Comedy Means Serious Business on Grand Strand
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
July 30, 2010 ENTERTAINMENT MYRTLE BEACH HERALD Page 5B Comedy means serious business on Grand Strand said. “We re-routed the air con- dience interaction.” Tough times ditioning vents to fall right on Kevin Perry first went to a stage. I asked all my comedian “Whose Beach” performance friends what they would do if this spring and has since re- create desire for they designed a club. I took the turned several times and even best ideas and went from solicited the comedy troupe for laughter there.” a corporate event. The Comedy Cabana, 9588 “I asked [the corporate organ- BY MATT MONTGOMERY N. Kings Highway in Myrtle izer], ‘How much money do we FOR THE HERALD Beach, has been serving up have for entertainment?’ After it comedy for 14 years. Consid- was cleared, they were hired for The expanding comedy ered the grandfather of comedy our conference this year. They scene on the Grand Strand is houses along the Strand, gener- got by far the highest level of re- no laughing matter. In fact, it’s al manager Lindsay Murphy view at our conference,” said serious business. said the Cabana is now open Perry, an assistant director at Two of the six full-time com- seven nights per week and Coastal Carolina University. edy clubs in South Carolina are open in the off-season. Perry said the fact that the located in the Myrtle Beach show is different from the regu- area, and it seems the timing lar nightlife scene around Myr- for the opening of one could Moreso now than tle Beach makes it worth going not have been better. The to see. owner of that club said the sour ever, I’ve just seen an He said the show’s content economy creates a sickness for changes each time, so guests which only laughter is the rem- increase in the variety never know what to expect. edy. “They do a really good job of “A lot of the full-time comedy of crowds. doing things different every clubs dropped to just two Lindsay Murphy time,” he said. “It doesn’t get nights and it’s obvious people old. Each time you go, it’s a dif- really wanted more,” said Jeff General manager ferent show.” Martin, owner of Stand Up Car- Comedy Cabana | The show has also led Perry olina. “Especially times when MATT MONTGOMERY | THE HERALD to pursue an adult improv class the economy is bad, people just at Uptown. He plans to do that Comedian Jamie Morgan entertains customers at the comedy club Stand-Up Carolina. want to laugh.” She attributes Comedy Ca- in the fall. Martin and his business part- bana’s sustainability to its Trimarco echoed Martin’s ner owned Tequila Mocking- knack for grabbing up-and- agement has no plans to go na. Another Myrtle Beach Classes for adults and youth contention that the tanking birds, a bar that featured stand coming talent before they hit anywhere. The Cabana’s open venue will host comedic giants are offered on various nights as economy lends to comedy at- up two nights per week. When the big time. Comedians like mic competition held in the fall Jim Gaffigan and Larry The well. traction. the pair started selling out Lewis Black, Gallagher and and spring have “exploded,” Cable Guy, who will perform at Lead director Gina Trimarco She said since people want to every comedy night, it only Kevin James have all per- she said. the Alabama Theatre on Nov. said since improv comedy is laugh and not spend a lot of made sense to revamp the formed at the Comedy Cabana. What about the new guy, 21. fairly new to Myrtle Beach, a money, Carolina Improv Com- venue to a full-time comedy es- Nowadays, it’s still fair to say Stand Up Carolina? spin-off of the popular “Whose pany is a great choice. tablishment. Myrtle Beach comedy is popu- “We’re definitely supportive Unscripted Line is it Anyway?” was the eas- Perry said he tells people the They shut down for a com- lar. of the other clubs because they Aside from big name stand- iest way to communicate the best parts about “Whose Beach plete renovation in early April “Moreso now than ever, I’ve all support the industry,” she up stars, the Grand Strand is concept. is it Anyway?” are the afford- and reopened as Stand Up Car- just seen an increase in the va- said. also home to a budding im- So is it working? ability, time (starts at 7:30 p.m.) olina, 3140D U.S. 17 Business in riety of crowds,” Murphy said. Since opening in May, Mar- provisational troupe, Carolina “Definitely yes,” Trimarco and the show’s change of pace. Murrells Inlet, on May 5, just in “People know these comics. tin said he’s been surprised by Improv Company. said. “We’ve done very little ad- When Trimarco relocated to time for the summer season. They know who these guys are.” the success at Stand Up Caroli- The company started in No- vertising and managed to fill Myrtle Beach, the first thing she Martin said a unique aspect Murphy said the accessibility na. He’s already welcomed “In vember 2008 and began doing the seats. We spend a lot of noticed was the absence of of his club is the design. He that the common fan has to the Living Color” star Tommy comedy shows in its brand new time on marketing via social comedy. Now, she said, the fu- consulted with comedian comedians nowadays is extrao- Davidson, and sold out six theatre space, Uptown Myrtle media and Internet listings. ture looks bright. friends about what to include dinary — sites like straight shows. On Aug. 18, Beach, one year later. Currently Most of our guests say that they “When I moved here, I and used some of his own ideas youtube.com, funnyordie.com Josh Wolfe from the E! show the improvisational company found us by Googling ‘things to thought to myself, ‘This town and experiences (he’s also a co- and comedycentral.com have “Chelsea Lately” will perform is doing five shows per week, do in Myrtle Beach.’ has no idea what they’re miss- median) to give the talent and made it easy to witness acts be- three shows and “Mad TV” star including the audience-fueled “Many come to the show ing. I think I’ll build it and watch audience the best show. fore they happen. Aries Spears will visit Sept. 8 for “Whose Beach is it Anyway?” often because it’s never the them come.’” “It was cool to design a com- As for the future of Comedy a trio of shows. The big names where tourist clichés are same and it’s the best deal on edy club being a comedian,” he Cabana, Murphy said the man- don’t stop at Stand Up Caroli- brought to life by comedy. the beach for comedy and au- Matt Montgomery • 488-7261 Four Crown Hotel as rated by Northstar Travel Media Come see the best Central Mass has to offer Located less than an hour from Boston, Providence and the Berkshires, the Beechwood is the only boutique hotel in Central Massachusetts. Perfect for a casual night out, family vacation, or romantic getaway, the hotel offers luxurious accommodations and amenities, state-of-the-art business services, and a pristine Grand ballroom for functions and meetings. now introducing Four Crown Hotel as rated by Northstar Travel Media 363 Plantation street, worcester, ma 508.754.5789 | beechwoodhotel.com.