Originally from Ohio, Marjorie Preston spent the nineties in New York City, working primarily in public relations, and moved to Cleveland in 2000. Preston studied comedy writing with Second City Cleveland, churning out two dozen sketches and blackouts, until it closed in early 2004. Preston then studied with Second City cast member and instructor Kiff Vanden Heuvel (now in Chicago), learning to write sketches, parody songs, ‘The Onion’-style headlines, comic essays, slogans, stand up, short stories, even a roast and a mini book. If you ever need a Ricky Martin song parody or cabaret homage to Bea Arthur, she’s got it covered.
In early 2005, she tried out at the Cleveland Improv and was immediately given a slot at showcase night. Preston says, “Isn’t it brilliant that during the eight years I lived in New York, it never once crossed my mind to try standup? But in Cleveland … well, of course!”
In June 2005, she attended the standup workshop of radio host, author and former assistant to Budd Friedman, Dave Schwensen, and in December 2005, took the workshop of comedian and David Letterman booker Eddie Brill. In November 2005, she attended a solo performance workshop with Cleveland playwright and actress Sarah Morton.
Preston has performed several times at the Cleveland Improv as well as Wilbert’s, MacNamaras Pub and Just For Today in Cleveland, The Kamikaze in Warrensville Heights, the Bassa Vita Lounge in Lakewood, Ground Floor Improv in Cleveland Heights, Johnny Malloys in Willoughby and Max McQ’s in Akron. She has graced stages in Seattle (Giggles, The Comedy Underground), Chicago (Cozmo’s) and Minneapolis (The Corner Bar). Credits include the So You Think Youre Funny? VI contest at the Bassa Vita Lounge in Lakewood and the Ground Floor Theater comedy contest in Cleveland Heights. She has studied short-form improvisation with the Cleveland Improv Institute and Ground Floor Theater, and led a Danish match with BATS Improv’s Theatresports Raw in San Francisco in the summer of 2006.
She has performed with “The University Circles” improv troupe opening for “The Public Squares” and participated in the filming of the Last Call Cleveland sketch “Happy Hour,” as well as the filming of several sketches for HBOlab website runawaybox.com. Earlier this year, she wrote and appeared in videos parodying the “I’m a Mac” ads — the parodies are available on YouTube under her YouTube moniker, “mprestyoo2ube.” She performs regularly with “Cleveland Jams!” improvisation troupe. In early 2007, Preston joined both Something Dada improvisational troupe and The Public Squares sketch troupe.
Preston graduated from the Second City Chicago Training Center Writing Conservatory which produced “Home is Where the Hurt Is” in January 2007. She plays alto and baritone saxophone, handbells and guitar, sings, and has puppetry, theatre and dance experience. She won a karaoke contest in 2006. She writes freelance for the Sun Newspapers and other local and national publications in several states.
Preston says, “Being a dabbler in life has come in handy, because comedians draw on life experiences to make the humor more universal.”