​Comedy can often be a part of the remedy for the grief and strife of everyday life. Comedian Roy Haber uses his stand-up to break down political, religious and social barriers and even to help himself and others through tough times.
Haber was born in Israel, but raised in Lexington, where a friend urged him to take a shot at stand-up just after high school.
“My first performance was at Comedy Off Broadway on open-mic night, and it was pretty nerve-wracking,†Haber said. “But afterwards I knew that’s what I wanted to do.â€
He then moved to Virginia Beach, where he began writing his first bits and trying them out at various venues around town. With his shorter stature and unusual background, he often found ways to poke fun at himself rather than audience members.
His battle with Crohn’s disease helped him develop new material, and his humorous outlook helped him recover from surgery.
“I like to talk about pain, about real-life stuff,†Haber said.
His routines blend character-driven humor with jokes about law, politics and religion. When approaching potentially controversial segments of his act, Haber likes to neutralize the situation by taking stabs at all sides.
“I like to start out by making sure the audience knows I find both sides toxic,†Haber said. “But people can believe whatever they want.â€
Haber said the highlight of his career thus far has been participating in a tour for troops in Latin American and Hawaii last year.
“I think the best way to support our troops is to speak out against the politicians, because the troops really can’t do that. They simply volunteered to serve,†Haber said.
He has been performing comedy for about ten years, and is looking forward to shows at larger, more dynamic venues in the future. Haber said what makes his comedy enjoyable is his honesty.
“I try to keep my comedy really honest,†Haber said. “Some people like to ‘kill,’ I just like to connect.â€
Haber will perform at 8 p.m. on Wednesday in the Cats Den. Admission is free and open to the public.
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