Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Indianapolis student making ‘em laugh
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Her whole life NaCole (Nikky) Ball has been a performer. “I’ve always been up on stage,” said the Cathedral High School(Indianapolis) graduate. “Whether it’s been on stage, or standing around in front of a group of people – my presence demands attention, because I’m so loud.” But when the Indianapolis native was growing up, near the state fairgrounds, most of her friends and neighbors didn’t believe her. They didn’t believe she could use her sense of humor and talent for stage presence to earn a college degree; they didn’t think she could make it a career. And they certainly didn’t think she’d have a shot at her dream: to be a stand-up comedian. Now the 24-year-old University of Southern Indiana student is proving them all wrong. In the past year, she has performed at and hosted numerous stand-up events; she has landed a DJ job at 106.1 KISS FM radio. And this May, she will receive her undergraduate degree from USI, in radio and television. But all of that is just a warm-up for what Ball really wants. “I want to be a comedian,” she said. “I want to get my bills straight, so I’ll take my funny bone onto the radio right now. But I’m going to be a comedian.” And judging by her success on the USI stage, she may pull it off. Already, she has won the university’s 2004 Live at the Apollo in the individual theatrical catagory, leaving more than 200 people rolling with laughter. She’s hosted the talent show USIdol, where staff from KISS FM saw her, and immediately offered her a job. Then, this year, she returned to Live at the Apollo as host, again leaving the audience in stitches. “When I was growing up in the inner city, I was told I wasn’t gonna be anything,” Ball said. “But I’m about to graduate, I’m pretty funny, and guess what? I’m probably gonna be coming to a city near you.” |
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