Students will be able to end the 2011-2012 academic year with a laugh thanks to SEAL’s sponsored comedian Rachel Feinstein.

Feinstein, who grew up in Bethesda, Md., has been doing stand-up comedy for the past 13 years.

She performs year-round and up to six days per week. Feinstein can’t imagine herself doing anything else other than stand-up comedy.

“When I was really little, I wanted to be a trapeze artist or a secretary, but I think I just liked their outfits,” Feinstein said. “I also wanted to make chocolate. I still think about chocolate a lot. Maybe I’d make chocolate, but then I’d eat it all like a greedy lunatic and all the children would weep. So I’ll just keep doing comedy.”

Although Feinstein performs regularly, she said she still gets excited before taking the stage.

“I’ve never felt so actively jealous of any other art form or career while I was watching it,” Feinstein said. “I wanted to be in their spot when I was watching a stand-up comic, and I still feel like that when I am waiting to go up.”

Feinstein said she gets inspiration for her routines from situations that have happened in her life that students and community members will be able to relate to.
“[I get inspiration from] everywhere,” Feinstein said. “An uncomfortable moment, an awkward thing that I notice about myself or someone else, my relationships, my friendships, my letdowns. There is plenty of hilarity everywhere without manufacturing it.”

Feinstein was booked last April by SEAL at the National Association of Campus Activities.

“Every April we go to NACA,” SEAL Entertainment Intern Brian Goetsch said. “We see comedians, bands, hypnotists and magicians. From there, we pick the people who we think would fit best with our campus.”

Goetsch said he thinks students will like Feinstein because of her originality, and because she’s a female comedian.

“We have a difference between female comedians and male comedians, and it’s nice to have both options available on campus,” Goetsch said. “I mean, if you’re funny, you’re funny, and she’s funny.”

Feinstein has performed in places like Montreal, Korea, Amsterdam, and all over the U.S., but this is the first time she’ll be performing in Whitewater.

For those who can’t get enough of Feinstein, she has an album, “Thug Tears,” on iTunes.

Feinstein will be performing at 8 p.m. May 3 at the Down Under. Admission is free.