Live from Abu Dhabi, it’s Thursday night! Fans of Saturday Night Live alumni Tracy Morgan will be able to see the funny man as he performs for the first time in Abu Dhabi. Hosting two consecutive shows on Thursday 6th and Friday 7th February at the du Forum, we sat down with him to find out more.
What can audiences expect at the show?
I’m going to be me and bring my sense of humour and my style, where I’m from, my experiences and inject my sense of humour into it. My sense of humour is based on reality – the life I live, the things that I see everyday.
You are known to tell it like it is, will you try to tone down your act for the Abu Dhabi audience?
Yeah I sure will, I don’t mind, but I’m still going to tell my story. I wasn’t raised in the suburbs – I wasn’t raised in a mansion and all that – I was raised in the ghetto in Brooklyn. Funny has nothing to do with language. I don’t want anyone to focus on the vulgarity; I want them to focus on the funny.
Who are your comedic influences?
My act is old school. I’m an old school stand up; I grew up watching Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy and George Carlin.
Describe yourself in three words.
Decent, loving and understanding.
You’ve been very successful in both TV and movies, what do you love about stand-up?
It’s live entertainment. You get to tell your story. Nobody else is writing this book, this is my book. This is nobody else’s script – this is my life. And that’s what I love. There is something hopefully everybody can identify and relate to.
In terms of your stand-up shows, do you ever find yourself interacting directly with the audience during the live performances?
I always do, because that’s the fun of it. That’s why people come out – that’s the whole fun of live entertainment. It’s an uncontrolled environment; I might create something on stage that happens.
It’s your first time visiting Abu Dhabi, any plans for sightseeing?
Man you don’t think I am? That’s a beautiful country, that’s a beautiful place to visit and I’m going to try and soak all of it up. I’m coming with my family and we’re going to have a good time.
Any upcoming projects you can share?
I have a new TV show on FX called Death Pact and that starts early next year and we’re looking forward to it. And I have a special coming out on Comedy Central, an hour special stand-up in April.
Where do you get your inspiration?
I come up with new material everyday because I live it. I don’t like jokes, I’ve never written jokes, like I said my comedy is based on reality so there is material around me everyday. Now will it all be funny? I don’t know – that’s in the eye of the beholder. I’m just telling it how I see it.
Tickets for the seated show start from AED 295 and are available at www.ticketmaster.ae
