Stand-up comedy returns to UltraStar Saturday

Stand-up comedy is a career for road warriors going city to city to work what gigs are available. So when Maricopa comedian David “DT” Trujillo saw an opportunity to bring it home, he jumped at the chance.

That came with the opening of UltraStar Multi-tainment Center.

“The bar manager at the time was saying he was looking for new and different things to bring to the venue,” Trujillo said. “I suggested comedy, and he kind of went with it.”

DT brought in a DVD of his club work, fliers went up and the idea of a comedy show took off.

That was nearly two years ago. The DT Comedy Show, which goes on stage about every quarter, has become a staple. Saturday marks the eighth show DT has emceed at UltraStar.

“The show has established itself as one of our most well received and fun programs of the Center,” UltraStar General Manager Adam Saks said. “The DT Comedy Show makes for a great evening out, bringing Pinal County's premier comedians to the Ak-Chin Indian Community.”

DT has worked several times with Roberto Rodriguez, who was key to putting together Saturday’s show.

“He said, ‘I got a couple of guys who are getting ready to go off on a tour, and if you want to grab them before they take off we can.’ And so I jumped on that opportunity and I got them.”

Those guys include Clayton Perkins, who has toured with Kat Williams, opened for Tony Rock, Eddie Griffin, Bruce Bruce and Damon Wayans; Eric Barnett and JayMac (James McCowan), a former college football player and youth corrections officer from Southern California.

Rodriguez has a gift for storytelling, including the episode when he bit an extension cord that left a significant scar. Turning dark moments like that into comedy is a trademark for the lighthearted comedian, who is a regular at Tempe Improv and Tempe Comedy spot.

DT, from Casa Grande, got his start at Laffs Comedy Caffe in Tucson in 2009 after writing a two-minute joke for open mic night. It was his first time on stage. It went so well Gary Hood, who books shows for the club, gave DT his card and said with a little work his act could be “all right.”

DT ended up taking Hood’s comedy writing class and then started booking clubs. Hosting his own showcase has been a dream come true, especially at a local venue.

“It’s a great place with the size of the theater and the height of the stage. There’s not a bad seat in the place because it’s theater-style,” he said. “People can get everything at the venue, so they can go there and eat dinner first, do something else and then come to the show.”