Heidelberg is rolling out the laughter for the grand finale of its 175th anniversary celebration — and who better to bring down the house than comedy legend and distinguished alum Brian Regan?
Known across the country as “your favorite comedian’s favorite comedian,” Brian is coming back to where it all began. He’ll take the stage at Tiffin’s Ritz Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 11, for a special one-night-only performance to conclude our 18-month 175th anniversary celebration on the 11th.
An added bonus for students:
Generous donors have provided funding so that 300 ’Berg students will be able to enjoy Brian’s performance FREE. Students, stay tuned for details about how you could be one of them!
Even better:
All proceeds from Brian’s performance will support ̽ѡ.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Brian back to Tiffin for this milestone night,” said Ashley Helmstetter, Vice President for Advancement, Marketing, Alumni, and Community Relations. “Even after reaching the pinnacle of the stand-up world, he continues to give back to his alma mater. We’re beyond grateful — and we can’t wait to laugh together on November 11!”
Tickets are $50 each and available now:
• In person at the Ritz Box Office (no service fee)
• Online at (+$8 service fee)
• By phone at (419) 448-8544 (+$4 service fee)
Brian’s Heidelberg days
Brian’s Heidelberg journey is well-documented. He first came to campus in 1976 from Florida, recruited as a wide receiver for HU’s football team. Though he began as an accounting major, it wasn’t long before one of his coaches noticed his gift for comedy and encouraged him to follow his passion in communication and theatre arts, setting the stage for the incredible career that followed.
In 1980, during his final semester at Heidelberg, Brian made the risky decision to leave school to chase his stand-up comedy dream. His persistence paid off, and before long, he was touring the stand-up circuit and making his television debut on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson — one of his comedic heroes. In the mid-’90s, Brian returned to Heidelberg to finish his degree, walking across the stage to receive his diploma in 1997. That same year, he released his first album, Brian Regan Live.
Ever since, he’s built a stellar career that celebrates the humor in everyday life. In 2008, Brian came back to The Berg once again, this time as Commencement speaker, where he was awarded a second Heidelberg degree – an honorary doctorate from his alma mater.
Rise to fame
Today, Brian is one of the most respected performers in his field. Vanity Fair calls him “the funniest stand-up alive” and Entertainment Weekly adds that he is “your favorite comedian’s favorite comedian.” Having built his 30-plus-year career on the strength of his material alone, Brian’s non-stop theatre tour continuously fills the most beautiful venues across North America, visiting close to 100 cities each year.
Brian co-stars in three seasons of the Netflix TV series Loudermilk. He received praise for his portrayal of “Mugsy,” a recovering addict who is estranged from his family.
On Feb. 23, 2021, Brian premiered his second Netflix stand-up special, Brian Regan: On the Rocks, which was shot outdoors in Utah. His first Netflix special, Brian Regan: Nunchucks and Flamethrowers, premiered to rave reviews on Nov. 21, 2017.
Brian made his London debut on Feb. 2, 2019, at The Leicester Square Theatre and his Kennedy Center debut with two sold-out shows a month later. He appeared at Carnegie Hall on Nov. 11, 2017, following years of performances in New York City’s finest theatres, including the Lincoln Center and Radio City Music Hall. His tour has included performances at Denver’s legendary Red Rocks Amphitheatre and EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City.
In 2015, Brian made history with his stand-up special, Brian Regan: Live from Radio City Music Hall, as the first live broadcast of a stand-up special in Comedy Central’s history.
Throughout his career, Brian has been a regular on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and, before that, on The Late Show with David Letterman, appearing 28 times. He is a guest on two episodes of Seinfeld’s Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, which is now streaming on Netflix. He has released eight hour-long comedy specials.