Comedian Gina Brillon brought a mix of humor, heart and heritage to Shippensburg University on Sept. 22 at 6:30 p.m. in the CUB MPR, performing for a packed audience as part of SUnity Week and Hispanic Heritage Month.
Brillon, the first Puerto Rican comedian to be named a finalist on Season 16 of “America’s Got Talent” (AGT), delivered a high-energy set filled with jokes about being a native New Yorker, growing up in a Latin household and her parenting journey. She also touched on deeper topics like the stigma around emotions in Latino communities and raising boys in today’s world.
“I came because they paid me,” she joked. “No, but seriously–right now, college students deserve to laugh.”
After her set, Brillon offered a Q&A portion and connected with students. She answered questions about her start in comedy, what inspires her work and her memories from AGT. Shortly after the questions, Brillon held a meet and greet, which allowed fans to talk to her and take pictures.
This event was a part of SUnity week and was co-sponsored by the SU’s Activities Programming Board (APB). SU’s Vice President for Inclusion and Belonging Manuel Ruiz, Ph.D., touched on the importance of events like this one.
“This was a great way to bring some comic release at a time in our nation where we do need just that,” Ruiz said. “We need to celebrate all forms of art.”
Brillon’s latest comedy special, “Mind Your Business,” premiered on YouTube earlier this year and has already garnered over 600,000 views.
“Laughter has always been an important part of healing to me,” she said. “Whenever I get to share that with people, I think that’s a special thing.”
For more events like this, follow @ship_belonging and @shipapb on Instagram. To learn more about the other SUnity Week events, follow @ship_msa.
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