SCC comic offers humorous outlook on life

Imagine this: every Sunday for eight weeks book a round trip flight from Phoenix to Los Angles for a comedy class. Arrive in Los Angeles and sit through a three-hour comedy class to only have 10 minutes of stand-up practice.  Then fly back to Phoenix.

“That’s a commitment” says DeeAnn Kinkade.

The desire to be a comedian started as a child when Kinkade’s mother used laughter for comfort.       

Coming from a dysfunctional family, Kinkade found comedy as a form of self-expression that is therapeutic for her as well as for the audience.

“My mother used humor to diffuse the potential violent situations,” said Kinkade. adding, “I make fun and tell the tragedies in my life, which helps me get over them. When the audience laughs, maybe somewhere deep inside they can get over their tragedy also.”
Kinkade’s outlook on sadness even comes through a comedic lens.

“Were not crying; we’re laughing at life’s bad jokes on us. After the tears comes laughter,” she said.

Though comedy came into Kinkade’s life at a young age, she didn’t pursue a career in comedy until after studying science at Ohio State University.

“I have a work ethic. I got a bachelors degree in chemistry from Ohio state,” said Kinkade.

With her bachelor’s degree she worked as a chemist but remembers how she always got in trouble for talking.

“I got in trouble for talking because chemists are not supposed to be funny or sociable, so it was easier to change my career than change my personality,” said Kinkade.

Kinkade took herself out of the lab and headed to France to showcase her expressive personality.

In Paris Kinkade taught French and pursued her dreams as being a successful screen writer. Through her first optioned screen play, titled ‘Manios Gets Married’, a strong sense of humor emerged and suddenly everyone was telling her to write comedy.            

Fans told her that comedy was her strength, though Kinkade was still not buying into her own hype. She jokes about the enthusiasm she felt at the time.

Kinkade says, with a vivacious attitude snapping her fingers, “I thought I was all that. So I moved to Phoenix thinking I had a future in comedy writing.”  

After enrolling at SCC, Kinkade took a screen writing class. Unaware of how long it takes to move a script to the screen, she still found recognition and success.

“In the SCC screen writing class, everyone loved my comedy writing,” said Kinkade.

In a short amount of time, Kinkade transitioned from screen writing to stand-up comedy.

“It was actually the instructor who suggested the stand-up comedy class at The Comedy Store in Hollywood. Then a classmate dared me to do it,” said Kinkade.

With no experience in stand-up, Kinkade took the dare.

“I got hooked because of that class, damn right I was. I get feedback and get paid right away,” said Kinkade.

Then the eight-week gauntlet began.

From this class Kinkade traveled to L.A to attend a class at The Comedy Store in Hollywood. Soon after her visits to L.A., she did a debut at the Comedy Store in Scottsdale.

“My act, although quite successful, was a little blue because I didn’t know any better. I have never done that material since then,” said Kinkade, “I now practice clean and clever comedy and only use innuendo."

Kinkade describes her act:  "I never knew when I was coming up so I was very nervous. I paced back and forth until it was my turn. I didn’t give a s*** when it was my turn. I lost the ability to care what the audience thought, which made me be myself. I overcame my fear by being so tired.”

Kinkade is currently a segment producer for Maricopa Community College District

Television. She teaches stand-up comedy at Paradise Valley Community College and teaches at the Comedy Spot located in Old Town Scottsdale.

“I never want to stop making people laug." It brings so much joy to audience that they can laugh at me. They don’t know I’m getting joy hearing them laugh,” Kinkade said.