“I won’t be at Sundance, but my face will,” joked actress and comedian Helen Hong in a recent phone interview with What’s Up!

She recently starred in the movie, “If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You,” with an eclectic cast including Rose Byrne, Conan O’Brien and A$AP Rocky. The film just got its Sundance debut, she said while stepping off an elevator after taping NPR’s “Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!”

A frequent guest on the popular NPR news quiz show, she most enjoys getting to riff off other comedians on air, she said. In a recent episode she joined comedians Maz Jabroni and Alzo Slade to poke fun at the news, current events and pop culture.

“We’re super silly, and we’re trying to one up each other and riff off of each other, and dig into each other. It’s so much fun,” said Hong. Her upcoming show at the Walton Arts Center even got a shout out during the recent taping.

Hong performs for the Comedy Zone series at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 30 at Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville.

In addition to being a regular on “Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!,” Hong has guest starred in the Coen brother’s film “Inside Llewyn Davis” and on TV shows like “Jane the Virgin,” “Parks and Recreation” and “Pretty Little Liars.” She’s also played recurring characters on HBO’s “Silicon Valley,” CBS’ “The Unicorn,” “The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia” and “Huge in France” on Netflix, Nickelodeon’s “The Thundermans” and “Blunt Talk” on Starz.

She came to acting through stand up comedy, she said, getting her start in New York City at at the former Carolines on Broadway, where she took a class in stand up. She learned about the class after attending a friend of a friend’s graduation ceremony and was intrigued.

“Class is a nice way to get into stand up because you’re in class with like eight other people that are trying it for the first time, so it’s very encouraging and kind of a soft way to get into it, as opposed to just throwing yourself into an open mic when you don’t know anybody and nobody wants to laugh at you,” she said.

For her own graduation, she and her classmates accidentally packed the house by inviting as many friends and families as they could to their ceremony, which included a stand-up routine from each graduate.

“My first time performing in front of a crowd was in front of a huge crowd, and I was so nervous,” she said. “But the second I got that first laugh, I was hooked.”

A year later she bombed for the first time during a midnight “Urban Night” stand up show in a different New York club. She said it was so bad, people at a nearby table started telling jokes among themselves as she was given the red light to get off stage in the middle of her set.

“But by that time, I already knew this is what I wanted to do for a career,” she said. She went back to the club the next night with the same set and didn’t bomb that time.

“I think that’s what separates people who say they want to do stand up from people who have a need to do stand up, is that urge, that drive,” she said. “If you’re driven enough, you’ll get past it and you’ll just go back for more the next day, which is exactly what I did.”

Her first comedy special, “Well Hong” came out in 2022. During her special, she jokes about dating, everyday life and her background as the daughter of Korean immigrants. She said her “stand-up comedy-villain origin story,” goes back to her childhood.

“I’m kind of like an army brat without the Army,” she said. Growing up her family moved every three years seeking business opportunities.

“That’s traumatic when you’re a kid. Like, I moved my freshman year of high school — the middle of freshman year high school! Every time I say that, people just shudder,” she said. Also a smart kid, Hong skipped fourth grade making her the “odd man out” as she was both younger and smaller than her classmates.

“I’m sure I used humor as a defense mechanism, and that just kind of like stuck with me,” she concluded.

After performing stand up for awhile, she added acting to her resume after another friend of a friend, this one a commercial actress, who saw her stand-up show.

“I’m telling you, these friends of friends, they’re pivotal in my life!” she said. The actress convinced Hong to contact her agent, “which is such a generous thing for any actor to do, because it’s almost like introducing new competition, but she was so generous about it.”

Hong went on to book the first commercial she auditioned for — another unusual occurrence because actors normally audition multiple times. From there she acted in commercials eventually finding her way to auditions for television and movies she’s seen in now.

“I’ve just been super lucky, and it’s so much fun. Honestly, I’m a very lazy person, and I think that’s why I love acting so much, screen acting anyway, because it’s hard work but if you book something good, you work for like a day and you can make enough to live for three months!” she said with a laugh.

It also gives her time to work on new comedy and occasionally study the news ahead of her appearances on Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!”

“I used to listen to NPR obsessively, and then the 2016 election happened,” she said. From then on “the news just started getting bleaker, bleaker” so she stopped listening to the news to preserve her mental health, at least until it’s time to make fun of it.

“I should at least know who the President of the United States is!”

Tickets to Hong’s Jan. 30 show are $25-$35 at waltonartscenter.org.

BENTONVILLE

Kalaloka Institute of Fine Arts – Yuva Utsav (Youth Festival) with Sai Sisters (vocal), Akshath Piram (dance), Tanvi and Tanya Kartik (violin) and Sinchana Natraj (dance), 8:30 p.m. Feb. 15.

Meteor Guitar Gallery — Salon Blonde, 7 p.m. Feb. 8; Jed Harrelson Band, 7 p.m. Feb. 21; Timekeepers Classic Rock, 7 p.m. Feb. 28; Pat Travers Band, 8 p.m. March 22; The Reeves Brothers celebrate Merle Haggard’s birthday, 8 p.m. April 6. Open Mics, 6:30 p.m. every Tuesday.

Undercroft Bar — Jeff Gray & Forte Quintet, 7 p.m. every Tuesday.

The Momentary — Send It South with Wilderado, Dirtwire, Bonnie Montgomery, stepmom and many more, Feb. 7-9; Real Estate, 8 p.m. Feb. 7; Greyhounds & King Cabbage Brass Band, March 1; Oh He Dead, March 6; Wonder Women of Country with Kelly Willis, Melissa Carper and Brennen Leigh at 8 p.m. March 7.

EUREKA SPRINGS

The Aud – Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 21; Robert Earl Keen, 7:30 p.m. March 13.

Rowdy Beaver Den — Bluegrass Brunch with Mountain Alice, 1-4 p.m. every Sunday; Gary & Benji, 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Alex Hawf Revue, 7 p.m. Thursdays.

FAYETTEVILLE

George’s Majestic Lounge —Randall King, 8:30 p.m. Jan. 30; Happy hour with Nace Brothers, 6 p.m. Jan. 31 and Keller Williams, 9:30 p.m. Jan. 31; Frost Fest after party with stepmom and Idle Valley (free), 8 p.m. Feb. 1; Dogs in a Pile, 8:30 p.m. Feb. 6; Happy hour for Gary Hutchison’s annual birthday bash 6 p.m. Feb. 7 and Ravenscoon, Artifakts, STVSH and Ghost Lotus at 9 p.m. Feb. 7.

Folk School of Fayetteville – Family Song Time, 10 a.m. and Robert Ellis at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 1; Robert Ellis concert 7:30 p.m. Feb. 2; Old Time Jam, 6 p.m. and square dance at 7 p.m. Feb. 4; Soldier Songs & Voices jam, 2 p.m. Feb. 9 & 23; Irish Tunes slow session at 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. jam Feb. 10 & 24; Old Time Jam, 6 p.m. Feb. 18; Dad Jam, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22; Bluegrass slow session 5:30 p.m. and jam at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 25.

TheatreSquared — Candlelight: A Tribute to Coldplay, 8:30 p.m. Feb. 15; Candlelight: Romantic Classics, 8:30 p.m. Feb. 15.

Washington County Fairgrounds – Frost Fest with music from Funkanites, Cadillac Jackson and Haus of Untz, 1 p.m. Feb. 1

Faulkner Performing Arts Center — PUBLIQuartet, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 31, 2025; Comedian Mike Paramore, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27, 2025.

Walton Arts Center — BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet, 7 p.m. Jan. 30 (Baum Walker Hall); Helen Hong, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 30 (Starr Theater); Matt Mathews, 7 p.m. Jan. 31 (Baum Walker); René Marie, Jan. 31 (Starr Theater); Tacarra Williams, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 8; Sonia De Los Santos Música, 7 p.m. Feb. 11; Billy Stritch and Gabrielle Stravelli: Mel & Ellla Swing!, Feb. 15; SoNA: Jupiter Rising, 2 p.m. Feb. 16.

JJ’s Live — Pecos & The Rooftops, Jan. 30; Straight Tequila Night (90s Country Tribute), Jan. 31; Natalie Jane, 6 p.m. Feb. 6; Gavin Adcock, 7 p.m. Feb. 7 (sold out); Paul Cauthen, 8 p.m. Feb. 8; Caifanes, 8 p.m. Feb. 12; Larry Fleet, 7 p.m. Feb. 13; Big Bubble Rave, Feb. 15; 49 Winchester, 7 p.m. Feb. 22; Knock2, 6 p.m. Feb. 25.

LAMPE

Black Oak Amp – Rap Rewind with Baby Bash, Twista, Paul Wall, Ying Yang Twins and Yung Joc, 7 p.m. July 27.

LOWELL

The Grove Comedy Club —Paul Rodriguez, 9 p.m. Jan. 31 and 6:30 & 9 p.m. Feb. 1; Technically Funny Comedian Don McMillan, 8:45 p.m. Feb. 14 and 6 & 8 p.m. Feb. 15; Jeff Allen, 6 p.m. March 14 and 6 & 8:30 p.m. March 15. Trae Crowder returns April 3-5.

PRAIRIE GROVE

Magnolia House — Dandelion Heart, Feb. 1; Brick Fields, Feb. 9; Patti Steel, Feb. 15; March to August, Feb. 22; Tony Redman, March 1; Caleb King, March 8; Tara and the Gift Horses, March 15; Batterton & Edwards, March 22; Sean Harrison, March 29; Still on the Hill, April 5; Justin Cauble and Mike Snow, 6 p.m. April 19; Some Guy Named Robb, April 12; Common Roots, May 17; Brian Martin, June 14. Concerts begin at 6 p.m. for the Listening Room music and dinner series. Reservations at magnoliahousepg.com/events.

RIDGEDALE, MO.

Thunder Ridge Nature Arena — Bulls, Bands, and Barrels with Riley Green and Craig Morgan, April 26; Styx and Kevin Cronin, June 7; Post Malone and Jelly Roll, 7:30 p.m. June 13; Tim McGraw, Aug. 31.

RIVER VALLEY

United States Marshals Museum – Candlelight: Valentine’s Day Special ft. “Romeo and Juliet” & More, 6:30 & 8:30 p.m. Feb. 14; Candlelight: Tribute to Taylor Swift, 6:30 & 8:30 p.m. March 21.

TempleLive — Newsboys, Feb. 14; Robert Kelly, March 22; Geoff Tate, March 26.

801 Media Center – The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, Feb. 13, 2025.

Majestic Fort Smith — Aaron Watson and Midnight South, 7 p.m. Feb. 13; Austin Meade and Cole Barnhill, 7 p.m. Feb. 20.

ArcBest Performing Arts Center — Romantic Journeys with Ryan Robinson, 7 p.m. March 1, 2025; ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’ in Concert, 7 p.m. April 26, 2025.

Uncork’d – Some Guy Named Robb, 7 p.m. Jan. 31.

Choctaw Casino and Resorts, Pocola – Gin Blossoms, 8 p.m. Feb. 22; Los Rieleros del Norte, 8 p.m. March 8; Southall, 8 p.m. April 26.

Cherokee Casino and Hotel Roland – Jake Lung, 8 p.m. Jan. 31; Sara Evans, 8 p.m. Feb. 14.

The Bakery District – Steven Cade, 6 p.m. Feb. 8 for Community Rescue Mission fundraiser.

ROGERS

Underbrush Books – Shine Through Winter Listening Room starts at 5:30 p.m. with Sophia Clark, Feb. 9; The Matchsellers, Feb. 23 and Taylor Smith, March 9.

The Music Depot — The Groove Theory, 7 p.m. Jan. 30; Funk Factory Karaoke Night, 7 p.m. Jan. 31; Kurt Allen Band, 7 p.m. Feb. 1; Jazz Jam Night, 7 p.m Feb. 6. Coming up: Panchami with Kartik Balachandran (violin), Sarada Karthik (vocal), Nikola Radan (flute), Anthony Ball (drums), Vishaak (Mridangam), 4 p.m. March 8.

AMP — Treaty Oak Revival, 7 p.m. April 11; RUFUS DU SOL, 7:30 p.m. April 27; SESSANTA V 2.0: Primus, Puscifer, A Perfect Circle, 8 p.m. May 2; Staind and Breaking Benjamin, May 4; Comedian Nate Bargatze, May 17; Alison Krauss & Union Station with Willie Watson, May 16; Thomas Rhett with Tucker Wetmore & The Castellows, 7:30 p.m. June 5; Bailey Zimmerman with Dylan Marlowe and Drew Baldridge, 7:30 p.m. June 14; Jason Aldean, July 18; Goo Goo Dolls and Dashboard Confessional, July 19; Weird Al Yankovic with Puddles Pity Party, 8 p.m. Aug. 3; Papa Roach, Rise Against with special guest Underoath, Sept. 30.

SPRINGDALE

Black Apple Cider — Comedy starts at 8 p.m. with Rufus Elam (Russellville), Jan. 30; Julie Drake (OKC) and Jack Wright (St. Louis), Feb. 6; Will Loden (Houston), Feb. 13; Zach Peterson (Omaha), Feb. 20; Tulsa Takeover, Feb. 27; Ben Jones (North Carolina), March 6; Meredith Hopping (St. Louis), March 13; Ed Bell (Denver), March 20; Gabbie Watts (Atlanta), March 27; Kevin Casey White (Brooklyn), April 3; Aaron Naylor (Chicago), April 10; Cori Stewart (Denver) w/ Katie McDonald April 17 and Dan Alten (Louisville), April 24.

The Jones Center — My Funny Valentine with Pat Hazell & Amy Barnes, 6 & 8 p.m. Feb. 14; Shiny Happy People Laughing with Karen Morgan, 8 p.m. April 11.

WEST FORK

Little O’ Oprey – Live music at 7 p.m. every Saturday. Snackbar opens at 5:30 p.m. (271 S. Campbell Ave.)

WINSLOW

Ozark Folkways – Waltz and Two-Step lessons with Joanie and Steve Green, 6 p.m. and square dance with White River Warblers, 7 p.m. Feb. 21; Squirrel Jam, 5-7 p.m. Feb. 23.

Send your music events to Monica Hooper at mhooper@nwaonline.com