Now OUT
LOL!
Where to exercise your funny bone
They say that laughter is the best medicine, but it’s no joke – laughing can actually benefit your health by strengthening your immune system, boosting your mood, diminishing pain, and decreasing stress. In keeping with New Year’s resolutions, why not add the goal of laughing a little more to your list? Following are four Valley venues to get your daily dose of chuckles.
BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ
Rick Bronson’s House of Comedy This High Street comedy club is owned by an actual comedian, Rick Bronson, who has also worked as a magician, a producer and a musician. Rather than heading straight to your seats, House of Comedy has a modern lounge – appropriately called Hecklers – where you can enjoy a drink before the show. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis for groups of seven or less, and once seated, the venue offers fantastic snack and dinner options as well as beer, wine, cocktails, and even a cheesecake menu (try the turtle variation!). Among the upcoming performers taking the stage are two Chelsea Lately alums: Fortune Feimster (Jan. 11-13), who also played The Mindy Project’s Colette, and Liza Treyger (Jan. 24-28). www.houseofcomedy.net. Stand Up Live The big, bold comedy club, which is Comedy Central-certified, only opened a few years ago, but is already among the biggest attractions in Downtown Phoenix. Like House of Comedy, seating is on a first-come, first-served basis and the in-show menu is impressive. But, as a bonus, Stand Up Live has a VIP seating package called “First Class” with reserved seating up front for a food and beverage minimum of $50 per person (or bottle service which covers that minimum). In any given month, the venue may welcome big names such as David Spade and Joel McHale. And January is no exception, boasting Billy Gardell (Jan. 5-7), who starred in CBS’ Mike & Molly, and Mad TV’s Aries Spears (Jan. 26-28). www.standuplive.com. Tempe Improv For decades, Tempe Improv was considered the gold standard for comedy clubs in the country. But in 2012, the club was forced to close. A year later, Stand Up Live owners and others pulled together and re-opened the iconic space to great acclaim. Today, the venue shares the same menu and policies (including the “First Class” option) with Stand Up Live, but retains its charm, not to mention its walls of posters from the hundreds of comedians who have graced the stage since the 1980s. Don’t miss the menu of dessert cocktails, which includes a triple espresso martini and a cognac-infused Bailey’s creation. This month, notable acts include two former Saturday Night Live stars: Gilbert Gottfried (Jan. 11-13) and Jim Belushi & The Board of Comedy (Jan. 26-27). www.tempeimprov.com. Torch Theatre Founded in 2007 as a space for aspiring and professional improv comedians, this Phoenix theater boasts regular and semi-regular teams several nights a week as well as weekly performances of their popular Skewed News Hour on Fridays. There are also monthly staples such as a Bingo Jam and Improvised Book Club that never disappoint. Torch also features other veteran and developing performance groups who appear Thursday and Friday every week, and runs an improv training center – a six-level program on improvisation with formal curriculum and instruction. www.thetorchtheatre.com.
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Uptown January '18