“When a joke works, it sets off a fire for me to want to be funny,” says comedian Gianmarco Soresi, known for his high-energy live shows. “I think that’s what’s cool about the whole art form. It’s like if they’re trying to shock start your heart back to pumping again.”
Soresi’s tumultuous childhood and divorced parents are the main jumping-off points for his stand-up shows. Born in Potomac, Maryland, the entertainer originally pursued musical theatre but later found his calling making people laugh. “I ended up writing a play for myself where I talked to the audience and found that’s where all of the positive feedback was,” Soresi says. “So, I pivoted to stand-up and haven’t looked back.”
With over 40 dates on his ongoing “Leaning In” tour, Soresi is making up for lost time. The comedian first began touring on the cusp of the COVID-19 pandemic, which was inevitably halted, and picked back up mid-2021. Since then, he’s been flying back and forth from his home in New York to the next touring city every week, covering as much ground as one can manage. “That’s my whole life,” says Soresi.
Between spontaneous crowd work and in-depth, often sardonic storytelling, Soresi loves to push the envelope when it comes to who and what he can joke about. Otherwise risqué jokes revolving around controversial figures like Michael Jackson and R. Kelly garner unwavering waves of laughter from his audiences. “I think the edge is what gets people excited,” he admits. “It’s like finding those narrow pockets that I think are fun. I think it gives you the same feeling as watching a tightrope walker.”
Soresi’s dark sense of humor always seems to be a crowd-pleaser. Fiery quips when working a room come as second nature to the comic, in addition to intriguing tales about topics like uncomfortable auditions and liberal churches. Soresi’s stand-up has been featured on Comedy Central, PBS, Amazon, and Netflix, with his 2020 special Shelf Life earning three New York Emmy nominations.
In addition to his sarcastic jests, the comic also spearheads comedy podcast The Downside With Gianmarco Soresi, where he and his co-host Russell Daniels home in on the negative side of life. “I wanted to have a show where guests could come on and instead of talking about why they’re grateful for this, that, or the other thing, they get to share the things that annoy them,” he says. “That’s ultimately what you do with friends. You don’t feel the need to maintain appearances, and that’s what the podcast is.”
Just having passed the halfway mark of his current tour, Soresi doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. Often doing multiple shows a night, the comic is cautious of avoiding burnout while still eager to make the most of his shows. “If I do feel burnt out, the moment I get that first laugh, I’m back in it,” says Soresi. “Whenever I start a show, I immediately feel okay.”
Gianmarco Soresi
Friday 8 – Sunday 10, Cap City Comedy Club
This article appears in March 8 • 2024.
