Teacher, Comedian Brings Comedy Show To Rancho Santa Margarita

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA — Comedian Mark Schumacher is transitioning from a summer of motivational speaking with school districts across Southern California to debuting his comedy show right here in Rancho Santa Margarita.

On Oct. 11, "Mark Schumacher and Friends" will debut at the Bell Tower Community Center in Rancho Santa Margarita. He promises several evenings of clean, fresh comedy to get the community laughing and wanting to come back for more. The show will be open to the public, for anyone who wants to come out for a great laugh. A long-time Rancho Santa Margarita native, he knows that people need comedy in their lives, now, almost more than ever.

For the past 12 years, Schumacher has left crowds laughing from small clubs to NBC's Last Comic Standing in 2015. He was named Orange County's funniest person in 2012, but it is teaching, and observational comedy that has his heart. His show focuses on the changes in the modern classroom, of family, teachers, and students.

He attributes his success in keeping his comedy "light and smart."

"There aren't many places to catch comedy in Orange County," Schumacher told us. "This show changes that."

In addition to being a comedian and motivational speaker, he is still a substitute teacher for the Saddleback Valley Unified School District. Schumacher reaches for comedy to get the kids' attention and trust. Often, when faced with a sub, high school students have their noses in their cell phones. Schumacher uses comedy to gain attention, one student at a time. Getting them laughing, they look away from their devices. One at a time, he gains their attention until the last one looks up, wondering, "Hey! what did I miss?"

"Comedy in the classroom can be a huge asset," Schumacher told Patch. Though he has evolved from full time teaching to full-time motivational speaker, he still loves the classroom setting.

"I come in as a motivational speaker, but often leave feeling more inspired by the teachers and faculty that I meet across Southern California," he told us. "There are aspects of teaching that you miss, especially the relationships with students and colleagues."

On Oct. 11, comedian Don Friesen joins Schumacher on stage. Friesen, one of the most played comics on SiriusXM Radio, and his "Ask Your Mom" show is available on Showtime.

"Mark Schumacher & Friends" will be held at the Bell Tower Community Center, located at 22232 El Paseo, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688 on:

• Friday, Oct. 11, 2019,
• Friday, Nov. 1, 2019
• Friday, Jan. 10, 2020.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.cityofrsm.org for $15 per person.

Online ticket sales only; no ticket sales at the door. Must be 18 years of age or older.