Top comedian returns home to Tampa to perform

Ranked as one of the 50 greatest stand-up comedians by shareranks.com, Tampa native Steven Lolli is bringing his High Class Poverty comedy tour to the Carrollwood Cultural Center September 18 at 8 p.m. Hand-picked by Lolli, up-and-coming comedians Tyler Horvath and Tarik Lewis, also locals, will open and emcee the two-hour show in the heart of Carrollwood.

Lolli, a graduate of Gaither High School, moved to Los Angeles in search of comedic success and began earning his underground status as the only Jewish comedian in black comedy clubs in south L.A. in early 2002.  His brand of comedy is described on his website as “controversial,” “dirty,” “foul-mouthed” and “sexual” and has garnered acclaim by some of the most important faces in comedy today, collaborating with the likes of Katt Williams and headlining for an awards benefit honoring Lily Tomlin, Jane Lynch and the President of HBO. Lolli’s video “Yoga Ho” may give you some insight into his sense of humor.

Steven Lolli is “a bit of a grittier comic, a little bit edgier than what we typically have programmed,” says Adrienne Hutelmyer, Marketing & Community Relations Director at the Carrollwood Cultural Center, which hosted him successfully last year as well. She notes that the Center offers “something for everyone -- audiences like to go to a comedy show. They are very loyal and laughing is good for everybody.” 

Hutelmyer says the Cultural Center has been offering different kinds of comedy shows for over four years, which has proven popular. Girls Night Out is next on their comedic agenda featuring comedians Catherine Maloney, Traci “The Princess of Parodies” Kanaan and Aniria. 

For more information or tickets for the shows, follow this link.
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Read more articles by Kendra Langlie.

Kendra Langlie is a freelance writer and communications consultant for regional and global businesses. Though she has always been passionate about arts and culture, she spent many years in the tech and B2B corporate worlds both in the U.S. and abroad. With a degree in Economics and International Relations from The American University in Washington, DC, she considers politics her favorite sport and follows it avidly with as much humor as she can muster. Based in the Carrollwood neighborhood of Tampa, Kendra is a mother and wife, a news junkie, and lover of all things creative.