Comedy superstar and Saturday Night Live (SNL) cast member, Marcello Hernandez, performed at the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts on Thursday, April 24, as part of the kickoff to Spring Weekend 2025 at the University of Connecticut.
Hundreds of students lined up hours early, starting at the theater and going past the North Garage, in anticipation of this event.
“I really like SNL and have been watching Marcello since he was added to the cast in 2022, which is part of the reason I was so excited to see him live,” Erin Villano, a second-semester sociology and women, gender and sexualities studies major, said.
Hernandez quickly rose to fame after joining SNL and took over the internet in October 2024 after playing the character Domingo in the skit “Bridesmaid Speech.”
“[Domingo] was kind of his breakout role, being used in three episodes this season alone,” Devin Welch, a second-semester political science major, said.
But playing Domingo was not all Hernandez had to offer to UConn students at his standup show. Hernandez took the stage for over an hour and a half, performing a series of skits and delving into different topics.
“I loved Marcello’s set, I thought it was upbeat and enjoyable,” Villano said. “I also thought it helped that the audience was engaged, too. The collective laughter definitely added to the amazing atmosphere.”
Audience engagement was encouraged by the no-phone policy of the show. Students locked their phones away in pouches before the show began.
Hernandez’s set ranged in substance, jumping from personal stories to generalizations and opinions on topics he holds.
Both Villano and Laida Sakanovic, a fourth-semester education major, agreed on Hernandez’s segment about “The Blood,” a dramatized skit about periods, being the funniest and most relatable part of his show.
“It was just really funny the way he presented it,” Sakanovic said.
Hernandez also told many jokes related to his Dominican heritage and experiences growing up in Miami with immigrant parents. He presented his culture to the audience in a way that was both humorous and engaging.
“I think the thing that surprised me most was the fact we actually got some backstory on Marcello’s life and upbringing,” Welch said. “Getting to hear info about Marcello as a person himself I felt was really interesting and was an aspect I enjoyed that you would not have gotten if you just watched him on SNL.”
There was also a large portion of the show dedicated to discussing relationships. Hernandez made fun of himself for being short and everything that comes along with that in dating. He joked that women are proud of their tall boyfriends for existing, even if they cannot read. Yet, as a short man he has mastered the art of having a job and knowing how to dance in order to get a girlfriend.
Hernandez was not the only comedian of the night, however. Matt Richards, an actor, host, comedian and writer residing in New York City, served as the opening act. Richards performed for approximately thirty minutes and had the audience laughing the entire time.
From Donald Trump impressions to dirty jokes, Richards had it all.
“[Richards’] jokes were funny, and he had a great stage presence,” Villano said. “My favorite part was when he brought up politics, but in a funny, easy to digest way.”
Some students, including Welch, found Richards to be funnier than Hernandez at some points in the show. However, snorts and cackles filled the theater throughout the over-two-hour-long show.
The first night of Spring Weekend at UConn ended successfully with two incredible performers and plenty of laughs.
Featured photo by Matt Botsford/Unsplash