10 Questions With: Comedian Zach Dresch

10 Questions With is a new series featuring people of interest in the 605. Have someone you’d like to see featured? Email [email protected]. 

There’s no question Zach Dresch is leaving Sioux Falls a funnier place. He’s a comedian, musician, actor, trivia host and more who gave us a look at life on and off stage.

1. Did you grow up thinking you wanted to be a comedian? And if not, what did you want to do?

I absolutely knew I wanted to be an entertainer. I knew I wanted to be some form of an entertainer, like an actor or something, but didn’t know what exactly I wanted to do. I’ve always loved improv, so I started doing improv in college. I loved playing music, specifically drums, so I play in way too many bands, but I have a blast. Entertaining in general is something I’ve always wanted to do, but comedy has been the most constant in all of those facets of my life.

2. You’re an O’Gorman grad who went to the University of Sioux Falls. Did you ever leave Sioux Falls? Or think about it?

I never did leave Sioux Falls, but I did think about it for a while. I could have moved to a big city like New York or Los Angeles, but I couldn’t afford it. I decided I wanted to help grow our scene and stay in Sioux Falls because something told me that was the right move. I’d rather be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a giant, overwhelming pond.

3. How would you say you’ve seen the arts scene, comedy in particular, evolve in this town?

I’ve seen the arts scene grow exponentially over the last few years. We started out with five to 10 comics in our scene, and they were all incredible, and over time that doubled, and we consistently see them show up week after week, crushing it and making audiences laugh. I’m really proud of them, and the crowds have responded so well to that. Every week there’s no shortage of comics now, and that is a beautiful thing.

4. What do you think it would take for us to get to the “next level” with our arts scene, whatever that might look like?

I think cross promoting into different areas will get us more exposure. Local television, hosting different events, getting big names attached to up-and-coming names. I constantly shout from the rooftops how talented our scene is and how much I want people to know about them. I usually don’t get granted access to rooftops, I don’t have a key, but if I had access, I would even literally not just figuratively shout “These people are the best!!!”

5. You’re a co-host for “Late Night Boomin,” a fun “late show-style” show in front of a live audience at the Washington Pavilion. How would you describe it for people who don’t know much about it, and what’s next for the show?

“Late Night Boomin” is in the same vein as the typical late-night talk shows you see on TV all the time, like Fallon and Colbert. Except that it’s here in Sioux Falls and we wanna showcase all the Midwest has to offer since we tend to get glossed over in favor of the West and East Coast.

We have musicians, comics, entertainers of all kinds like magicians and athletes that come on and play games with us and have discussion. We even have a house band and a TV crew that is so incredibly talented and helpful.

6. Is there such a thing as a typical week for you? Where might we see you performing? What do you do when you’re not working?

Every week is pretty different for me. I’m always doing something different. A constant per week for me is hitting up the open mic nights at Boss’ Comedy Club in Tea, South Dakota, on Wednesday nights. I work a remote job at home where I value vehicles for insurance adjusters as my day job, but I perform in a dueling pianos group called Duel Purpose, so we play weekends consistently.

My band called the Disarmed just finished recording our third album, and that will be released this summer. My improv troupe, Improv Falls, is performing all over the area as well. In addition to that, I still perform standup shows all the time as well, whether that be Boss’ or other areas.

7. Who do you think is the funniest person in Sioux Falls?

I love all my siblings/children equally. So in alphabetical order by first name: Aleda Windels, Alex Anson, Alisha Rayne, Andrew Koerner, Andy Swann, Chris Freier, Dan Snowberger, Denham McDermott, Eric Edwards, Gina Kramer, Ian Reiland-Smith, Jamie Tucker, Jerry Irby, John Small, Justin Gray, Karl Kooiker, Kevin Ingram, Luke Johnson, Nathan Hults, Preston Williams, Reid Baxter, Rob Lethcoe, Rovel Johnson Jr., Ryan Stoick, Sam Lenz, Sarah King, Skyler Bolks, Thomas Paul, Tim Jastram and Zarrin Taj all crush it on the daily or weekly.

8. OK, gotta bring this up. One of your more memorable roles was as the “flu bug” in a Department of Health campaign. Do people still bring this up? Is there any overcoming this professionally? Would you even want to?

Oh yeah, I still get that brought up to me all the time. I think it’s a point of pride. It got me places that I didn’t even imagine. It gained me recognition, and I view it as great publicity. I’m thankful the great people of Epicosity took a chance on me and had me play that role for as long as I did.

9. You apparently also are a standout trivia host. Best place to play in town?

I love playing it everywhere, I don’t have a favorite honestly!

10. And finally, you get a shameless plug for anything in Sioux Falls. What is it?

Support as much local art as you can. Whether that be seeing your friend’s band play, seeing a friend’s play, seeing a friend do standup or even go to an open mic. You, the audience, is what helps keep us believing in ourselves. Go support any form of live entertainment cuz it will make somebody’s day if you do that.