Top
Comedy Clubs in New York
It seems every comedy club
in New York claims to have launched the
careers of today's top comedians. The
truth is, most up-and-coming comics play
every club in the city in an effort to
increase their exposure -- and pay their
rent. What makes a good comedy club? That
depends on what you're looking for. All
the clubs mentioned here feature top
comedic talent during regular shows. The
major difference between clubs is the
ambiance, food menu and admission price.
If you're more interested in
comedians over glitz, your best bet is
one of the smaller venues. There, you'll
get sardined into a tiny room with
rickety tables and a less than pleasant
bathroom. But so what? You're there for
the jokes. If you're looking to impress
your date, try one of the more expensive
upscale establishments, where you can
have your comedy in a more refined
atmosphere along with a real dinner on a
real tablecloth.
Part of the magic of New
York comedy clubs is that you never know
who might drop in to test his new shtick.
On any given night you may witness a
surprise appearance by names like Robin
Williams, Robert Klein, Richard Belzer,
Jerry Seinfeld or Dennis Miller.
Even if you don't recognize
any names on the bill, chances are you're
in for a gut-busting evening. After all,
these comics have made it in New York.
While not yet household names, they just
might be the movie and sit-com stars of
tomorrow.
One more thing. If you don't
want to suffer the wrath of the comics,
make sure to sit away from the stage.
Otherwise, you may end being part of the
show.
NOTE: Show information is
subject to change, so it is advisable to
call ahead. To ensure admission,
reservations are recommended at all
clubs.
Boston Comedy Club
82 West 3rd Street between Thompson &
Sullivan
(212) 477-1000
The owner, who hails from
Boston, opened this Greenwich Village
comedy spot in 1988. The club's diverse
lineup includes showcases for African
Americans on Sundays, new talent on
Mondays, cigar smokers night on Tuesdays,
women comics on Wednesday, Latino comics
on Thursday, and headliners on Friday and
Saturday. The Boston Comedy Club seats
140 people.
Caroline's
on Broadway
1626 Broadway at 49th Street
( 212) 757-4100
One of the top comedy venues
in the city, Caroline's is home to the
long-running "Caroline's Comedy
Hour" on the Arts &
Entertainment cable TV network.
Originally opened as a small cabaret in
Chelsea in 1981, the club moved to South
Street Seaport in 1987, then relocated to
Times Square in 1991. The 300 seat
facility was the first of its genre to
offer great entertainment combined with
excellent food in a sophisticated upscale
environment. In fact, the club's elegant
decor won an award from the American
Institute of Architecture in 1995, and
was featured on the cover of Interior
Design magazine.
Comedy
Cellar
117 MacDougal Street between
West 3rd & Bleecker Street
(212) 254-3480
The Comedy Cellar has been
packing them in for years. And we mean
packing them in -- the club squeezes up
to 150 people into its confined quarters.
Located in a basement room on MacDougal
Street in the heart of Greenwich Village,
the Comedy Cellar features a full
American and Mediterranean menu from the
Olive Street Cafe, located directly
above.
Comic Strip
Live
1568 Second Avenue, between
81st & 82nd Streets
(212) 861-9386
Upon entering the Comic
Strip, patrons pass a wall lined with
autographed publicity shots of comics who
have played the club since its inception
in 1976. Eddie Murphy, Jerry Seinfeld and
Paul Riser are just a few of today's
stars whose pictures grace this venerable
East Side establishment. For aspiring
comedians, the Comic Strip offers an
8-week workshop, culminating with
students performing before a live
audience.
The club, which seats up to
220 people, serves light fare, which
includes pizza, Chinese and Mexican food.
Dangerfield's
1118 First Avenue between
61st and 62nd Streets
(212) 593-1650
Dangerfield's has become
something of a landmark in the New York
entertainment world since opening in
1969. Owned by comedian-actor Rodney
Dangerfield, this glitzy lounge presents
shows seven nights a week, featuring top
contemporary comedians. It's not likely
Rodney will make an appearance, but hey,
you never know. Seats 225. Modified
dinner menu available.
Gotham
Comedy Club
208 West 23rd
Street, between 7th & 8th
Avenues
(212) 367-9000
The Gotham Comedy Club first
opened in the chic Flatiron district 10
years ago, investing over $300,000 to
make this club one of the most elegant
comedy establishments in New York.
$50,000 was spent on the bathrooms alone.
Chris Mazilli, one of Gotham's owners,
said at the time, "We felt that it
was time for a change in the way comedy
clubs have been perceived: all comedy and
no ambiance." Mazilli and his
partner, Michael Reisman, not only own
and operate the club, but are comics
themselves. Now they have moved to a new
10,000 square space in Chelsea, but their
goal of keeping an upscale feel to their
club has remained the same.
New York
Comedy Club
241 East 24 Street
(212) 696-LAFF
The New York Comedy Club
prides itself on the diversity of its
acts. In addition to
"mainstream" comedy, the club
features all-female stand-up, gay &
lesbian shows, and all Latino &
African-American shows (Fridays at 11 pm
and Saturdays at midnight).
In its commitment to develop
new talent, New York Comedy Club offers
6-week workshops for beginners. Students
learn about comedy writing, MCing and the
business side of the industry. Mondays
are open mike night, where from 4:30 to
8:30 pm, neophytes pay a small fee for
the right to go up on stage -- but are
compensated with a free beverage. Amateur
shows take place every Friday at 7 pm,
and Saturday at 8 pm. The club seats 110.
Stand-Up
New York
236 West 78th Street (off Broadway)
(212) 595-0850
The Upper West Side's main
comedy spot. Opened in the Spring of 1986
by a husband and wife team who left
promising careers in theater. In the
years since, Stand Up-New York has become
a pit stop for established comics. Known
for also nurturing new talent, the club
features special beginners shows at
reduced admissions for starting comedians
who wish to develop their talents before
a live audience.
Seats 180. Light snack menu
available.
by Mitch Lemus
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