Attention-Starved Children rise once again

Beth Vescio once grew up watching Aidy Bryant, Steve Martin and John Belushi – and now she is living out her own comedy special as the head of the stand-up comedy club on campus, Attention Starved Children.

“I am a big Saturday Night Live fan… and so I thought, well if I can be like my heroes, why the hell not?” the CSB senior said.

Vescio is a history major from Blaine, Minn., who also participates in theater. She comes from an Italian family who loves talking loudly and laughing even louder. As the head of Attention Starved Children (ASC), she leads practices, runs scheduling and refs the improv games. She stresses, though, that stand-up is a collaborative effort; the members depend on each other for any surprise that comes next.

“It’s definitely about trusting the people you’re working with,” Vescio said.

During events and practices, ASC first introduce each other with nicknames, then play improv games that rely heavily on audience participation. They usually fit in about five to seven games during the roughly hour-long shows, one of which is called “Genres.”

“Genres” begins by asking the audience for a “theme” that the group must adhere to. In the past, ASC has performed to themes such as 2000s horror movie, 1950s noir film, coming-of-age, and musical. Once a theme is obtained, the ASC will do a completely spontaneous stand-up scene with a beginning, a middle and an end.

“As much as you don’t know what’s going to happen in the show, we don’t know what’s going to happen either. We’ve never repeated scenes or moments in practice – I really can’t stress it enough to people that none of it is rehearsed,” Vescio said.

Aimed to entertain, Attention Starved Children traces its roots back to 1998, when it held its first set of auditions. After narrowing its 30 competitors down to just nine, the club soared with popularity.

The comedy troupe was the brainchild of then-senior Andy Zimney (‘99) and continuously brought in crowds of 500 people during its premiere year.

“The ‘Attention Starved Children’ are the latest alternative to binge drinking on Friday night,” reads The Record’s first feature on the club, dated March 4, 1999.

Unfortunately, like many other clubs and organizations, Attention Starved Children fell under demise during COVID. Vescio cites Celeste Dickson (‘23) as a key member who brought the club back last year. They performed several shows, one of which was during the Swayed Pines’ Variety Show at Milk and Honey.

Though this is only her second year with ASC, Vescio says the club has grown her confidence immensely.

“It’s great for skill building because it really expands you and makes you more comfortable presenting yourself,” Vescio said. Moreover, she gets to make other people laugh, which has always been her favorite sound.

Attention Starved Children will next perform on Oct. 14 at the Swayed Pines’ Show at Bad Habit Brewery and toward the end of October at St. John’s.