers A&O uses in their lineup each year. DeVine’s main routine will be stand-up comedy.

“We traditionally, for our speakers do a blend between doing something like a Q-and-A like we did with Franco or doing a stand up show and we just really wanted to do that,” she said about the organization’s winter speaker. “So in addition to him being recognizable from his work in ‘Workaholics’ and ‘Pitch Perfect,’ he’s also a pretty talented stand-up comedian.”

Last year’s scheduled spring speaker, Nick Swardson, was canceled due to a death in the comedian’s family.

Cokinos said he is looking forward to the event and is excited about the group’s success in bringing speakers to campus that had demonstrated student support.

“Whenever we can get who students want, thats always just makes us happy,” he said. “Coming back to campus, we’re only a week in and we just kind of get to kick off the quarter with a laugh.”

DeVine has performed stand-up at several events, including the Montreal Just for Laughs Comedy Festival. He has also had roles in “Community,” “Arrested Development” and “Samantha Who?” He is currently starring in the fourth season of “Workaholics” and performing on the ABC sitcom “Modern Family.”

Tickets for the show will go on sale Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. on the Norris Box Office website.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @BeccaSavransky