Adam Grabowski, Emily Galati and Matt Griffo filled the 7th Street Underground with laughter Friday night during the first “Chicago Comedy Showcase.”

Jokes varied from relationships, to pandas, to sex, to dancing along to Katy Perry’s music during the long drive on I-57.

The showcase featured stand-up comedy from Grabowski and Galati, and musical numbers using a keyboard and a ukulele from Griffo.

Grabowski, the host and headliner for the night, said Eastern booked him and asked him to bring two more people with him.

He met Galati and Griffo on the south side of Chicago.

“I wanted people that were young,” he said. “It worked out that one was a music guy, and then a girl. There is variety, and it brings a different perspective.”

Grabowski graduated from the University of Illinois with a psychology degree, but his dream is just making people laugh.

“Most of the stuff I talk about is a real experience,” he said. “I love hearing the laughter.”

Grabowski said his favorite part about performing on a college campus are the “woo’s” and the enthusiasm.

“I like performing around people my age because they can relate to it,” he said. “It’s also good if it’s free because then people aren’t coming in with high expectations, and they’re more willing.”

Following Grabowski’s performance, Galati, a regular at Zanies and a comedian that does stand-up all over the Midwest, came onstage talking about money problems, relationships and genetics.

“Punnett squares are good for genetics, but not so good when you find out that you’re adopted,” she said.

Galati, being a female performer, can be intimidating at times.

“If you are a female, you get less credit in the beginning,” she said. “But if you turn out to be really funny then sometimes you get more credit than you actually should.”

Galati said she has to stick to a particular image.

“Cussing is difficult sometimes,” she said. “And I can’t really go dirty either.”

After a big applause for Galati, Griffo entered from the back playing a ukulele and stopped to serenade an audience member. The romantic song turned comedic after Griffo found out the audience member was gay.

Griffo’s act performed a variety of songs, stopping periodically to reference the girls in the Cyber Lounge taking pictures for Facebook, which got a lot of laughs.

Griffo’s songs ranged from love songs, to racist grandpas, to “serious” songs.

“I never did the talking stuff, it scares me,” Griffo said. “My dad and brother were in bands when I was younger, so I’ve always been into music.”

Griffo is currently the music director for Second City.

Cyndi Francois can be reached at 581-7942 or DENnewsdesk@gmail.com.