ZOIKS!, Ha Ha Tonka team up to entertain

Kellen Jenkins / The Bulletin

ZOIKS! sophomores Eli Weatherby, theatre major, and Harrison George, sociology major, play a game of Change last night at Albert Taylor Hall. The event, partially sponsored by UAC, also featured Ha Ha Tonka, who provided music periodically throughout the show.

ZOIKS! and Ha Ha Tonka performed in Albert Taylor Hall on Wednesday to hundreds of students. It was the first time that ZOIKS! had paired with a band for a performance.

“I am a huge fan of live music,” said Pat Janssen, senior theater major and artistic director of ZOIKS! who invited Ha Ha Tonka to perform. “When I decided to combine art forms, I decided to bring in my favorite band that I had seen and that I know. I thought it would be a great chance for our university to see such an amazing band come share the stage with comedy.”

Ha Ha Tonka has never performed with ZOIKS! before, but has performed in Emporia several times at Josie’s. Members of Ha Ha Tonka said they enjoyed sharing the stage with ZOIKS! and that they were able to visit with members of ZOIKS! before the performance.

“Emporia is one of our favorite towns to play first of all, and being able to do it with them is great,” said Brett Anderson, guitar and piano player for Ha Ha Tonka. “They really brought a lot of people out and it was a success.”

Many students who attended had seen past ZOIKS! performances.

“They’re really, really, really funny and there is no ‘too far’ for them,” said Chris Dvorak, freshman secondary English education major. “Anything goes at the shows and they never cease to surprise.”

Students enjoyed the performance, especially the fact that the acts alternated between comedy and music. During the music performances, students left their seats and crowded around the stage dancing.

“I liked the upbeat feel and for never having heard their music before, I liked them almost immediately,” Dvorak said.

Many students hope that more musical and combination events will be offered at ESU in the future.

“These are the only events that I attend,” said Tally Russell, sophomore integrated studies major. “I really enjoy the music events.”

At the beginning of the show, members of UAC, who partially sponsored the event, announced that cast members from Reno 911 will be coming to ESU at 8 p.m. on April 24.

Ha Ha Tonka opened with one song, followed by a comedy sketch by ZOIKS! There were also several videos starring ZOIKS! members. The movies were written about a month and a half ago and were filmed during the weekend after Spring Break.

Janssen said it took approximately 10 hours to edit the films. Janssen and Eli Weatherby, sophomore theater major, wrote and directed the sketches.

Janssen believes there are many reasons that students should come see ZOIKS! performances.

“We’re really cheap entertainment,” Janssen said. “We joke about things that you know about, and it’s always fun.”