Writer and comedian John Wing, a former UWindsor student who recently reached the semifinals of the televised competition America’s Got Talent, will combine comedy with a reading of his poetry in a free public event Wednesday, October 23.

The stand-up artist has written several books, including the poetry collections A Cup of Nevermind, None of This is Probably True, The Winter Palace and Excuses as well as the memoirs Ventriloquism for Dummies: Life as a Comedian and When You See the Red Light, Get Off.

His comedy career features six Tonight Shows, nine Just For Laughs comedy festivals, five Winnipeg Comedy Festivals, and more than 150 television appearances. He can be heard on CBC radio’s The Debaters, and is a contributor to Definitely Not the Opera.

Wednesday’s event begins at 7 p.m. in Katzman Lounge, Vanier Hall, and is sponsored by the English department.

Watch a video of one of his appearances on America’s Got Talent: