outdoor comedy – The Comedy Bureau

Pick of the Day: Fools Circle @ Prospect Park (in NYC) 5/21

May 10, 2022

brooklyn, fools circle, nyc comedy, outdoor comedy, teklai

As winter weather is coming to a close, there’s more of a chance to have some lovely outdoor shows in NYC once more. In fact, the chance for one of the most fun outdoor shows that came from lockdown times, Fools Circle, is getting ready for a return to the great outdoors of Prospect Park where it first rose in prominence.

Host Teklai will return to preside over the storied Saturday afternoon/evening comedy/music/hang, which will likely have a start time sometime around the sun going down on Sat. May 21st. For exact start times and locations as well as which of NYC’s finest will be joining in for jokes and jams, follow @fools.circle on IG.

Pick of the Day: Wacky Shack (in NYC) Wednesdays Starting 5/4

April 12, 2022

News

kevin casey white, kevin o'brien, nyc comedy, outdoor comedy, whacky shack

NYC had an explosion of outdoor comedy shows throughout the last two years. Starting off with doing stand-up in parks, sometimes acapella without a mic, then shifting to any place that had an outdoor space where could line-up some chairs and a mic and mic stand. One of the most popular and beloved was Kevin Casey White and Kevin O’Brien’s Wacky Shack, held at Central Organic in Bushwick, Brooklyn, NYC.

When the weather permitted for evenings that weren’t freezing, Kevin and Kevin threw up great line-ups and sustained and backyard party vibe that would have crowds standing on the sidewalk looking into the cozy back patio of Central Organic.

We’re thrilled to hear that these two funny Kevins will be bringing back Wacky Shack to Central Organic and keeping it as a weekly, every Wednesday around 8PM starting on Star Wars Day, May 4th. Donations will be accepted.

They haven’t announced their first line-up for their glorious return, but you better bet it’s going to be stacked with NYC’s best (and they won’t have been stuck inside for several months this time). Get more details for Wacky Shack and donate here.

Pick of the Day: Comedy @ Chaplin with Howard Kremer (in LA) Wednesdays Starting 2/16

February 14, 2022

News

howard kremer, los angeles comedy, outdoor comedy, outdoors, squatmelt, stand up comedy

Pre-pandemic, one of LA’s favorite comedy oddities was SquatMelt, born out of one Howard Kremer keeping the spirit of the legendary Meltdown with Jonah & Kumail at NerdMelt Showroom @ Meltdown Comics alive. When the building was sold, Kremer just “squatted” in the parking lot behind the comic books store and did a stand-up show there with a portable speaker and a DJ hidden in a tree, DJ Trees.

Yes, we are not making that up.

Despite the gray area legality of it, this “SquatMelt” persisted with folks bringing out lawn chairs and lining up to watch in the most unconventional ways that people have watch live stand-up in person. Construction on the space (as Meltdown Comics sold its space), but Howard would still carry that torch on by performing in the parking lot of another former comedy space, The Steve Allen Theater, the former home of Tomorrow! with Ron Lynch. Eventually, after being featured as Gene Cosineau’s theater where he taught his acting classes in Barry, that theater was bulldozed too.

So, Howard leaned into the nomadic nature of the show and had it be a walking tour of the neighborhood where comics would do a set and then they would walk to another spot. Sometimes, the city of LA is hell bent on making it really difficult to organically bring folks together for something unmistakably cool. So, there would be one more move of the show before COVID-19 hit when SquatMelt headed to Echo Park and walked around Echo Park Lake.

Kremer has kept safe this whole time during the pandemic, but is finally returning to the great outdoors, with Naked Comedy, for what will be known as Comedy @ Chaplin on Wednesdays at 8:30PM PT. The comics and audiences will meet at the Charlie Chaplin mural across the street from one of the best diners in LA, Fred 62 with Howard leading the way. This first post-lockdown edition of the show with its newly minted name will feature LA staples Anna Seregina, Kyle Mizono, Chris Garcia, Maggie Maye, Paul Danke, and Max Beasley.

Oh yeah, it’s the nice price of FREE as well. Don’t miss the first Comedy @ Chaplin this Wed. Feb. 16th at 8:30PM PT. Bring a jacket on top of your vaccinated and masked self.

Pick of the Day: Fools’ Circle (in LA) 10/10

October 7, 2021

News

ashley ray, chloe hilliard, fools circle, free show, james davis, la comedy, outdoor comedy, rell battle, sasha merci, teklai, variety show

One of Brooklyn’s favorite outdoor shows had been happening in Prospect Park, but has been touring around the country for last few months. Host Teklai has been leading off the best way to spend your Sunday afternoons with a great blend of comedy and DJs, rappers, and more.

Luckily, one of the stops in LA and at the amphitheater at Pan Pacific Park (right next to The Grove) this Sun. Oct. 10th. Music starts at 2PM PT and the comedy goes up at 3PM PT and we have no doubt there’ll be a nice hang in one of LA’s pristine parks post-show.

On the bill:

Comedy Chloe Hilliard, Rell Battle, Sasha Merci, James Davis, Ashley Ray, and more

Music: American Matthew ( Believe in Yourself Do It Yourself Records)

Get more info, RSVP for the show here, and clear out your Sunday brunch plans.

Pick of the Day: Low Key Outside Year Anniversary 7/28

July 19, 2021

News

la comedy, low key outside, matt rife, outdoor comedy, paul elia

At various places around LA (and sometimes outside of it), for a year, Paul Elia and Matt Rife have held down outdoor comedy under the banner of Low Key Outside. In this era of live comedy that had to take place during pandemic, they’re celebrating making it to a year with beloved show (it has been packed as long as we have been aware of it).

That’s especially impressive considering many live show don’t last a year even without a pandemic.

So, Paul and Matt are marking a year of Low Key Outside in an outdoor space in Arts District, a neighborhood that somehow got even hipper during lockdown at 411 S. Hewitt St., Los Angeles, CA on Wed. Jul. 28th at 7PM PT. They haven’t announced the line-up yet, but we have no doubt that they’ll pull in as stacked of a line-up for their first year anniversary.

Tickets are on sale right now, starting at $30, and you can and very much should go get them here.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 28: Jamel Johnson & The LA Outdoors

October 7, 2020

News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report

jamel johnson, outdoor comedy, second city, snl

Jamel Johnson was one of the first comedians to record a special in all of quarantine during this COVID-19 pandemic with the audience-less Friend or Foe. He’s also done a remote segment on Conan, kept up a basketball podcast going during the NBA Playoffs, and managed to do some of LA’s newly minted outdoor shows, which means he has maintained himself working as much as he can and being so damn funny while doing so. Jamel zooms with TCB’s Jake Kroeger to discuss all such things as well as SNL managing to have a live audience, Second City being on sale, things to think about in doing in-person shows during a pandemic and more.

Follow Jamel on IG @broccolihouse & Twitter @nonprofitcomic and listen to his podcasts Air Buds and Sorry We Love Football. Get and watch his special, Friend or Foe.

Shout outs: Michelle Buteau’s Buteaupia. Chinedu Unaka’s Mostly Kidding, and Josiah Johnson

The Comedy Bureau @thecomedybureau across platforms and please, please support TCB via GoFundMe, Patreon, or on Venmo (@jakekroeger).
Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and KT