Comedian Leon Rogers will be performing his stand-up act at 7 p.m. Friday in 7th Street Underground.

The University Board, who has also brought comedians Sinbad and Alex Ortiz to Eastern this semester, is putting on the event.

The show will be free for both students and the general public.

Tony Alozie, the UB comedy coordinator, said he expects a nice sized crowd for the event. 

“(Rogers) can bring not only diversity with the comedians we’ve brought to EIU, but also laughs and a fun time,” Alozie said.

Alozie said the success of the Sinbad performance for Family Weekend was not a factor in bringing Rogers to Eastern, as Rogers was already scheduled last semester. 

Alozie said Rogers was chosen because of the success of his radio show, “The Morning Riot,” on the Chicago radio station WGCI.

Rogers, who started his comedy career in the mid-1990s in Chicago and is also known by the moniker “The Destined Legend,” has appeared on many stand-up television shows, including “BET’S One Mic Stand,” “Jamie Foxx’s Laffapalooza” and Cedric the Entertainer’s “Starting Lineup.” 

Rogers has received several awards for his work, including two Chicago Music Awards Comedian of the Year awards, and was a top finalist on Comedy Central’s Laugh Riots competition. 

Leon was also in the movies “Barbershop” and “Barbershop 2.”

Rogers’ style of comedy has been described as very energetic, as he is known to share his perspective on sports, pop culture and politics during his act. 

He has also done impersonations of famous athletes in the past, as well as parodies of rap and R&B songs.

Rogers, along with being a Chicago native, is also involved with his community and supports charities that work to better the Chicago area.

Alozie said Rogers would be bringing along another comedian to do a 10-minute opening act before Rogers hits the stage.

Derrin Coad can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].